I went to the Cannes Lions festivals this year.
The festival is different than it used to be. It’s now much more a networking/seminar week than an exhibition and celebration of the world’s advertising excellence.
Which is good, because it gives us the opportunity to listen to people like Spike Jonze, Ben Stiller, Mark Zuckerberg (who didn’t talk much, actually) and Jon Landau. But it’s also bad, because of the shortage of excellence in the work, shown and awarded, there.
Curiously, this year, the two most classical Grand Prix, Film and Press, were …

When I started in advertising, in my first day in the agency someone gave me an annual book and told me: take a look, this is the work our market is doing right now.
Today, looking at the Award Shows that are coming, I was wondering: what are we telling to someone who is starting now in our business? Basically, this:
-       Copywriters don’t need to write headlines anymore. Everything can be explained with a visual metaphor and a lazy concept.
-       Body copy? What is body copy?
-       99% of the art director’s …

Stuck for a snappy headline to advertise whatever must-have necessity it is that you are flogging?
Just fill in the blanks on one of the handy headlines below.
They must be good; they’ve already been used a million times!
We’ve got more _________ than _________.
The art of __________.
Think of it as _____________.
Think __________.
- Craig Cooper

All true stories.
BRONZE
A friend of mine was in Cannes. Somebody passed and told him he won a Bronze Lion. Excited, he called his family.
-          Dad?
-          Son, how is everything in France?
-          I won a Bronze!!!
-          …
-          Dad?
-          Oh, kid, never mind, third place is fine too. Don’t be sad.
SILVER
Another friend, in another year, won a Silver Lion. He also called his family, who lives in a very small town.
-          Mom, I won an award here in Cannes! A Silver Lion!
-          Wow, I am so proud! But don’t spend all the …

Ah, yes, the digital growing pains of our “integrated” industry.
I find it remarkable that in our new-is-better industry culture, the digital revolution was really more of an evolution. And for that, I blame the geeks.
Several years ago I joined an agency that had an “Interactive Department.” Which, in reality, meant we had a handful of people that found building shitty websites and designing shittier banners inspiring. They sat on a different floor. Worked on different projects. Answered to different clients. And spoke a different language. As a result, I regularly …