This weekend ‘Carousel’ for Philips, made by Tribal DDB, won a Film Grand Prix in Cannes! Last week the online case was already awarded with a silver Cyber Lion. According to film jury member Richard Bullock (180 Amsterdam) the jury was unanimous and quick to decide that this was a Grand Prix. David Lubars (BBDO), who presided the film jury, called it mind blowing and said it showed the way forward. True enough; the technique gives an extra (interactive) dimension to film. And when content is fully animated, the viewer can even change the ‘camera’ angle in any desirable way – which we saw earlier this year in the commercial for the game Killzone 2. Other Amsterdam winners in Film: TBWA\Neboko won silver for its Heineken walk-in fridge and bronze for its IDFA films – both commercials won a golden ADCN lamp earlier this year. Amsterdam agencies Indie and Ogilvy also won a bronze Lion for respectively Orange Babies and Sensoor.
‘Ik wil Bolletje!’ (I want Bolletje) is what this lady is thinking while struggling to get into the building. Simple and funny at the same time, that’s what these 10 second commercials are. Also check this one. And this one shows what happens when you finally give in to your craving. They were created by Indie. Three different commercials are shown within a single commercial break. A smart media strategy, since three times 10 must have more impact than one time 30 seconds. The commercials were directed by Richard Boden, who knows well how to handle humour. He directed both Blackadder and ‘Allo ‘Allo at the end of the 80′s. Bolletje, a brand with a heritage of cheeky advertising, has used the phrase ‘I want Bolletje’ since the 50’s already. In 2007 Indie revitalized Bolletje’s brand personality and introduced the thinking balloon as ad property. The first commercials starring the balloon were also directed by Boden.
Agency of the year 2007, S-W-H, changed its name into Indie. Makes sense; we never really understood why so many agencies in an industry that calls itself ‘creative’, weren’t able to come up with a better name than simply the first letters of the founders. But there’s more to it, of course. Lode Schaeffer (the S) is the only founding partner still on board. And after several unsatisfactory talks with different agencies (among them Taxi) about being taken over, current partners Lode Schaeffer and Mark Aink realized that staying independent is more important for them than an early retirement in the south of France. Et voila, a new brand was born. Tim O’Kennedy (ex MD W+K) helped the agency shape its new positioning and The Stone Twins created the new brand identiy. That’s typically S-W-H (or Indie from now on); the agency likes to involve ‘outside’ expertise with a different background to keep it fresh and far away from its comfort zone. Actually, that’s more or less the definition of creativity; bringing together different ideas and merge them into new ones. Good luck, guys!
Last Thursday Boards Magazine organized their first European creative ‘workshop’ in Amsterdam. The theme of the day was ‘The New Age of Storytelling’. Alex Melvin (founder of 180 Amsterdam) and Mark Aink (general manager of S-W-H) co-hosted the day and invited an interesting mix of international and Dutch speakers with different creative backgrounds and inspiring angles on storytelling.
When the online bank Icesave was offering sky high interest rates last year, the ‘economical’ Dutch en masse moved their virtual savings to the Icelandic bank. But when the credit crunch made the bank fall over, they were left empty handed – that is, almost, since the Dutch government came to the rescue. With this banner, made by S-W-H, placed on the ‘Icelost’ forum, Bolletje offers all the disappointed savers a free breakfast by returning the purchase money on their bank account – with the cheeky text added: “provided that you still have one”. Bolletje has always been known for its Dutch rusk. A few years ago though, the brand radically expanded its product portfolio, changed its package design (BrummelkampHoekstra) and hired a new advertising agency (S-W-H). The perfectly integrated and striking communication this year won a golden ADCN ‘lamp’ – the Dutch equivalent of the D&AD ‘pencils’.
This commercial about ‘Great achievements by men’ for Domino’s was made by S-W-H. With its American voice-over, masculine message and catchy pay-off, you wouldn’t guess it’s from Amsterdam. Earlier work by S-W-H was also inspired by Domino’s’ American roots. Take for example this ‘we are the world’ spoof with the great pay-off: “We pizza promise you that!”. Even though most people obviously associate pizza with Italy, it’s interesting to see how the market of Pizza delivery services is dominated by American flavoured advertising. Beginning of this year Selmore created a ‘genuine’ mafia scene for another player in the category; New York Pizza. The only thing Dutch about it, is the advertiser itself and the fact that you can hear someone curse on national television. In fact, the word ‘fuckin’ was for many a reason to complain with the Dutch Advertising Code (NRC). Fortunately the committee was equipped with a good sense of humor. Instead of a ban, we would like to see it win a lion in Cannes next year.
Erik Wünsch, the founding father and Managing Director of S-W-H (Schaeffer-Wünsch-Has), is leaving his agency. Eleven years after having founded S-W-H Wünsch (47) wants to explore “new creative roads”. These roads might go cross-border, since in todays Adformatie Wünsch explains that he wouldn’t want to work for any other agency in the Netherlands; S-W-H is simply the best. Theoretically he’s right since S-W-H is Agency of the year 2007. So the question is, how will they perform without him. Well, we’re not too worried, if they continue to produce creative stuff like this.
Agency of the year 2007, S-W-H, changed its name into 
