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Laphroaig Scotch Doesn't Mind if You Think It 'Tastes Like a Burning Hospital'

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/02/2014 - 19:55

Anyone who's tried Laphroaig, one of the few truly robust Scotches that's also widely available, knows that it sparks passionate responses ranging from delight to disgust. Now the distiller is parsing out those perspectives in all their oddly specific glory with a new campaign called Opinions Welcome. In the video spot from U.K. agency White Label, we see real first impressions from tasters who aren't sure what's being poured out of the unlabeled green bottle.

The Young Turks/AmEx Film Deal Makes Movie Watching 'Democratic'

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/02/2014 - 18:35

Since director Davis Guggenheim's latest film SPENT: Looking for Change revolves around Americans who are living outside the financial system, sponsor American Express believed that the best way to allow the public to view it was to put it out on the great equalizer, the Internet.

Russian Models Troll Instagram With Super-Sexy Hashtags and Photos That Won't Load

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/02/2014 - 17:08

There's nothing worse than waiting for something to download on your phone, especially if you are a 14-year-old boy waiting for sexy models to appear in your Instagram feed.  BBDO Moscow and Russian telecom MTS collaborated to baffle the crap out of followers of popular Instagram bloggers Victoria Bonya, Alena Vodonaeva and Anna Sedokova.

The Model in This Skin-Care Ad Looks Like a Teenager, but She's Actually 45

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/02/2014 - 16:27

Looks can be deceiving. That's certainly true of Masako Mizutani, Japan's so-called "Lady of Eternal Youth," who has resurfaced in an ad campaign for Asahi's Asta line of of collagen powder, which contains 12 ingredients to promote young-looking skin. Mizutani, a mom of 45 with a faultless, glowing complexion that could allow her to pass for a teenager, caused a stir in Asia a couple of years ago.

The Story Lab Taps Lisa Eisenpresser, Shannon Pruitt to Lead Agency

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/02/2014 - 15:21

The Dentsu Aegis Network's branded content agency, Los Angeles-based The Story Lab, has two new leaders. Lisa Eisenpresser, co-founder and head of development, and Shannon Pruitt, evp of strategy and brand partnership, have taken the reins from Angela Courtin, co-founder and president.  Eisenpresser and Pruitt will serve as co-leads; Courtin is stepping down to focus on her role as president of the Dentsu Aegis Network in the U.S.  Eisenpresser co-founded The Story Lab with Courtin in January 2013. "This is my first agency gig; I'm not an agency person," Eisenpresser told Adweek.

Ad of the Day: Chilean Miners Star in Year's Most Electrifying World Cup Spot

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/02/2014 - 15:13

Less than a month after the 2010 World Cup wrapped up, a major mining accident in Chile made headlines around the world, as 33 miners were trapped by a cave-in. They survived an incredible 69 days under ground before being rescued in an operation that was televised worldwide. Chile made the round of 16 in 2010, finishing second in a relatively easy Group H (with Switzerland and Honduras, along with Spain) before losing 3-0 to Brazil in the first knockout stage. For this month's World Cup, though, the road will be harder.

Havas Paid Former Chief David Jones $13.5 Million Last Year

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/02/2014 - 14:38

David Jones, the former global CEO of Havas and its namesake ad agency, received $13.5 million in compensation last year, which included $7 million in severance, according to the company’s newly-issued annual report. As CEO of the holding company, Jones was replaced last August by Yannick Bolloré, son of Havas’s controlling shareholder Vincent Bolloré. Jones had held that role since 2011.

Google Finds a Grand Metaphor for the Future in a Toy From 1974

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/02/2014 - 12:47

Life is like a Rubik's Cube, says Google. A new ad pays homage to the classic puzzle game by featuring its Hungarian inventor, Ernő Rubik, and by leveraging the toy as an ambitious metaphor for the importance of cultivating problem-solving skills among the species's next generation of potential geniuses. The commercial's rah-rah voiceover, including use of non-words like "awesomest," occasionally turn an otherwise smart message into the potentially off-putting sort of smarm that is often a hallmark of contemporary techno-enthusiasm. But it's hard to argue the substance of the spot.

Counting Down the Top 10 Space-Related Ads

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/02/2014 - 00:46

The use of space imagery in ad campaigns is on the rise. In some ways it’s a blast from the past, recalling the 1960s space race when Tang pitched itself as the drink of astronauts and watchmaker Omega touted its ties to NASA. (In 1970, astronaut Jack Swigert’s Omega Speedmaster was used aboard Apollo 13 to time a critical maneuver that helped the disabled spacecraft return to Earth.) Today’s marketers are far more sophisticated. But despite better technology and edgier ideas, the basic dynamic hasn’t changed.