Um.

Just Um.

A very interesting use of robotics....

(From Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide for Andes Beer in Buenos Ares)

Sometimes you just gotta love technology.

Headroom. Legroom. Creative Room.

I'm just dying to take a crack at a show that utilizes this type of stop motion.
I can guarantee stop motion is going to be on my pitch list this year when I meet with clients.

I particularly like how Nissan has handled it. Take a look at their commercials "Legroom" and "Headroom" - you may want to hit the pause button a time or two to appreciate the not-so-registered technique and the fun, upbeat look that brings to the overall ad (well okay, multi-striped socks and pink hair might add a teensy bit of something, too).

I can see this being used as a way to get an audience who has 'seen it all' to look once again, through a fresh set of eyes.

A Smart New Promotion

Who knew the United Arab Emirates had such a problem with plastic bags? Evidently it's so bad, the government has declared that their use is to be discontinued by 2013.

With the help of Leo Burnett - Dubai and an innovative concept, they're well on their way.

Take a look:

Challenging Reality: a creative way to get your message across

The nice thing about film is its ability to suspend reality and invite you into a world of illusion.

That illusion, the creative interpretation you use as a vehicle to deliver your message, can have a huge impact on how that message is received.

I love this particular treatment and can think of tons of applications for it - ways to get your audience to think outside the box.

Enjoy.

Profile: My Cat From Hell (Animal Planet)

As a producer/director, I usually cringe when I see the list of reality TV titles gracing show schedules these days. Oh there are the ones with production values slightly less embarrassing than your average home video. But you will never convince me that "Teen Mom" is, by anyone's definition, Good TV. Sorry, just not going there.

However, there is always that rare exception to the rule and My Cat From Hell is most definitely one of them.

A show has to have entertainment value to make it on a channel's TV schedule, and this one delivers. Its host Jackson Galaxy is colorful, articulate and fun to watch. But what really makes this show stand out is its content.

photo courtesy Valerie Allen PR

This show isn't just about entertainment; it slips in a hefty dose of education as well. And it's an education that is desperately needed to help battle against the egregious numbers of cats euthanized each year in the United States.

According to the American Humane Association, more than 71 percent of cats entering shelters are euthanized - that's well over a million kitties each year.

Jackson's personal mission, in his own words, is "to keep cats from being euthanized -- out of shelters and off the streets for reasons that are entirely preventable." With more than 15 years' experience helping people manage feline behavioral issues - and over 1,000 one-on-one cases (both in-home and in rescue situations) under his belt, this man is uniquely equipped to do something about it.

In 2011, he launched My Cat From Hell in partnership with Animal Planet. Each episode of My Cat From Hell showcases a "hopeless" situation where a cat owner is at wits' end. These people are just a breath away from giving up on their feline companion. The behavior exhibited by these kitties would certainly make them less adoptable - and probably earn them a death sentence - in a shelter situation.

As a volunteer for cats at Wayside Waifs in Kansas City, seeing the solutions to each new behavioral issue could conceivably help me be a better advocate for each cat that I help socialize. And that is reason enough to support My Cat From Hell by watching it each week.

Shows like this don't stay on the air if the viewership isn't there, so I urge you to grab your favorite beverage, prop your feet up and enjoy the season premiere of My Cat From Hell with me this Saturday, January 7 (8 PM, ET/PT). You won't just be supporting one of the few good shows on the air. If you're a cat lover, I guarantee you'll find it entertaining - and educational - as well.

Create or Else

I love Ogilvy's site, Create or Else - mainly because I just love the name.
It's a worldwide youtube channel "founded and curated by Ogilvy" as a creative outlet for those of us who just have to, well...
create or else.

And in the spirit of the concept, I'd like to share with you an example of one of the more innovative expressions of creativity.

It's a video on the Create or Else site from Motion Theory Media that demonstrates that even data is art. In fact, not only is it art, it's becoming the hottest new trend in art.

Here's what went into creating this art:

And here's the finished piece:

The Catvent Calendar

Yet another marriage of video with social media: Big Fuel, a social media agency in New York, has partnered with the Humane Society of New York to create this unique and festive calendar.

There is a video for each day of the season, and each video features an adoptable animal (or animals) in a  themed setting.

Great use of both video & social media! AdAge thinks so, too: they are one of today's Creativity Online spotlights. Click the image below to visit the calendar.