In Down Time, Stun Media Dabbles in Music

Stun Media, the people that did the Silver Jeans spec spot we liked so much, just completed a music video for Paul Price's Her Planet.

It was done on a shoestring budget but is actually quite pretty. The money was spent sticking to one theme instead of trying to jam a menagerie of wild ideas into the frame. We think that takes guts and is good for brand recall. (Consider the schizophrenic big-budget alternative.)

Ogilvy: While Contemplating Life's Journey, Think Vuitton

Here's a pretty but slow-going spot from Ogilvy Paris. Ask yourself (while reclining in the idleness of the inherited rich): do you create the journey, or does the journey create you?

We were a little stunned to discover the ad was for Louis Vuitton and not for the Tourism Department of, oh, Portugal. Or maybe the Virgin Islands.

In any case, to demonstrate LV's trademark decadence, Brentter points out the spot is the first-ever TV ad for the brand. And it clocks in at :90! Way to burn the scrilla-scratch dough.

Giant Fake Boobs? Hmm, Must be A Viral

"Please find the attached viral." Seriously? Seriously? Could that be any more 2006? Or was it 2005? Wake up people! For those still asleep, let us offer a bit of help. Repeat 300 times, slap yourself on the forehead, repeat. "A viral is not a viral until it has become a viral. Viral is a result, not an intent. Just because I call something viral does not mean it will become a viral."

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TBWA\CHIAT\DAY Sends Us Grammy/Disruptunes Spot. What? WHO?

TBWA\CHIAT\DAY sent us a :15 ad for the Grammys and this thing called the Disruptunes. Watch it here.

The ad, scheduled to air during the event, is for Grammy-fan promotional material. Coffee table books, CDs, that sort of thing.

It also features music from The Generators, a band participating in TBWA's Disruptunes, an internal TBWA thing where artists can upload songs that in turn are used for ads. (The agency describes it thus: "[helping] agency talent express their creativity and bring brilliant music to the world.")

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Creativity, Culture, Social Media Focus of Upcoming PSFK Conference

Because we always think it's a great idea for creative people in the industry to get together and share thoughts, we figured we'd tell you about an upcoming PSFK conference which will be held March 27 at the Art Directors Club in New York. PSFK hopes to instill creatives with inspiration and new creative ideas.

At the event New York chef (yes, a chef) Eric Briones will talk about how he finds inspiration to improve his menu and overall brand. Also covered will be "a review of social media and the creative opportunities that it presents; an exploration of New York culture; an insight into how collaborative co-working is fueling a diverse range of businesses including NASA and Etsy.com; and a session to deliberate solutions for the problems faced by three charities that the Art Directors Club sponsors."

Get all the conference details here.

Zhi to Reclaim Chinese Dignity on Olympic Soccer Field

Chinese footballer Zheng Zhi brings some Asian Algier to Adidas' Beijing Olympics campaign.

The hand-drawn spot builds on "Together" with Zhi's narrative about how the 2008 Beijing Olympics will redeem his people from loss. Disembodied wings carry the Chinese into the clouds. The Chinese, and some feathers, fall out of the sky when Zhi describes the 1999 game.

Despite the tripped-out depressing imagery, the story ends on an up note. Because impossible is nothing, right?

Deep. Or at least really abstract. In which case ... deep.

Snickers Unleashes Football Monster in Plane Graveyard

Hey Lost fans, you're glad the show is finally back, right? Polar bear skeletons. Mysterious rescuers. That cabin. The supposed return of Walt. Oh yea. It's all there. Expect for maybe the monsters in this BBDO Moscow-created Snickers commercial from Russia which has a team of them playing American football with airplane engines.

Oh yes, this is not your average candy bar commercial. Not at all. We get grunting beasts. A plane graveyard. Lots of CGI. And a Snickers bar. Which gets one monster's game back on before he gets whacked by the opposing team. his thing should have been in the Super Bowl.

Blackberry Dabbles in Comedy to Snare Fresh Demo

So, 101 bellybuttons walk into a bar.

This is just one of the cliffhangers you won't revisit after checking out teasers for this Blackberry-sponsored improv troupe.

Add crappy video quality and comedians telling jokes on the phone (isn't that a social faux-pas? If it isn't, it SHOULD BE), and you've got yourself an unbeatable stench.

Ads for the effort were featured on the front page of the Times. Richard at Gawker pointed it out to us. Thanks for engaging us in the angst, Richard.

Rumors Favor Fallon For Microsoft Win

Since last December Fallon Minneapolis and Crispin Porter + Bogusky have been battling for the $2-300 million Microsoft consumer products account. The Daily Ad Biz reports rumors are flying Microsoft has chosen Fallon. There's been no confirmation either way but wouldn't it be fun if waning poster boy CP+B took a hit? OK, that's mean. We'd never wish that on anyone. Well, maybe we would but not here. May the best shop (or the one that plays the game the best) win.

Osama Bin Laden Video Promotes Fashion Brand

We've seen the many directions in which fashion brands travel to promote their wares. We've had Dolce and Gabanna toy with rape. We've had target employ holographs. We've had Nolita use an anorexic French actress to sell its wares. We've had Wrangler spread fashion mannequin around Paris. We've had hottie-wear promoted with voyeuristic videos. We've had former Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev hawking Louis Vuitton. We've had Sisley doing, well, anything and everything that has to do with sex to call attention to its fashions.

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