We were fortunate enough to have DISH entrust us here at Victors & Spoils with their latest campaign – spots to let the world know that HD on DISH is now free. So we briefed a crowd of creatives, curated the work, presented a bunch of campaigns, they picked this one, and we went and produced it – with The Directors Bureau & Mike Maguire. We’re really proud of it. Thanks for watching. And stay tuned for more work launching soon.

Spot 1:

Spot 2:

Spot 3:

Full Credits:

Client: DISH Network
Agency: Victors & Spoils

Chief Creative Officer – Evan Fry
Creative Director – Noah Clark
Copywriter: V&S Crowdmember (requested anonymity), Aaron James
Art Director: V&S Crowdmember (requested anonymity), Aaron James
Producer – Eric Rasco
Director – Mike Maguire
Line Producer – Susan Hebert
VFX Producer – Mike Wigart
VFX Set Supervision – Sean Faden
Flame Lead – Simon Scott
3D Lead – Scott Metzger
VFX Company – Method
Production Company – The Directors Bureau
Executive Producer – Melissa Culligan
Sound and Mix – Rohan Young @ LIME Studios
Music – Beacon Street Studios
Graphics – Superfad

The advertising awards season is upon us once again. And it’s in full swing. The Andys have been judged and awarded. So too has the One Show. Next it’s the Clios, then Cannes, D&AD is in there somewhere too. And I’m sure I’m leaving out a bunch of others worth mentioning. Egos are being stroked, careers are being made, and condoms are stretching on and off like rubber gloves at free Swine Flu vaccination center.

It’s all so exciting for us creatives. The hope, the expectation, the payoff. But not a single one of us would be even entering these career-making shows, let alone collecting the hardware, if it weren’t for our clients. That’s right, I said it. And I believe it.

Now I know there’s really nothing new to that statement. It’s been uttered by Creatives, CDs and Account Peeps; Presidents, Planners and Chairmen, probably since the very beginning of all this self-agrandizing hubaloo. And sure, I would hope and expect that it’s even a sentiment that’s put out with sincerity at least some of the time. But I would venture to say that most of the time, ad-industry folks who have gone to the trouble to express this notion don’t really believe it. Instead it’s probably more often the case that deep down they believe the client wasn’t really helping the mission at all. It’s most often probably just lip service. Sunshine blowing. Stroking. Or an attempt at proving humility. Most often what’s probably really believed underneath such a sentiment is that client had nothing to do with it all. Instead it was the agency soldier’s “selling” or “passion” that “pushed the work through” to the light of day. And that’s even if it’s mentioned at the podium at all.

Which is really just a giant shame. Because in fact, when you really stop and think about it (and not even think that hard), it’s ALL about the client. The clients truly ARE the reason we have jobs. The clients are the ONLY reason we get to do the shit we do, create the crap we create, push the envelopes we inherited (or insert other forced metaphor / cliche of your choosing here). Really. There’s not a lot of room for debate here. And that holds true for all work, no matter the creative level, that we ad folks do. Now, if you’re lucky enough to have the talent and agency machine behind you to support your dreaming up work that is truly next-level, killer or badass, it’s even MORE the case that it’s thanks to your client that it sees the light of day. Because that takes a lot of ballsack. Not your ballsack. Theirs. All the fortitude, trust, and ability to push fear aside is on them. Not you.

So here’s what I propose. Instead of the occasional alcohol or ego-fueled throwaway client podium mention, I say it’s time for the big shows to all institute a new category. A category for Ballsiest Client. Or whatever you want to all it. The point is that this would be a category that only agencies could nominate clients for. So it comes from the agency itself. And the agency would have to make the case via like a video entry or whatever. And enter the sucker on their own dime (which again is really the client’s dime anyway, after all).

Now, sure, sure – there’s already one show like this, I know. And it’s called the Effies. And the Effies are awesome (one of my favorite shows actually). But we all know that often the Effies don’t match with what all the other big shows deem is the best creative work. So adding this category to the big creative shows is the only right answer to keeping shows relevant as the entire industry shifts. And adding this category would change a lot of thinking. For one thing, it would force us all to remember who’s really to credit (instead of just who’s to “blame” when it doesn’t go the way we want it – which is most of the time BS by the way). For another, it would bring the clients closer to the mission of making innovative work. It would give the clients something to shoot for in their own right. And it might just go a long way toward changing their cycnical (albeit justifiedly cynical) views of the award show circuit itself. Additionally it would make it so we’d have more clients showing up at the shows themselves. Which would create a lot more relationship building twixt agency and client – for we agency folks taking the time to create the entry itself proves our gratitude where lipservice cannot. Would this create some awkward moments due to revelry and martini-soaking? Yes. Even more reason to do it.

Alright, ‘nuff said. Back to working for my clients now.

All that anyone seems to care about when it comes to SXSW these days is technology. Internet electronica (aka GIZMOs) and community based tools (aka GADGets) and those little Sony dog robots and all manner of other WiFi thingamajigs. Heady stuff, to be sure. The sort of important doodadry worthy of myriad hip young business mogultry boarding jets bound for Austin with bluetooth contact-sharing devicetry hung on hip at the ready to be drawn and kindled. The kind of techfest where someone representing a group or digital interest invites a different group of handpicked geekdom to hear his or her talk on social media based around his or her insight that identifying and maximizing its intersection with usability and geographical taglinking will be the be all end all. Then someone Tweets about it and that spreads and then there’s a hashtag fest.

It’s awesome, to be sure.

But Lemmy from Motorhead would puke on this.

And that’s why I’m not there.

Now please don’t think for a second that I don’t care about technology. I do. In fact, I’m pretty into it. I like it when it makes things faster and easier. I like it when my bicycle tells me how much power my body is cramming through it and I like to know what channel the next Formula 1 race is going to be on and I like being able to press a little button and record it and watch it later (eeek, without commercials!) And professionally, I’m far more interested in pursing digital and interactive ideas in my chosen field than anything traditional (unless of course it’s a phat TV shoot with Marty or Spike). But I just think it’s really important to not forget that there was a time when South by Southwest was the preeminent indy music showcase. The kind of weeklong celebration of rock and fucking roll that a guy like Lemmy would not miss.

But somehow the geeks have overtaken it. Now the next FourSquare is trying to find a relationship with the next ChatRoulette and Biz Stone is hanging out with that other dude and nobody has any real muscletone to speak of.

And Lemmy from Motorhead would puke on this. The very festival that used to attract Lemmy is now repelling him. If I were in a grave I'd be turning over inside of it.

We all know that the geeks and nerds win. We all know that they’re the ones dating Marisa Miller and buying up land outside Teluride due to their mergers and IPOs and we all know that Mark Cuban is a dude like this and we all know how much money he has and he even has a basketball team. And a jet. 

And that’s cool. And it’s great that the geeks win. Dudes and chicks like Charleton Heston and Raquel Welch had their day. But at the same time, the geeks are fucking it up. Because the geeks pushed Lemmy away.

So here’s what I propose: Tone the nerdness down a few notches. Then give Lemmy a call and see if he’ll show up and drink his face off, punch some cops, plug in for an impromptu gig next to that one bar in featured in that Tarantino film.

If he’s down, give me a call. If not, have fun being all nerdy and shit with each other.

I didn’t go to TED this year. Because I didn’t need to go. Because I already know what’s going on there. Because I’m a TED expert or “guru.”

To wit:  

Right now at TED there are shitloads of people sitting in seats watching smarter people up on stage as said smarter people expound on things relating to technology things and the future and stuff like that.

More than half of the people sitting in those seats have no clue what those people up on stage are talking about. But that’s okay. Because more than three quarters of the people up on stage don’t know what they’re talking about either.

The top clothing color among TED-goers is the color known as black.

The most popular haircut on men at TED is short. Followed closely by bad.

There’s all kinds of lanyards everywhere. On the ends of these lanyards are passes covered in plastic. These lanyards are around the necks of people who are watching other people up on stage as they talk about technology stuff.

You could ask yourself, for example, what came first, the lanyard or the conference.

At every single social gathering and with NO EXCEPTIONS absolutely everyone in the drink-holding duo, trio or linen-coverd table or precious-wood bar either says the word “iPad” or hears the word “iPad.”

No matter whether they diss the “iPad” or confidently say they would love to have an “iPad,” they all want an “iPad.” Why the hell else would they BE at TED? TED is but a cover for talking about “iPad”s. Everyone knows this.

Everyone at TED is on Twitter and everyone is Tweeting about TED via their Twitter streams and using hashtags, lists, re-tweets and other Twittery thingamajiggery.

People at TED are talking about their favorite TED speakers.

A lot of people at TED wear glasses. People at TED who wear glasses are looking at other people at TED wearing glasses and secretly judging every single pair of said glasses.

There’s a shitload of glasses-judgment at TED.

You’d think that a lot of people would be hooking up at TED. “Boning” and “getting down” and such. Like after their talking and listening and social gathering and lanyard adjusting and shit like that. But you’d be wrong. Because people who attend TED don’t fuck. They’re all robots. Robots don’t fuck.

The lighting at TED is terrible. They need to turn more lights on at TED. Jesus.

TED needs to learn more from other conferences and shows such as the big auto show where super hot scantily clad models show off the cars by standing next to them and smiling all the time. There needs to be more of that at TED 2011. Note to organizers. Do this.

There are a lot of “jumpdrive” jokes going on.

This year TED is in southern California but everyone knows that next year it’s going to be in Bangladesh and nobody at TED is sure where Bangladesh is. It’s the cause of the recent surge in globe-app downloading.

Every time someone takes out their iPhone to share a contact or blue a bluetooth at TED this year, someone with a Google Droid device casually takes theirs out of their pocket so as to prove that they don’t have one of those iPhones and instead have a Droid.

So there you have it. TED 2010 in a nutshell. I won’t see you next year in Bangladesh. Because I already know what’s going to happen next year at TED Bangladesh 2011. Want a hint? OK, four words: Steve. Jobs. Brain. Jar.

The recent giant news that Alex Bogusky is forging a new and revolutionary role as Chief Creative Insurgent of MDC is, to say the least, incredibly exciting. I’m serious. I love it, respect it, stand in awe of it. And I think it’s absolutely perfect for him. So, as Alex Bogusky’s friend and ex-colleague, I wanted to take this blogportunity to applaud him, sincerely wish him the best and say for the record that I admire the bejesus out of what he has done, who he has become and the new road he hath laid.

This new role truly is a big damned deal. Alex’s seat at The Ivory Cottage will be exactly the sort of platform that a man such as Bogusky should have – and his creation of it is a gift to all the companies who will be lucky enough to chat with him (see http://tinyurl.com/ye942ud ). As one fellow who himself was lucky enough to directly learn from and be groomed by Alex over the last seven years, you can trust me on this: There truly is only one Alex Bogusky. And I believe that his vision will now be truly free to fly-like-eagle and make real change – change way beyond just marketing. I also believe you can rest assured that Alex’s intentions are pure and true here. That he really is doing this in order to lay groundwork with the CMOs of the companies you work with so that you can all change the world. And that it really is going to be great for everyone – you, them, the universe - as he bravely sets foot into these various corporate jungles, armed like Rambo to defend against and put offensive plans in motion to cage and tame their Nine Gorillas.

But here’s what else I believe. If you work for an agency of MDC, Alex is going to ruin your life. And you are going to be fucked. How? Here are 10 ways.

1. Alex picks his nose. If you drive in a vehicle with him to a meeting or a motocross track or something like that, you can be sure that he will pick his nose, roll at least one little booger into a ball and deposit it, completely devoid any self consciousness around this act, onto the floor of your vehicle. If you don’t think this is going to bother you, think again. You’re fucked.
2. Alex only changes work that Alex sees. If Alex doesn’t see the work, he won’t change it. So you will have some choice here. And either way, you’re fucked.
3. Alex has farted in front of at least one client that I have seen. And so he’s probably going to keep doing this. It’ll happen. And it’ll be hilarious. But mopping up after all the guffaws are guffawed and knees are slapped is going to be on you. YOU are going to have to take their calls and emails about this and you are going to have to apologize. Not Alex. You. So you’re fucked.
4. Alex cuts his own hair. When you see him at the Cottage or on a webcam or at your agency or at some kind of yoga-and-seakelp-facial retreat for gurus of marketing you’re going to have to compliment him on this. You won’t want to. And you might not even think it looks good. This will eat at your soul. You’re fucked.
5. Alex likes to invite those he works with to ski or ride bikes with him. Which is now going to be you. And Alex is really good at skiing and riding bikes. You’re fucked.
6. Alex doesn’t age. You’re going to find yourselves in meetings or other scenarios where people are going to discuss their age. And you’re going to say how old you are. And you’re going to feel really good about your appearance in relation to your age. Until Alex tells everyone his age. Which will happen. Your ego will be crushed. You’re fucked.
7. Alex is funnier than you. He’s funnier than everyone. You probably think you’re really funny and clever as you’re a super successful advertising person. But compared to Alex, you’re not. So you’re fucked.
8. Alex will give you a nickname. You’re fucked.
9. Alex will sniff out and play to your weaknesses. Like a truffle-finding pig, he will find them. Mine them. Push you to fix them. It will either make you quit or make you better. But either way there will be times when you will hate this. So, you know, you’re fucked.
10. Alex will make you like your job more. Because you will respect him fully. You won’t have room to bitch about him and you’ll end up having more fun, working harder, doing better work and being more successful. You’ll ditch your plans to get out of the business. You’ll pass on the opportunity to raise rehabilitative monkeys in Equador or write that Oprah-book-club best seller on the dirty world of being an ad-person. You’ll become so good at your job that you’ll do it forever. You’re fucked.

Hi. Yesterday I, like millions of other humanoids, watched the Superbowl. Only this year I did so knowing that today I was being interviewed by Shoot magazine in order to contribute to their annual Superbowl-spots opinion piece. So I took notes on my iPhone as I watched (nerd). Or, perhaps more accurately, I kept a log of the spots I thought I needed to remember. Because I’m a professional. Anyway, I just got off the phone with Bob Goldrich (thanks Bob, thanks Shoot) and thought I’d just post my notes verbatim. As dumb as that might be. Oh and I included this accompanying image because it sort of sums up how I felt whilst taking notes on said Superbowl spots.

Mcdonalds Dwight / lebron

Snickers Betty white

Bud light house

***Tebow tackle. MY PICK FOR WORST. PLEASE DON’T BRING YOUR MORAL VIEWS INTO MY SUPERBOWL K THANKS GREAT SEE YA LATER.

Hyundai dip paint.

*Boost shuffle

Doritos bark collar

Doritos black hot mom

Bud light meteor earth gonna end

Broke burns CAN’T REMEMBER WHO FOR

Godaddy massage OH HOW CAN I NOT WATCH THESE

Doritos casket

***Bud light voice weird thing autotune MY PICK FOR FUNNIEST, LOL PICK.

Monster beavers

Bridgestone whale

Cars.com TIME TO SWITCH UP THE BORROWED-INTEREST MATH GUYS?

Bud bridge out. OK. UH, OK.

*Letterman oprah leno WOULD HAVE LIKED TO BE ON THIS SET.

Dockers wear pants

Hyundai 10 years from now Favre WISH IT HAD INTEGRATED BETTER

Bud light planecrash

Dove men skincare thing. Timeline of man. SUPER SAD, STICK TO FLESHY BABES PLEASE.

Dodge mans last stand ANOTHER SUPER SAD, PLEASE DON’T THINK YOU KNOW ME AND IF THIS IS ME, SO VERY SAD.

Teleflora hot redhead spot.

Kiss little cherry CAN I GET A BA DUM DUM?

Polomalu tru TV

*Flo Tv Nance injury report

Intel robot

FLOtv generation spot.

Motorola Meghan fox

*VW slug bug PROPS TO DEUTSCH. SOLID.

Dennys free grand slam SOME PEOPLE I WAS WITH THOUGHT THEY WERE ROOSTERS THOUGH

Kgb sumo thing

Hot wife bridgestone trainwreck.

Coke sleepwalk

Milkaholic eTrade

**Google spot. Married baby France good piano tune. NICE. BIT SAPPY BUT SOLID.

****Pop Secret + emerald nuts. MY PIC FOR BEST GO FOR IT DON’T BE BROAD BUT BE WEIRD AND DO WEIRD GOOD, WHICH ISN’T BAD

Bud Clydesdale and longhorn.

Audi green police

Doritos gym thing with Tim going insane.