Browsing Month February, 2010

swine. flu.

February 10th, 2010 // 4:39 pm @ // No Comments yet

Hello there you. Once again there’s a short break in thatandywhiteblog. This time it’s down to sickness. I think I have flu, I don’t think it’s swine flu or bird flu. I think it’s just flu flu. Anyway, whichever flu it is, it’s a virus isn’t it? So, to fill some time while I rest my fevered body and brain, have a look at a couple of viral ads I’ve noticed lately.

See what I did there?

The Samsung one is both clever and silly. The Pot Noodle one is just silly.

And that’s never a bad thing.

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Category : Uncategorized

remake, remodel.

February 8th, 2010 // 1:21 pm @ // No Comments yet

Hello there you. First of all let me apologise for the absence of  “thatandywhiteblog” for the last couple of days. What? You hadn’t noticed? Oh. Fair enough. Ok then, I’ll just get on with it shall I?

Today I’m being a bit confused again. This time it’s about the latest Barclaycard ad, you know the one, the big mad rollercoaster through the city on the way to work thing.

It looks fantastic doesn’t it? It was filmed in New York and Hollywood and, according to Barclay’s media department it’s “the most technical and complicated ( advert ) yet in Barclaycard’s celebrated history of advertising”. (  Not sure who’s celebrating or where but I wasn’t invited. )

But here’s the thing. Is it just me, ( by the way, am I using that phrase too much or is it just me? ), or isn’t it exactly the same ad as the previous  “Waterslide” spot but with a fancier frock on? Ok, there is one major departure as the bloke on the rollercoaster is on his way TO work and the waterslide man was on his way FROM work. Oh, and rollercoaster man buys a coffee with a carefree and contactless flourish while waterslide bloke plumps for a banana. But, inherently it’s just the same ad isn’t it?  I’m all for reinforcing the message and all that stuff but surely before spending what must have been a colossal amount of money on that thing, ( they used the “spidercam” for the first time outside of movies you know. It’s called “spidercam” beacause they used it on the “Spiderman” films. Who comes up with this stuff? Crazy town, crazy people ), didn’t they have a moment where they said, “Anyone got an idea?”, before making a bigger, fancier version of the idea that went before? Maybe Barclaycard bloke could’ve been riding a horse through the city, waving his contactless card at colourful street vendors who cheerily throw their wares at him as he gallops by. Or something. I’m sure loads of people will tell me exactly why I’m completely wrong on this point and I’ll be happy to hear all the reasons.

Call me an old fashioned Manchester copywriter, I just like to see a new idea in an ad now and again.

Mind you, at least he wasn’t fannying about on a stupid pair of customised crutches for no good reason whilst buying a stupid hat.

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holiday, money.

February 4th, 2010 // 3:14 pm @ // 3 Comments

All the cold weather we’ve been having of late has got me thinking it’s time to start planning a holiday. Obviously I want somewhere hot and sunny, a little Greek island perhaps. I love little Greek islands me. Yes, that’s it. A little Greek island it is. Glad we got that sorted out.

The only slight problem I have is a lack of ready money so I’ve also been looking into potential revenue streams. You’d be amazed just how many are out there these days. Forget that boring old Credit Crunch, the recession’s over. It is you know, I’ve seen it on the telly.

With that in mind I’ve decided to base my financial future on the amazing opportunities I’ve picked up in the ad breaks. First up, I’m going to sell my phone. It’s environmentally friendly you know and  it’s apparently worth cash, readies, dosh and even wonga, ( no-ones offering spondooliks yet but I reckon it’s just a matter of time ), so I’ve done the research and that £450.00 phone I bought 8 months or so ago should return me about 12 quid. I’m on my way.

Then there’s all those solid gold items I’ve got knocking about the place. An earring here, a Krugerrand there, that old chalice from the palace,  it all adds up. And what’s more, I’ve just discovered that I made the right move not throwing them in the bin when I got bored with them. Apparently I can sell them! I’ve seen the ad and I think I’ve got the hang of how this, ” cash for any of those gold things you’ve got knocking around the house but didn’t throw away, even if they’re broken and stuff “,  thing works. All I have to do is gather up all my most treasured and valuable items, put them in an envelope  clearly marked, ”  This envelope is full of gold so please be careful with it”, post it to a complete stranger and wait for my windfall. There is a covering letter I have to sign, which goes along the lines of:- “Dear stranger, I’m a bit strapped for cash so I’ve sent you all of my most valuable stuff. Please form an opinion, ( based on my current behaviour ), of exactly how stupid I am, pluck a number you think you can get away with out of the air and send me that amount. Please bear in mind that I have no idea of the intrinsic value of gold and will be happy with whatever you give me. Otherwise I would have sold it privately wouldn’t I?” What could possibly go wrong?

The big money though is going to come from a “payday loan”. This could be a little tricky to work out as, being a freelance copywriter, it’s hard to know exactly when the next payday will be. However, I’ve looked at the figures and at the moment I could take advantage of an unbelievably reasonable APR of a mere 2,356%. So, let’s say I borrow a grand, ( I like to keep the numbers simple ), and pay it back in a year’s time, that £1,000 holiday will have been mine for just £23,536. You can’t argue with that can you?

I’ve even been checking the internet for deals and I’ve discovered that I can earn ££££££££££’s without even leaving my home and I’ve also been lucky enough to be selected by a Nigerian General who wants to put £23million into my bank account. All I need to do is send him £3,000 to cover administration fees, which isn’t a problem as that’s exactly the amount that “webuyanycardotcomwebuyanycardotcomwebuyanycardotcom” have offered me for my brother’s Audi A6, which he only paid £39,000 for. He won’t mind, I’ve picked him out a beautiful replacement and I’ll buy that when the £23million hits my bank account.

Don’t listen to the doom mongers, the good times are back.  So let’s get out there and spend, spend, spend!

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Category : Uncategorized

easy writer…

February 3rd, 2010 // 3:26 pm @ // 2 Comments

Hello there. I’m all cross today. Sometimes it just comes over me, usually there’s a reason though. I don’t tend to just get all cross out of the blue. Oh no. Today’s reason is lazy copywriting. You see it everywhere but the one that got me thinking about it today is the bloody “Go compare” ads. I know the opera singer annoys a lot of people, there’s even a facebook page dedicated to the hatred of the big fat bloke apparently. It’s not so much the singer that gets to me though, it’s the song or more specifically the lyrics. Even more specifically, whoever wrote it.

In the latest song there’s one line that really drives me mad. It’s this one, ” it’s very boring when costs are soaring”. Now that’s just lazy. Sure, it rhymes but it just doesn’t work. It isn’t bloody boring when costs are soaring! It may be maddening, irritating, annoying, upsetting, even depressing when costs start soaring but it simply isn’t boring. Is it? No, it isn’t.

Now that may seem like a very small point to get all cross about but it’s just symptomatic of the lazy writing that you’ll find in every area of advertising. If it rhymes, sing it. If it fits, stick it in. It’ll do. It’s ok. It’s good enough.

Well clearly it isn’t. And to be honest, as a professional copywriter, ( stop giggling ), it really grates on me.

Altogether now, It drives me craaaaazy when writing’s laaaaazy.

And here’s something that’s just confusing me. Is it me or is the iPad just a great big massive iPhone that you can’t make phone calls with? All the great features of the iPhone we’ve come to love, put together in an altogether less handy, more cumbersome and slightly unwieldy package. Please do correct me if I’m wrong. I’m almost positive that I am.

And another thing. The name “iPad” just sounds too much like a panty liner to me.

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Category : Uncategorized

film 2007….

February 2nd, 2010 // 2:38 pm @ // No Comments yet

Hello there you. It’s been work, work, work for me for the past few days and, as it’s a fairly boring subject for anyone not directly involved in the technology and finance industries I thought that today I’d draw your attention to a great film I watched this weekend. It’s not particularly new, nor is it in any way a blockbuster. What it is though is a beautifully written and crafted film from New Zealand that made me smile, frown quizzically and get a bit tearful in equal measure. And you can’t ask for much more than that can you?

If you watch a lot of telly, which I do from time to time, you may well recognise “Jarrod” as Germaine from “Flight of the Conchords”, another little treat from New Zealand. If you’ve never seen it here’s a couple of songs from the  show. If you have seen it, you’ll enjoy them again won’t you?

Genius.

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Category : Uncategorized

one hit wonder…

February 1st, 2010 // 4:14 pm @ // 2 Comments

It’s a funny old game this blogging business you know. The public, yes that’s you, can be a very fickle lot. When I first started doing this, naturally not many people visited my little page. Then, bit by bit, it built up slightly till I had quite a respectable graph going. Today however it’s all gone a bit pear shaped. Admittedly it’s a bit late in the day that I’m writing it but you should see that graph today. It’s pathetic. Even the test card one that I put up last week did better. It  is, of course, my own fault though. I’ve only just started writing something. I have an excuse. I was working. Let’s see if I can put things right.

Give me a few minutes and I’ll try to make it up to you. Do call back though, I may have thought of a topic that will change your life or at least give us all something to think about.

I wouldn’t hold my breath though.

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