Fake Cannes Lion Winner's blog
Fake Cannes Lion Winner , 26 June, 2009
Cannes
It’s been a pretty decent year for India so far at the Cannes. All the biggies have delivered. A total of 23 metals so far, with the Titanium and Films yet to be announced. Darn good. The entries from India have confirmed that the country isn’t really been affected by the globally dreaded word. Oh yeah, so what if you cut salaries of employees. So what if you postpone appraisals, and, in some extreme cases, sack people. Or conveniently let the HR team take your employees into confidence and sell the ‘recession-has-badly-affected-our-profits’ story. We’ve even had someone pleading not to reduce Cannes to a cost-cutting exercise. They’ve heard you buddy. Well and loud. Cannes is different, yeah.
On a positive note, some of the entries from India have been good. But let’s not get into that. The media is all over them, showering accolades. Well-done boys. Save the Gutter Bar from shutting down in tough times like these. Invest heavily. India definitely has to show the way, if not for creativity.
But the one work that stood out for me is the Air India campaign done by DDB Mudra, Bangalore. This unique two-piece campaign won Silver at the Outdoor Lions this year (The Mudra team should’ve partied at The Beach Resto-Bar last night). The campaign has already started getting mixed response from agency folk. I myself was starting to get all excited hearing my colleagues and peers talk about it. Then came the spoiler.
A certain email has been doing the rounds – which has a link to an ‘Ads Of The World’ page, featuring a campaign done by Euro RSCG Spain for Air France. Pretty much the same idea. In a more dignified response, well ‘re-crafted’, DDB Mudra. The link is attached, see for yourself. I’m starting to hate this thing called ‘coincidence’. How often it happens. You think of a great idea, send it to Cannes no less, it wins you Silver, and then comes the spoiler. It’s like watching a great movie and knowing later that it was actually a remake. Somebody thought of it before, executed it as well. Not the first time a ‘coincidence’ happening at Cannes. We’ve seen it before, haven’t we?
Oh those scams. Wins you stuff, don’t they? So much for Ads Of The World and Behance. But the show has to go on, and it will. This blog, too. Watch this space tomorrow. I’m starting to enjoy blogging. In fact, this should be the best job in the world.
Original
Copy
superb
i wish this blog is a continuing feature at campaign india. at least it should surface during award shows.
@anant
With all due respect anant, this is just muckraking for eyeballs. Facts are not in place. You don't even know which came first. You haven't any other points of view here. Your guy might be a senior ad guy, but you're letting him push personal agenda here. How are you any different from will-do-anything-for-some-award-glory ad agency types?
And what's the point of all this? That agencies copy ads to win awards?? Aren't you brighter than that? Don't you know that's the best way NOT to win an award? Agencies check & double check to make sure the work they enter was not done before. But in 25,000 entries at cannes, you think there won't be few overlaps?
I think you know it. But i guess you also know nothing sells like dirt. Truth be damned.
@ alterego
Dear Alterego,
I have yet to write something that I do not put my name to.
Fake Cannes Lions Winner is someone senior from the advertising industry and he chooses -- as you do -- not to have his identity revealed.
If and when he does choose to come out, he will. Till that time, he remains Fake Cannes Lions Winner.
Dig out your soul - in the blogs
Dear Fakey,
More dirt to dig up: Winning or not winning below entries at canneslions website are worth a look:
1. Ogilvy's campaign for: Mad-o-wot hair saloon, Nalini prabhakar art restorer, Apsara erasers, The reader's shop, Dyal opticians, Batra auto accessories, big print campaign for a candy called sour marbel and abby winning campaign for a florist.
2. Publicis work for: Ranjit Barrot - a drummer, Abraham Cherian film production company, Cupid condoms, wespro digital camera, Omax cameras, Loreal shade & a shaving razor outdoor that looks like photoshop jobs, Kennel1 laxative, sulakshana cicket academy, mycem waterproof cements, soundsmiths AV equipment suppliers (these guys are hilarious!)
3. JWT: suraj electronics - a tv shop, reynold's waterproof ink pen, balwadi night school, mega work on sulekha.com (another never seen film), jalikkattu - mega digital campaign to stop bull racing in some south village!!, society for informal education & development.
4. Mccann: Global sound- a DJ, ABH packers & movers, coco's cafe, colodent toothpaste, polycrol antacid (no underwear ads this year!)
5. Leo Burnett: Tiger balm, Bajaj exhaust fan, tide detergents film (never seen before), mangesh zemze, Alzheimer society. (no highlighter this year!)
6. Rediff: Books & beyond bookstore, 70mm movie rental, getty images (every scammers favorite), sanctury asia (another award lover favourite along with wwf & cancer patients aid association), amway silicone glaze.
7. Contract: sudhavna ayurvedic clinic, Jivanjor adhesive, Morphy richards iron
8. Creativeland: cafe coffee day, indian motors - auto repair garage, car mall - used car sales shop. (another hilarious bunch here!)
9. Bates: TC ghai - an author, nirula's restaurant, staedtler mars plastic erasers, cartik the conjuror - a magician, friends radio station. (another funny bunch.)
10. Saatchi: Cox & kings travels, two plus short film festival, Recron pillows.
This is a sample. There's more from all indian agencies at the site.
Love. HM.
DDB Mudra - Euro RSCG
Not sure which the copy is? Perhaps Euro did it to Mudra and, improved it.
Cessation or Recession
Terry Savage has briefed the Jury please do dole out awards generously else next year we wont have entries.
Copies, Inspirations, deviations, Coincidences, Great People Think alike, Lightning can strike twice all are welcome.
Psst: The Fake Blogger is Anant Rangaswami, lynch him Agency Honchos. DDB+ LB listening
Oh Shit!! I thought "I" was
Oh Shit!! I thought "I" was the "Only" one!!
Scoop - Indian agencies - how much they blew up on Cannes
http://orchardfresh.blogspot.com/2009/06/scoop-agencies-and-how-much-the...
"SOUR" Copy
Guys, feel free to shred the article, but at least get your english right.
It's not "sour" loser - it's a "sore loser".
Or sour grapes. Take your pick.
But don't mix the two. It makes no sense :D
As for coincidences, they do happen.
And the award goes to... the better executed coincidence.
Meh.
Irony
Finally, a copy of brand equity's bawdycopy! About plagiarism in advertising!
here comes the great indian knives!
definitely a sour loser article - too much spite & glee. and too much drama over some 2 bit ad.
more copies to discuss for
more copies to discuss for people wit too much time on hand:
zoozoo vs spy vs spy ads
himani fast relief vs happident palace ad
COURAGE WANTED!
PROBABLY COPY. PROBABLY COINCIDENCE. PROBABLY DUMB JURY. BUT THE WRITER HERE SOUNDS TOO DESPERATE TO MAKE THESE GUYS LOOK BAD - AND SOME SERIOUS SCARED CHICKEN SECRECY ETC. QUITE A SOUR LOSER ARTICLE.
Point taken. But whats with
Point taken. But whats with no byline??
Ah! here comes the
Ah! here comes the faultfinders with no balls & no talent!
Why no byline? Scared of Mudra? :-)
While such great investigative journalism that changes the face of humanity is great, not having the balls put your name on it makes it just anonymous dirt throwing, aint it? What are you guys scared of??
And why would those guys copy an existing ad? Isn't it the best way not to win an award?
And what exactly were the great men of jury doing giving it an award? Looks more like a statement on dumbness of the jury.
Post new comment