Lets keep this short and sweet;
- My name's Luke Edgington.
- I study Advertising & Brand Management at Staffordshire University.
- This blog is going to be crammed full of my random and potentially uninteresting thoughts and observations.
- I'd appreciate if you have a read to leave me a comment, even if it is just to have a go at me. Who knows, it might help me learn to sift through my useless thoughts and post some interesting and informative stuff!
Although this isn't really advertising related, I thought I'd blog it anyway.
Being a massive IMDb addict, I saw tonight that a new trailer for what looks like a summer blockbuster has been released. Interestingly it has Rihanna with her acting debut. Judging from the trailer she has a prominent role within the film.
I thought it's quite interesting to see that in current times many music artists are able to make the transition into acting successfully. The likes of Justin Timberlake and J-Lo have managed to carve out successful acting careers for themselves in recent years.
Anyway, I'll post the trailer below for Transformers 4 Battleship.
According to The Drum, a new app is being developed that uses existing technology to react with your Smart Phone that'll notify you of deals in supermarkets, bands at concerts and even cause your phone to alert you when a certain advert comes on the telly.
If developed, this creates a whole new way for businesses to pester you with their advertisements and deals.
When initially reading the article and the concept, the first thing that popped into my head was how long would it be until people get sick of being buzzed every 5 seconds walking around the supermarket and uninstall the app? However, you have to appreciate how amazing the technology is and how much of an innovative idea this is. Which ever products get first on the market have the advantage of being one of very few products causing the alerts, and if your phone is buzzing you're going to check it!
Although, another down side could be checking your phone thinking you're popular just to find you're being buzzed to be encouraged to buy a box of cereal, bit of a let down eh?
A friend on Facebook posted this absolute gem of a video. It contains God (aka David Attenborough) and I'd say it's one of the best things on Youtube I've ever seen.
Managed to stumble across another funny, cheeky advert tonight, this time from McDonalds.
The premise appears to be the bullies keep knicking his Maccy D's, so after a few days he gets wise and disguises it as a Burger King, which results in the bullies just walking on by!
I think this is a pretty funny video, and as usual I like the cheekiness off it, with McD's taking the mick out of BK!
Once again scanning t'interweb I stumbled across another ridiculous article on Digitalspy!
Police in Durham have decided that to tackle the problem of noisy, rowdy drunks wandering the streets at night they're going to... wait for it... hand out sweets.
Yep, you read that right, they're giving them sweets. But not just any old sweets! Sweets that say 'Quiet Please' and 'Shush'.
Right, let's take a step back here and re-evaluate what's happening.
Firstly, if you are completely smashed and trying to make your way home, I'm pretty certain your first thought isn't going to be to read a sweet you were just given by a copper. Personally, I'd either be unable to read it or so excited to have some food and eat it whilst I searched for the nearest kebab shop.
Secondly, think of the money! I realise it's just a few sweets, but having to get these useless messages printed on them and then handing them out etc etc I find ridiculous. I'm sure the residents of Durham could think of a better way to spend their council tax.
I've had this article up on my mac for a while now and keep forgetting about it!
It's from Digitalspy, and although not a big deal I just thought it was pretty crazy. Apparently a company in China is refusing to hire anyone who's star sign is either Scorpio or Virgo. Reportedly they have previously hired people with these star signs and found that they wouldn't last long or would argue with colleagues.
Personally I think this is beyond stupid. I judge someone based on them, not what month they were born in. Also, being born on September 20th I'm a Virgo which means it's another door closed for me... what a loss!
After watching and blogging about the 'My Tram Experience' video the other day, I've followed the story for a while and to say it's cause a bit of commotion would be an understatement.
However, the most mind blowing part of the story for me is that there is a group called 'Britain First' who have jumped to West's defence, as well as protesting outside the prison where she is being held and calling for her to be released.
All in all, I've come to the conclusion that everyone is going a bit mental and I think I might just have to lock myself in my room to escape the craziness. It really is the only thing I can think to do if I am risking bumping into a nutter like her if I go outside!
Have stumbled across another ad today that I found interesting. It's for Skittles and involves a man and woman having sex, and then when he 'finishes' shall we say, he covers her with Skittles. I think this is a strange concept for a packet of sweets, and also surely misses half their target audience of kids?
Anyway, make up your own mind! Enjoy!
There is a new video that is floating around the internet and has come to my attention today. All I can say is I'm completely gob-smacked not only that there are people that are this mind-numbingly stupid and ignorant in this country, but the fact this woman is shouting at people on a public tram with a child sitting on her lap is insane.
Warning - very strong language!
Before you click play, I'd suggest making sure you're not around anyone that is easily offendable, and certainly away from kids!
Was doing my daily browse of The Drum this evening and managed to stumble across a bit of a gem. Before I comment on it I suggest watching..
Nando's have launched a new campaign, nicknamed 'Last Dictator Standing', to launch their new 6-pack meal offer. The ad features dictators such as Robert Mugabe & Ugandan President Idi Amin, as well as deceased Saddam Hussain & Colonel Gaddafi.
I think firstly Nando's are pretty damn brave for making this, I cannot understand how this is going to be aired. The article itself on The Drum doesn't mention if this is simply viral or if it will be on TV, but I feel like it's a bit of a cheap shot using infamous figures just to create some controversy and get attention for your brand. I guess they've taken the opinion 'all publicity is good publicity'.
Keeping on the theme of adverts, I just came across Samsung's newest advert for it's Galaxy SII smartphone.
I think this advert is extremely clever because I truly believe there are people out there that will buy anything Apple do, even if it was to downgrade a phone but put it in a new, pretty casing. This advert tackles that issue head on and addresses it with a tongue-in-cheek attitude.
Now, personally, I wouldn't have a scooby which of these phones are better, and I am a bit of an Apple whore, but I'd like to think that Samsung's ballsy, head-on marketing scheme will pay off because I think they have a lot of guts to do something like this.
The ad will be airing in the US this week, but hopefully here in England we can see some of this type of advertising popping up and the big monopolies in the market being taken on.
Despite it only being November, all around the country shops are covered in cheap tinsel and lights, blasting out cheesey Christmas music. As well as the shop decorations, TV sets everywhere are being bombarded with ad after ad offering deals for Christmas while trying to win over the viewers and coerse them into their shops.
After doing a bit of research and looking at feedback, I have picked what I believe to be the most and least popular Christmas adverts so far. Of course this is only my personal opinion on what I have read, and not having a TV licence or TV myself I couldn't tell you which was the best as I don't have the opportunity to watch so many adverts I turn into a drooling Christmas zombie.
Anyway, we'll start with the least popular so this blog entry can end on a high -
Littlewoods
Littlewoods advert is extremely simple; a Christmas play performed by youngsters, except the theme this year is all about how the kid's parents have bought some amazing presents and been able to pay for them cheaply and easily.
Now, call me weird, but I vaguely remember my Christmas plays involving Jesus. But then again, as I'm constantly reminded, it was a while since I was in primary school doing Christmas plays so who knows what it's like now!
Now poor old Littlewoods can't seem to get anything right, because not only have they made an advert that is more likely make their customers egg their shops than buy from them, the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) have received over 450 complaints claiming that "the ad ruins the tradition that Santa Claus brings presents by revealing that mothers do all the shopping", as reported in The Guardian.
If you're interested in reading more into how Littlewoods have offended people, I'd suggest jumping over to The Guardian article and have a gander. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/nov/25/littlewoods-christmas-ad-complaints?newsfeed=true
John Lewis
Okay, so now we move on to what I believe is the most popular of the Christmas ads this year. John Lewis. It's safe to say they've outdone themselves, tugging on the nation's heartstrings and squeezing tears out of every parent in the country. (Although part of me wonders whether the parents will love this advert as much when they realise their child doesn't care about giving presents and throws a tantrum when they don't get what they want!).
Interestingly, despite the fact this advert has been well received, the advert did receive some strong words of criticism from the usually positive, optimistic, ray of sunshine Charlie Brooker. He blogged, and I quote, "Anyone who cries at this creepy bulls**t is literally sobbing IQ points out of their body.".
Despite this I'm quite confident in saying that the John Lewis advert seems to be the most well received Christmas advert this year.
So I'm going to own up here and admit that this isn't something I personally found, but randomly my aunt posted it as her Facebook status and I had a gander.
The video is half the story of Mr Drew Manning, a personal trainer, who says he was tired of hearing his clients tell him that he doesn't know what it's like and how hard it is to lose weight. So, the absolute nutter decided to go on a year long experiment where for 6 months he'd eat absolute rubbish and gain weight, and then he has 6 months to try losing the weight and getting back to his original fitness.
To me, this is mental. If you're fit and healthy I cannot see why you'd want to do this to yourself. However, if this dude has the motivation for it I cannot wait to see the second half of the video in 6 months that shows his transformation back to fitness.
After reading a few articles on the Guardian Facebook App, I managed to stumble across their viral section, and more importantly a link to 'Catvertising'.
The video itself feels completely serious, although at the back of my mind I feel like it's a YouTube version of the Office and I'm being completely gullible.
The only thing I can really suggest to do is watch it yourself and make your own mind up! Personally, I'm feeling like it's a clever viral video to advertise their advertising agency, but hey, maybe I'm just being a cynic.
When watching TV the other night a new Mercedes ad campaign popped up in the ad break. I went on to the website and they have made a new interactive website where you have to 'escape the map' and at the end, if you're successful, you have the chance to win a Mercedes C Class.
I'd recommend everyone to check it out, if only for the chance to win a sick car!
While reading up on current affairs for another university project, I managed to stumble across an article on BBC News that really captured my attention. It's about a photographer named Brian David Stevens who has undertaken a simple project of capturing portrait snaps of surviving war soldiers. I found myself captured by the photographs, and the anonymity of the war veterans resulted in me concentrating harder and trying to create a background story for the nameless face in front of me.
So yeah, I'd strongly suggest having a look at the article and if, like me, you want to see some more images or have a look at his work there's a link for his blog also.
Over the past few years most people would've noticed T-Mobile's adverts. No matter where you go they seem to have taken over every bus stop, bill board and television. In my opinion, I think this is a great thing because I am a huge fan of their campaigns.
Personally, it all started when they did the flash mob in Liverpool Street Station back in 2009. Since then they have created uplifting, feel good adverts that have always grabbed my attention.
The latest in the series is all about deception, with T-Mobile stitching up members of the public into thinking they have a car ticket. I wont ruin the ending, but really recommend having a watch at this and all their past campaigns, especially if you're bored writing that essay and feel like procrastinating for a bit! Also the newest campaign is in Brighton so it's pretty funny recognising all the areas they're recording!
So today marked the day that I finally drove on a motorway after driving for 2 and a half years. This might sound a bit ridiculous but living down in Lancing the furthest I'd ever drive is Chichester or Brighton, everywhere else it's just easier to get the train!
However, after being at uni for 7 weeks now I was getting heartache from missing my ridiculously crap car Janet way too much! So after finally receiving my loan I decided I wanted to insure my car and bring it up to Stoke!
Now, like I said, I have never driven on a motorway before so I decided to go ridiculously early and try missing the traffic. So, after getting up at 5:30am, I left my house at around 6:20, with my hand written instructions on how to get up to Stoke and just my homemade CD for company.
Fast forward a few hours and what can only be described as a miracle had occured - I made it to uni in one piece without any problems with my car!
Now, being the hard working advertising student that I am I did try spotting some trends on my way here, or maybe even some interesting adverts. Sadly, sitting on a motorway for 4 hours all I managed to spot was a Twilight billboard and a trend that nearly every other car on the road was an idiot and enjoyed cutting me up!
Anyway, am back in my room now and gona smash out some work and then off to Stone tonight for the bonfire! So expect a boring essay sometime soon about how over-excited I get about sparklers!
It all started way too early on Tuesday morning where we met at 8:30am (see! too early!) at Stoke train station and made our way down to London for our newest project - advertising a postmodernism exhibition at the V&A. I'm going to have to be totally honest and say that postmodernism is a brand new concept to me, but after having a walk round and getting cramp in my hand from furiously making notes and sketches I'd like to consider myself vaguely informed.
Zoom forward 24 hours to Wednesday and we found ourselves at the Design Museum. In all honesty I was pretty disappointed and a little bit felt like I was mugged after paying £5 and finding the museum was just one very small floor. After investigating further I could understand why we needed to see the museum and how it would benefit us, but I did make a point of writing in the comments box that it was overpriced for what it was. Although there was an awesome clock which I was extremely tempted to try and shove in my backpack!
After then visiting the Tate and finding a bit of information about Pop Art, we headed back to the hotel and decided to all go for a Nandos for Kerry's belated birthday. Being a Nandos virgin I was dead excited to have one after all the hype, but after I inhaled my chicken and chowed down on my corn on the cob I sat there feeling nothing but disappointment for this over-rated brand.
And now fast forward to today. After getting not nearly enough sleep I made the lonely journey home back to Lancing. Also having left my headphones on my bedside table at uni this journey could also be described as quiet and Ed-Sheeran-less!
Finally, it brings us to now. I'm in the lounge, living the life of luxury on my parent's laptop, reclined on the sofa and in control of Sky+. Despite these luxuries, I have to be honest and admit I am missing everyone back at uni (big shout out to house 15!) and am really excited to get back there this weekend.
So, that was entry number 1. If you made it through - thanks for reading and hopefully keeping your eyes open! I look forward to ranting at you in the near future!
Never done anything like this so chances are it's just gona be my boring ramblings and thoughts, but hopefully you won't end up falling asleep mid-sentence and faceplant your laptop.
