Galaxy Ace ‘Slowdance’

This is the latest video from The Viral Factory for Samsung. The brief was to delivery a contemporary and trendy video for Samsung's latest model. This phone in question, the Galaxy Ace, is the latest smartphone powered by Android which is aimed at being one of the most competitive mid-range smartphones in the business today.

Personally I think it's a cool video and definitely an interesting way of showing off the phone's features in an unusual and compelling way.


Video Details
Agency: The Viral Factory
Creative: The Viral Factory
Production Company: The Viral Factory
Spanish Production Co: Icon International
Director: Jake Lunt with The Viral Factory
Producer: Jon Stopp
Spanish Producer: Nick Bolger
Editor: Owen Oppenheimer / The Viral Factory
Edit House: The Quarry London
Grade: Ricky Gausis
Online: Frasier Celland
Post Production: MPC London
Audio Design & Mix: Tristin Norwell

adidas is all in

Last Monday adidas launched their latest campaign, 'all adidas'. The campaign represents the first time in the brand’s history that a campaign has leveraged the three divisions that make up the brand – Sport Performance, adidas Originals and Sport Style, in a single commercial that shows the unique breadth and depth of the brand.

The campaign focuses on the adidas brand ambassadors, including football stars Lionel Messi and David Beckham, NBA star Derrick Rose, pop icon Katy Perry and the adidas skateboarding team, in their own surroundings doing what they love to do most. The main aim here is to showcase the brand’s distinctive presence across and into different sports, cultures and lifestyles, fusing the worlds of sport, music and fashion.

To celebrate the launch of the new campaign, adidas have had Irish International Rugby star Cian Healy produce a series of artwork depicting the Game Face theme of the campaign. Game Face is the visceral culmination of all that goes into the game, from the preparation, to the glory goal (or defeat), and features Cian's fellow international rugby stars Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell, Johnny Sexton and Ronan O’Gara. The artwork will be auctioned off for selected charities.

The commercial is supported with a brand new soundtrack from Justice called Civilization (official release date 4th April 2011). Directed by Romain Gavras, famous for directing Justice and M.I.A, the campaign is built around a 30 and 60-second version of the commercial for TV and Cinema as well as an extended 2-minute version for Online.

The campaign will also have a social media side through Facebook and twitter, where adidas are posting daily, in-depth exclusive content from the various parts of the brand – from new product releases to competitions for Katy Perry tickets and much more.

“In the past ten years we have successfully extended the adidas brand into three powerful sub-brands with adidas Sport Performance, adidas Originals and adidas Sport Style. Now we are proud to be able to show the breadth and depth of the adidas brand in one global brand campaign,” explains Erich Stamminger, member of the Executive Board responsible for Global Brands.

"’all adidas’ is the biggest campaign we have ever executed. Its creative concept brings together the diversity of the brand under one strong roof. From the court to the catwalk, the stadium to the street, we are giving an authentic statement with credibility only adidas has.”

Montreal-based agency Sid Lee created and produced the global campaign. Sid Lee was hired as the global advertising agency for lifestyle label adidas Originals at the start of 2008 and developed the global campaigns for Originals in 2009 and 2010 including ‘House Party’. In 2010, Sid Lee was announced as the global lead-agency for the entire adidas brand.

The “all adidas” campaign takes place throughout 2011 in a mix of environments from sport to music, lifestyle to fashion with different elements rolling out over the year. The ad will air on RTE 1, RTE 2, TV3, 3e, Universal, MTV, E!, E4, E4+1, Sky Sports 1 & 2, Sky Living, Sky Atlantic and Sky 1 through to 10th April. The ad will also feature in Cinema from 25th March to 28th April.

Lyons Tea - Fans Vote On Favourite Ending

Lyons has been putting the talk into tea very successfully for some time now but the next TV ad is being handed over to the fans. Never-before seen endings to the current Gold Blend TV ad are now available to view on the Lyons Tea Facebook page and fans are being asked to vote for their favourite clip in a bid to help Lyons Tea decide which ad to air next on television.

The current Gold Blend TV ad opens on the magical Lyons tea factory where the Master Blender and his young apprentice ponder the richer taste and richer stories of Lyons Gold Blend. The current ad then ends with Dad, Mum and their 3 year old boy sitting on the couch and Dad is recounting the age-old fairytale ‘there was an old woman who lived in a shoe’ to his son. However in true Irish style, Dad throws in a few exaggerations and a bit of colour for good measure.

However, this was just one of four potential endings for the Lyons Gold Blend ad. Storytelling is at the heart of each alternate version but we hear the story of Goldilocks in one, while the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs takes on some interesting twists and turns in the other versions. However it is always Dad recounting the tales in a rather exaggerated fashion so that the joke is always on Mum.

Lyons is calling on its Facebook fans to vote for their favourite ending to help them decide which ad to air next. Whichever ending is voted the favourite by Lyons Tea fans, the overarching message will remain unchanged, revealing that a richer talk’ added to the tea is what gives Lyons Gold Blend its richer, full bodied taste.

‘Animated’ - Irish Animation at Kildare Village for St Patrick’s Weekend

Kildare Village in association with Cartoon Saloon is creating a free family cinema experience to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Guests will walk the green carpet into a cosy family screening area with rugs, cushions and complimentary popcorn before enjoying a feast of short animated films including the award winning animation, The Secret of Kells. To coincide with the screenings, Kildare Village will be hosting workshops for 9 to 12 year olds. During “An Introduction to Animation”, children will create their own animation character and storyboard and bring it to life in a cartoon flick-book. The ‘group’ animation will be available for viewing on YouTube following the workshop.

The Secret of Kells is Cartoon Saloon’s first feature film and was directed by Tomm Moore. Nominated for an Academy Award ® for “Best Animated Feature”, the film has screened and won awards in major festivals worldwide. This vibrant animation is a spirited retelling of the provenance of Ireland’s most cherished artefact, the Book of Kells. With the Viking hordes approaching, the monks of Kells are forced to turn their attention from transcribing manuscripts to building barricades. The future of the precious book is in jeopardy and it falls to Brendan, young nephew of the abbot Cellach, to save the day.

Festivities in Kildare Village begin on St. Patrick’s Day itself, Thursday 17th March with a host of short animated films from Cartoon saloon shown hourly between 11am and 4pm. The Secret of Kells, a bewitching animated fairytale, will have a green carpet screening daily at 2.30pm while workshops will take place from 11am until 1pm daily from Friday 18th until Sunday 20th March. Celebrations will continue all weekend with workshops and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

2011 ESB Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil

Ireland’s biggest classical music festival, ESB Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil, is set to showcase the talent of over 4,000 musicians from all over Ireland at the annual festival from 4th to 15th April. The competition now boasts over 190 individual classical music competitions including voice, piano, strings, wind, brass and orchestra.

Laura Gilsenan, CEO, Feis Ceoil, said “Since its foundation in 1896, the Feis Ceoil has set the standard for the performance of classical music. We are vey grateful to our sponsor ESB Electric Ireland for their support which enables us to continue this competition, which plays a vital preparatory part in the career development of aspiring professional musicians, as well as a significant role in musical education in Ireland.”

Brid Horan, Executive Director, ESB Electric Ireland said, “ESB has sponsored the Feis Ceoil since 2008. This year is particularly exciting for us as we are supporting the Feis under our new brand name, ESB Electric Ireland. We are very proud to support Ireland’s emerging and extraordinary talent in classical music, reflecting the energy and passion that is evident in the performances of all the participants”.

Some of the most outstanding competitors from the 2011 ESB Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil will be showcased at a special Gala Concert in the Dublin Convention Centre on April 16th 2011. The concert will feature The Celtic Tenors, and will be attended by the Patron of Feis Ceoil Association, President of Ireland, Mary McAleese.

For the performers, in addition to the prestige of winning at the ESB Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil, successful competitors will also enjoy over €50,000 worth of prizes.

Ticket prices for the competition are €5 per day and open to everyone.

Former well known Feis Ceoil participants:

• John O’Conor, internationally renowned concert pianist,
• Siblings Finghin & Dearbhla Collins, both renowned pianists who perform worldwide,
• Acclaimed opera singers Virginia Kerr, Regina Nathan, and Cara O’Sullivan,
• Young up and coming pianist Sophie Cashell,
• Harpists Anne-Marie O’Farrell & Cormac de Barra,
• Celebrated Composer Conor Linehan,
• John McCormack, Ireland’s most famous and critically acclaimed Tenor,
• Author James Joyce, who won a Bronze Medal for Tenor Solo.

Other Competitors of Interest:

• Comedian Risteard Cooper who won the Baritone Solo competition in 1987,
• Broadcaster Liz Nolan of Lyric FM,
• Contemporary eclectic cellist Vyvienne Long.

Current competitors of interest:

• Quaid Family siblings who perform as individuals soloists and in an ensemble, winners of Family Ensemble 2010 – all of whom will be competing individually in 2011,
• Seán Óg Boylan, accomplished pianist and organist and the son of former Meath manager, Seán Boylan (both pictured above).

Competitions of ‘note’ at ESB Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil 2011:
Tuesday 5th April, RDS Concert Hall, from 5.00pm
Category: Choral
ESB Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil School Choir of the Year Finals

Thursday 7th April, RDS Concert Hall, 7.00pm
Category: Piano
Mabel Swainson Pianoforte Award

Friday 8th April, RDS Concert Hall, 7.30pm
Category: Vocal
Cuisine de France John McCormack €8,000 Vocal Bursary Finals

Tuesday 12th April, RDS Dodder Room B, 7.00pm
Category: Chamber Music
Chamber Music Cup

Wednesday 13th April, RDS Concert Hall, 7.00pm
Category: Woodwind
McCullough Cup & RTÉ lyric FM €1,500 Radio Award

Thursday 14th April, RDS Concert Hall, 12.00pm & 2.00pm
Category: Strings
Aileen Gore Cup (for recital by Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Concert Harp, Guitar)

Thursday 14th April, RDS Concert Hall, 7.00pm
Category: Piano
Morris Grant €2,500 Bursary

Friday 15th April, RDS Concert Hall, 7.00pm
Category: Vocal
Gervase Elwes Memorial Cup