The Roots of UGC

So just a little side note, the first people to capitalize on promising audiences some commercial fame is Doritos (or at least to the best of my recollection). 

They had a contest Dec. 08 challenging audiences to come up w they're very own Doritos ad. But you probably know this already considering the MASSIVE hype it generated. 1 mil buckaroos went to the creator if it was voted most popular superbowl ad of the year. Now thats what I call using your audience wisely.

Thinking of this made me want to look up the winning ad that was aired. Not too shabby. 

PS. My future profession is being outsourced to the average Joe! Should I be in panic mode?

PSS. For your viewing pleasure -->

Capitalizing on U.G.C (user generated content)

So, a couple of months ago (aka 1 month ago), a very sad thing happened to Canada and its cultural heritage. CBC lost the theme song of Hockey Night in Canada (which was then bought by CTV to use on TSN etc.). 

I must admit, even I, a far from avid hockey viewer was disturbed by the news. CBC's brainiacks luckily came up with as good as a solution as they could - capitalize on the User Generated Content trend. So came about the Hockey Night in Canada theme song competition. You can listen to the final tune "Canadian Gold" in my video bar. 

While it can never compare to the original (which is engrained in every Canadians head) it was a genius idea. Who can complain about song that came about from the unleashed creativity of y

our own Canadian neighbors (and that you voted on!). If the end result sucks we only have each other to blame. (Plus the 100 000 dollar prize awarded by CBC is nothing compared to the 2

.5 - 3mil being asked by the last song guy.)

Cheers to the

CBC growing some brains.

Dundas goes Times: For better or for worse?

Recently, (ie. a couple of weeks ago), my friends and I decided to check out the 'cool' 'hip' night of artwork at Nuit Blanche in downtown Toronto. A night to explore the unrecognized independent artists of our city. Or so I thought...

Aside from the entire event falling below my expectations (which could partly be due to my being immune to anything less than hollywood special effects) the exhibit that most caught my eye was not an exhibit at all. Dundas square gone beserk.

As my friend ooed and awed at its glowing commercial wonder - "what an improvement!"...I couldn't stop myself from thinking... Is this the road we want to head down? Finding artistic beauty in the pulsating ads that are part of a bigger plan to SELL TO THE AUDIENCE, really no greater goal than to GET THEIR MONEy. Then again, I often feel engaged in an art form when designing ads. Can the two be reconciled? Fun and creativity with economic undertones. Or overtones I should say.

Then I remember, why be surprised that the mega Trident (or was it Dentyne pack?) plastered to the SE side of Dundas Square becomes the main focus of attraction. After all, the event itself was none other than an ingenious promotion designed by Scotia's Marketing execs.

 

My New Blog

Apparently expressing myself online is more difficult than i thought. My current blog has felt duddish lately... so I'm trying something new. 

Trying to reignite my passion for blogging, assuming one exists. I have determined that when you find yourself commenting on your own posts to make yourself feel special it is time for a new blog. Yes I am that pathetic. 

So I've found myself noticing some pretty cool/ crazy/ unethical ?? things going on with ads these days and I thought it might be cool to compile my thoughts here. I'm studying creative advertising right now so Im constantly conflicted between "wow" and "those evil bastards!" Maybe this will help me come to grips with my internal forces? Or make me more confused than ever.

I've been keeping a sort of log of ideas lately. I'm going to post them as time goes on. It helps my blog anxiety. Is a blog still a blog if you write your ideas down in advance? I hope so.