Colman Rasic Carrasco, Sydney launches online ‘Riva Stakeout’ mini series for Riva Instant Coffee
Cerebos Australia Ltd. has released a campaign for Riva instant coffee with the launch of a new mini drama series. Developed by colman rasic carrasco and produced by Curious Films, RIVA STAKEOUT premieres at www.rivastakeout.com
The story revolves around the life of two main characters, who have more reason than most to stay alert around the clock. Starring Teo Gebert (star of Underbelly) and Markus Hamilton as crime-fighting private investigators Mike DeFonza and Larry Twiggs, STAKEOUT also features guest appearances from Big Brother starlet Krystal Forscutt and rapper/comedian Daivin Verduci (aka Ken Hell).
The tongue-in-cheek mini-series will be supported by a significant online campaign (including social media) as well as radio, print, outdoor, transit, point-of-sale and a major consumer promotion.
Says George Crocker, CEO of Cerebos ANZ: “our tuned-in coffee drinking audience have embraced web-based entertainment and social media and we are excited to put Riva right into the heart of their world with the STAKEOUT mini-series”.
Agency Executive Creative Directors, Rebecca Carrasco and Dejan Rasic both agree: “We’re excited about creating a long-form idea based on a truth around instant coffee consumption. We’ve all had a lot of fun with this one.”
Shot in and around Sydney, STAKEOUT is directed by Nicholas Reynolds whose past credits include the award-winning Lynxjet campaign.
Client: Cerebos Australia
Client Contact: Kim Littleton, Jai Sanderson, Stephen Commerford, Helena Ivec
Agency: colman rasic carrasco
Creative Team: Alex Romans & Nadia Ahmad
Executive Creative Directors: Dejan Rasic & Rebecca Carrasco
Account Director: James Kennedy
Agency Producer: Rene Shalala
Digital Producer: Nick Lee
Production Company: Curious Films
Director: Nick Reynolds
Executive Producer: Peter Grasse
Producer: John Rogers
DoP: Earle Dresner
Editor: Drew Thompson
Audio Production: Song Zu
Composer: Lindsay Jehan
Sound Designer: Simon Kane
Voice Artist: Lee Perry
Photographer: Stephen Stewart
Retouching: Electric Art
213 Comments
This looks HOT. Can’t wait to see more.
Peace
Nice Chicks. I didn’t see them in the show? Where are they!
Wow. This is way cool. Good to see real content. Finally.
That pic is one for the bank. MMMMMM.
Better than any Aussie coffee ad i’ve seen in a while.
I want that wallpaper. My parents had that exact same wallpaper. I remember it vividly. What a house.
It will be interesting to see where it goes. The first bit gets you in I guess.
Can’t help but think one good 30 sec spot might’ve saved everyone a lot of time and money.
Congrats Nicholas. Great job and top choice of talent. Well done Curious and CRC.
Nadia and Alex. Are they a new team there?
Nice. Time will tell where it goes. Looks good so far.
No one has said these guys are on fire … so here it goes “These guys are on fire”
this is hardly ground breaking…. sorry ….
70’s spoof has been done to death…
what a come down after welcome snoop
Personally, thought the Barry Dawson version was better.
6:14 – Yeah a 30 second is the future isn’t it.
Please CRC guys, if you are going to do self congratulatory posts, try and make the copy more believable;
“This looks HOT. Can’t wait to see more.”
“Wow. This is way cool. Good to see real content. Finally.”
Yeah. Right.
What’s with the 70s theme? Seems kind of pointless and rather unoriginal, I’m afraid. Sorry guys. The film quality looks good, though.
Certainly different. I look forward to seeing more of it. Interesting strategy for a coffee.
Shit…this is for a coffee? Genius.
YEAH!
BIG STEPS from an infant agency.
it’s lynxjet repackaged for coffee. the same formula. it works though.
Damn brilliant to see an FMCG brand go the viral video route and be brave enough to embrace change.
Wonderful and silly. Great.
Sorry nothing in the first spot to make it a must to go on.
go shalalalalalala
very cool.
And for instant coffee?
spectacularly cool.
So many bitter people on this blog.
I was already laughing at the end of that opening bit. Well done CRC – job done.
I’m sure there is a big, fat strategy doco somewhere that justifies everything, but I thought the brand was bought by boring middle-aged, suburban women who wouldn’t know a good coffee to save their lives. Didn’t they used to use Rhonda Burchmore? I can’t see the brand really becoming super-cool. I wonder if it’s a case of an agency creating work in its own image rather than in the long-term interests of the brand.
HOLY SHIT!
LOL. good stuff! well done guys.
Brave client. I hope it works for them. And for all of us trying to push better work.
I like how the strategy is part of the show. This is clever. I’ve been watching these guys for a while and they are really smart at doing this sort of thing. I’ll be checking back to see how it all unfolds. Good to see online taking over from the usual TV spot.
‘lynxjet repackaged for coffee’.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA Like the film/episode thing or not, that statement is just retarded.
There are more muppets on this blog than sesame street.
Amazing how many people think 70s style is an idea..this idea is about a caffeine fulled stakeout, which is bloody funny..and smart…and totally original.
i like guys…is that wierd?
Hey well done guys. Nice work. And not an easy category.
zzzzz I need a coffee to keep me from sleeping through this. It’s either a badly conceived strategy in the guise of a desperate and shitless hip and cool ad. Or it’s the worst Australian comedy writing since Homicide.
Guys, please. Do one thing right at least.
So nice to see the instant coffee category, which is well known for such gems as “full flavour” and “Rich Aroma”, get shaken up. It’s encouraging to see that there are some intelligent marketers still out there. I reckon it’ll work it’s little retro socks off with consumers who are sick of all the crap being thrown at them. When I look at the credits, i’m not surprised. These guys know their stuff. If I wasn’t due for retirement, I’d be knocking on their door for a job – for sure.
Bit of a yawn really.
Nothing new to see here folks, move on.
Let me get this straight March 10, 2009 9:31 PM.
You’re suggesting that the agency/client should make an ad more suited to (and I quote) “boring middle-aged, suburban women who wouldn’t know a good coffee to save their lives” in order to promote “the long-term interests of the brand”?
What an amazing alternative strategy. I bet that would work. (Laughing so hard I can’t hear myself type.) Why don’t you do us all a favour and try that one out it out on ALL of your brands. Then let us know how it goes.
Sometimes I wonder why I ever left Australia. Sounds like so much fun!
70’s is NOT an idea … it’s an execution. What kind of people write on this site?
Nice work, CRC. Be interesting to see where it goes to sustain my initial interest.
Got to 31 seconds and didnt bother to watch further. Watched it on fast forward.
A bit of discipline on the editing would have been nice.
Overall it’s a ‘borrowed interest’ execution that has been used before (and recently) for Cougar so it didnt feel as fresh. Which by the way is being made into an actual mini series for tv.
Yawns all round.
Oh.
And if you’re gonna write your own comments at least wait a few hours before you write the next one. It’s way too transparent.
Tisk tisk.
Nice to see a little CRC flame-back on the comments. Nice work dudes. Hopefully more people will buy a jar, tell their friends how much riva coffee tastes like a brown sphincter’d crayon dipped in sweat and noone will ever have to suffer it again.
Go CRC!!!
I want to work for crc
I love the characters so far. A series is a big call so lets see how it develops. Normally I would be the cynical twisted blogger I am, but I have to admit I impressed by anyone who undertakes a challenge such as this. Good thing for these guys is so far it feels like a show, lets hope it continues to. Pretty cool and way ahead of the pack.
We’re not in Kansas anymore.
Brilliant. I’m jealous. I’ve been trying to get something like this up all year.
Nick Reynolds is a champion.
SAAAAANDAL!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry but why choose Riva? I’d assume their competitors like Nescafe are fiercely strong and well entrenched. When you strip away the gloss, I don’t see much going on here. Coffee will keep you awake. Fuck! That’s an insight. Yes, they may be pulling the coolness lever (arguable), but is that enough to sway people to try a brand in a category with such strong incumbents? I don’t think so. And I don’t even think cool is relevant to the mum and two brats walking down the supermarket aisle looking to buy an instant coffee. My starting point would have been to redo that god-awful packaging and tried to find an insight unique to the product rather than the category. But it’s instant fucken coffee, I hear you say. True. No-one said our job was easy.
I well like it. I’m sure this is the first of many exclusively web based ideas. About time too. Witness the death of TV my friends. We the illuminated online guys in the dark corner are having a big coming out party this year.
Anyone been watching Under Belly other than the creative team.
I well like it. I’m sure this is the first of many exclusively web based ideas. About time too. Witness the death of TV my friends. We the illuminated online guys in the dark corner are having a big coming out party this year.
Done to death. TV people make better spoofs and tend to be funnier than advertising folk, but I suppose they don’t sell as much coffee.
That team are recent award school. Not bad to get up something this big.
What I like about crc is they don’t talk about it, they do it.
Why does it look like it’s in the 70’s when it’s clearly 2009 as per the registration on the car.
Monty?
More Curious content indeed!
Goooooooood.
Hey cool idea guys. This will work its tits off.
Nobody has mentioned ‘the punters’ yet.
Legendary – we’d go to that WORLD party on RED carpet
The jealousy on this blog is genius.
Sorry March 11, 2009 12:01 AM.
The biggest hurdle to get over in trying to write good ads is often yourself. I think this snazzy-looking work will be lost on what I perceive to be the brand’s customer base. As I said, the target customer base may have changed. I’m not privy to that. But if it hasn’t, I don’t think the tone of the idea or its presentation is relevant to the target audience. As I said, sorry if that flips you out. It wouldn’t be the first time an agency got what the audience is really looking for totally wrong. Further, there are lots of very boring brands servicing very boring customers and doing very well.
They ought to be congratulated.
Hang on…
There might be an idea in that.
All instant coffee is shit. Buy a fucking espresso machine you bunch of tight-arse, lazy, ignorant fucks.
12:01 – “what I perceive to be the brand’s customer base”. Thank goodness you’re around to tell all the agencies how it’s done. Who are you mystery man?
Thanks for the sanity 11:53. This has all the makings of another Honeyshed. Most instant coffee is bought in the burbs, in places like Bankstown, Frankston, Sunnyside. The grocery mums actually like Nescafe, Moccona and all the other Maxwell Houses of this world. 11:53’s right, grocery buyers don’t find their advertising boring. The last time I hear Nescafe was still in business, even tuned-in coffee drinkers have been known to drink it.
When will agencies learn – pay screenwriters to write scripts. They are really inexpensive. Direction is good but the script is just so amateur. How can you create an audience for this?
11:53 – Who the hell says “snazzy-looking”? How old are you? 90?
Maybe, just maybe, they’re trying to reach a new audience.
While it won’t win an Emmy, it’s a step in the right direction.
Yeah, we all want CRC to do great work and be successful, but this is the emperor’s new advertising. And I’m afraid, sycophants, he is naked.
‘What I like about crc is they don’t talk about it, they do it.’ 10:07 AM – HA! HA! HA! HA! That’s the most hilarious comment here. Hmmmm wonder who could have written that? If the compliments were genuine, they wouldn’t all be by someone “anonymous”.
Ever notice how whenever these guys get some work out, even their Lowe work, the blog comments suddenly increase with praise? “On fire!” is one that somehow always appears on the blog when their work is mentioned. This stuff does not warrant 70+ comments. Obviously fake.
The work is mediocre. There could have been an idea in there. But the writing and art direction let it down. Really don’t understand why the 70s theme. It has no relevance. Cops and 70s spoofs have been done to death.
Who am I, 12:01PM?
I am a creative with an opinion. Who I am is irrelevant. Attack the argument, not the person.
Besides, I am sick and tired of being told what to think by so-called industry gurus.
It’s all just opinion. It doesn’t matter how many shiny pieces of metal you have on your desk. It doesn’t matter how often you are quoted in the media or how passionately and charismatically you deliver speeches. Or how many times your picture appears in magazines and on blogs.
It’s all just opinion. Often with a clear commercial interest behind it. There is usually an often repeated truism in there somewhere and then bucket loads of opinion masquerading as fact and dogma. There is no empirical basis for virtually anything we say or believe.
That’s fine. But don’t piss me off with pretending that who you are or the stature you presently occupy in the industry means you are any closer to the truth. Ask the fuck heads and egg heads on Wall Street if you don’t believe me.
This does nothing for me at all. Seems like an idea they’ve been trying to get up for ages. For any brand.
Riva happened to take the bait becasue they thought it would make them seem modern and in touch. As 9.12AM said earlier – instant drinkers (loyal to NESCAFE and Moccona) like the arabica imagery, cafe cues and feeling of premiumness delivered by those brands. If you want to lure them away you’re going have to do better than a functional message delivered by men in tracksuits.
Actually, It does matter how many shiny pieces of metal you have on your desk.
That tends to indicate that you have a certain amount of talent and experience.
That tends to indicate that your opinion may be worth listening to.
You are right that everyone is free to have an opinion. You are wrong that all opinions are of the same value.
BTW, my opinion is that the Riva campaign is lame beyond belief.
2:21PM
I am not saying that all opinions are of the same value. What I am saying is that just because you are famous or awarded does not mean you are right. It means that your work fitted into a consensus of what’s good at a given point in time.
Two points.
In our profession, there is very little analysis, if any, of whether the work we laud creatively actually works in the real world. So, the consensus and the fashions it spawns could be full of shit.
Take Cannes-style print ads (big visual puzzle solved by a tiny logo). We were told these ads were the result of today’s youth being a visually-driven generation that did not read copy any more. And we awarded ads that fitted that consensus. Was the analysis right? Was it proven empirically? I don’t think it was. It was an opinion that led to a consensus that may be totally wrong.
Just because some big name with lots of awards said so didn’t make it right.
Second, the consensus is often wrong. Look at our economic situation. Very few ‘experts’ foresaw our current malaise. And, equally, very few will pick the turning point when things pick up again. As some black dude once said, don’t believe the hype. It’s often wrong. And how quickly we forget or ignore that fact.
Hence, my views on what is good and what might work are as valid as anyone else’s and may in a given instance prove to be right even though my award cabinet is pretty skinny and my name is not that famous within the industry.
Which may be because I spend too much time on this blog.
I agree with you on Riva, by the way.
80 comments?
lo
se
rs…..
go out.
eat some fruit
have some sex
quit playing Warcraft.
looks great but it’s just not that funny. sorry for the honest opinion.
I really like it.
I don’t usually post, but felt the need to pipe up in the face of all these laid-off morons using the computer at centrelink to shit on work, instead of using it to find a new job.
Not too different to work really, is it? Only now you get paid squat.
Who would watch this and drink can coffee? 13 year olds?
I’ve seen Australian films that are not this bad.
I like the rays of light on the print stuff. It’s very ‘in’ right now.
Great idea. They need to stay awake for a stakeout. I get it.
Poo poo to those who bag the 70s thing. That’s not the idea – just fun packaging. Better than a stylistically awkward 90s stakeout, or the recently rehashed, done to death 80s.
Who’s the loser writing essays? Get a life buddy.
It’s a blog. People put work up and other people comment on it both positively and negatively. There is no correlation between one’s level of positivity and one’s employment status. And I do go out and have sex with fruit so fuck off.
No, I mean I REALLY like guys…
Very nice work. I like it.
i reckon it’s great and i can’t wait to see more. Well done all round.
Wh’s the loser who gives a shit?
Really nicely done. Glad to see this on Bestads, and getting lots of props on the blog. Sure beats the hell out of production companies complaining about agencies and budgets. The bottom line is that there are people making the future and there are people whinging about it. Fuck the negativity. Adapt!
The best thing i can say is that it is better than average
I love Australians and their tall poppy syndrome.
TAKE IT HEEZY ROCKS! WE LOVE YOU KEN HELL.
I love that this posting has hit 100 comments in just over 24hrs. Is that a record Lynchy?
SCAR-NON
This blog is designed to share opinions. Who you are doesn’t actually matter. What matters is that you at least respect the creators, be honest and respect other peoples opinions.
Watched most of the first one,
Sorry to say CRC, but so far not so good.
I’m sorry to rain on anyones parade, especially after they’ve posted so many positive comments but as a consumer I really don’t care enough about coffee to watch a 3.5 minute web epic.
And… maybe this is just my taste… it’s not funny enough.
Well done for trying to push a new medium tho.
4:46 – Nobody said that 70s was the idea. People are slagging it off because the ENTIRE execution is 1970s.
If the execution is the vehicle for conveying the idea, how the f#*K does a retro theme help it?
Your comment on it being “Better than a stylistically awkward 90s stakeout, or the recently rehashed, done to death 80s” ….. Uh – excuse me if I’m missing something, but what’s wrong with setting it in the year 2009?
And your first comment – about how you like the rays of light on the print, how they’re very “in” right now – now that takes the icing on the cake for possibly the stupidest comment ever written on this blog.
Is that you, Paris Hilton?
THE ONLY REASON THERE ARE SO MANY COMMENTS ON THIS POST IS BECAUSE THE CREATIVES KEEP TOOTING THEIR OWN HORNS.
I RARELY POST ON THIS BLOG, BUT CAN’T HELP BUT COMMENT ON THIS ONE.
I RECKON MORE THAN HALF OF THE COMMENTS HERE ARE FROM CRC STAFF. THE OTHER 20-30% ARE FROM ALL THOSE WHO – LIKE ME, CRINGE AFTER READING ENDLESS COMMENTS ABOUT THIS WORK BEING BRILLIANT. WHAT A JOKE!
OKAY, SO IT’S EASIER ON THE EYES THAN A PIZZA HUT COMMERCIAL. BUT IT DOES THE OPPOSITE OF MAKING ME WANT TO SEE MORE. IT’S UNORIGINAL, UNINSPIRING AND IRRELEVANT.
LET’S FACE IT GUYS, THIS IS NOT BRILLIANT WORK. IT’S DAMN IRRITATING TO READ ALL THE SELF-BACK-PATTING GOING ON.
http://www.impawards.com/2004/posters/starsky_and_hutch.jpg
Bad version of Starsky & Hutch. Why? Only made it about 25 seconds though to be honest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iv-ZnfSC5s
The acting is shit and so are the scripts.
Like it. It’s being different to other brands for starters. I think the script could’ve been trimmed down a bit though.
Caffeine-fuelled stakeout – there is relevance to the product here so it’s not just entertainment for the sake of it.
‘lynxjet repackaged for coffee’ – got a good laugh out of that. He or she obviously works at McCann Eriksson or Singos.
Get a life people.
9:29 – CRC’s too small. I think that only six or so people work there. I could be wrong. Nevertheless, there are a lot of comments, and the work is brave, and I like the look. So, no need to be so bitter. Certainly no need to use caps. .
It does reek of Lynxjet. And Starsky & Hutch. And of the Lynx Anti Soap Squad stuff they did last year. In fact, I believe I remember that one having a similar 70s track. And retro car. And 2 cops. And a website with mini films. I’m pretty sure the website even looked similar in layout, with a badge/logo in the same location. Except it was dark while this one is orange, Lynx had 2 hot chicks as cops, this one has 2 thick guys, the girls had a red retro car, this one is blue, and so on. And the Lynx stuff was was fun to watch – it was sexy & entertaining & relevant to the target market. They shouldn’t have tried to do it again.
WHAT’S WITH THE DWARF?
Oh. Let me guess – he’s there for the same reason the afro and the 70s theme and the sexy girls are there for – to distract from a mediocre script.
Sorry guys, not one of your better specimens. And you’ve had some pretty nice ones up until now.
Just because CRC are small doesn’t mean they aren’t monitoring the comments coming in and singing their own praises on this blog. Come on, it’s fairly obvious.
This work is hardly brave.
I do like the strapline, though. And the sentiment. But the execution lets it down on too many levels.
Dwarves! There are little people in this film. Dwarves are sooooo un-original. This is a total rip-off of Lord Of The Rings.
WOW.. SOME SERIOUS VENOM ON THIS BLOG!
Amazing how many comments already. And so much worthless bitter shit.
It’s a great strategy for an instant coffee. And it’s clearly a piss-take of the 70s cop genre. I don’t think they’re ‘ripping anyone off’, I think it was intended. But clearly it’s not set in the 70s. It’s a piss-take. And it’s funny! I also seriously doubt the creatives saw themselves as the next mini-series writers – it’s a fucking pisstake! And from what I see on this blog, it’s one of the most interesting pieces of work out of Australia in quite a while. Different, yes, but really quite good.
And what’s with the lynxjet comparison?? The ideas couldn’t be more different. DOES ANYONE EVEN KNOW WHAT AN IDEA IS ANYMORE?
Sounds like some people have become so absorbed with dissecting and box-ticking that they’ve actually lost the plot! As for the lynx car, retro and hot chicks – does anyone even know what work they’re talking about???
Hat’s off for being brave. Great idea. Nice solid execution – hard to tell where it will go from the first one. But it’s got me interested.
I’ll go ahead and be just as cliched as your campaign, wake up and smell the coffee Australia, this is awful.
The 70’s spoof, yeah whatever, but at least make it fun and entertain us.
The spots just aren’t funny.
Try again all.
This is a response to 3.01PM.
( Lynchy, surely there is a more civilized way to do these things?)
Anyways, I am impressed that you feel so passionate and that you are happy to argue your point in spite of it being nonsense.
Alas, however, it is nonsense.
I don’t think anyone is saying that only those who have previously won awards should judge the next wave.
However, if someone is going to judge your work shouldn’t it be a chap or chapette who has proven themselves by being awarded by their peers?
Or would you prefer that your career is judged by a dope? Or by popular vote like on a dance show?
What’s with the whole twitter thing? Is it really worth the trouble for 7 followers?
Credit to Cerebos for having the guts to try something new in both this and their previous ‘Trolleys’ campaign. Having worked on coffee previously, it is very easy to stick with the cliche “rich aroma” et al.
I also know that the biggest challenge for the category is to get anyone under 40 drinking the product.
Unfortunately, I am not sure that this is going to do it. If kids want to stay awake with a caffeine hit, energy drinks taste better, are more convenient and are simply cooler than a cup of instant coffee.
HaHa. Not ‘That’ guy again.
You know what’s obvious? The fact that pretty much every long-winded and angry (sometimes even in caps) post on here was written by one person who obviously has a vested interest in attacking it so heavily. This guy is essentially a spammer. We had a similar thing happen to us a few years back. So boring.
I felt the need to say I like this work. We obviously have not seen the entire campaign but it’s looking rather good at this point. And before that same person says I work for CRC … well I don’t, but I do have a genuine opinion and not one based on a vested interest or need to just verbally abuse an agency or person or whatever without any basis.
THIS IS REALLY GOOD. There I said it. And even used caps. And if i’m in a situation where instant coffee is my only option, I’d rather drink Riva than any of the other stuff that just lies to me about being as good as my beloved cafe. And you know what, I’m a woman who lives in the suburbs too.
Right around the 100 post mark things always seem to get really nasty. The core haters just stick around to repost & repost. until they think they’ve killed it. Move on. This was good work for a tough category. Enough said.
I think it’s great to see this category pushed. What I also like is that I can say things like shit, fuck, cunt, asshole.
HEY JUST A NOTE TO THE GUYS AT CRC.
NICE WORK.
DON’T LISTEN TO WHAT THE HATERS SAY. THEY JUST KEEP SAYING THE SAME THING. TO ANYBODY AND ANYTHING.
YOU GUYS ARE DOING GOOD STUFF.
MOST GREAT WORK IS SLAGGED ON THIS BLOG. DON’T LET IT PUT YOU OFF. IT’S USUALLY A SURE SIGN IT WILL SELL SHITLOADS OF PRODUCT AND WIN A LOAD OF AWARDS. I’VE BEEN THERE.
I really like it.
a LOT of missed opportunities in this. The script is exceedingly average. Teo Gebert is a good actor and very good at comedy but he has nothing to work with here.
it’s boring. why would anyone want to stay watch the next ep?
ending with a shot that goes on too long of guys in tracksuits (and one’s a dwarf!).
jesus.
Wake up and smell the real reason there are so many comments attached to this campaign- bloggers are amazed/disappointed/ bewildered that this middle of the road campaign comes from the same Creative Directors who created Welcome Snoop.
Then again, they have a business to run and no doubt mortgages to pay, so good luck to them for getting something up.
I like that it’s a webisode and that a considerable amount of thought has gone into it. The execution is lacking a little punch and quite a few of these style ads were made last year, and in late 07 (Cougar, Supercheap Auto’s Enforcer stuff, Smoothie Flavoured Milk and a few others) But at least someone’s making ads. Nice work.
Nice one Saddle Bags.
1:58AM
Fair enough, mate.
I was responding to this:
Anonymous said:
12:01 – “what I perceive to be the brand’s customer base”. Thank goodness you’re around to tell all the agencies how it’s done. Who are you mystery man?
I took objection to the notion that the veracity of my opinion is somehow tethered to my status in the industry.
That’s crap.
My opinion should be judged on its merits like everyone else’s.
Just like work is judged at award shows without people knowing who produced it, the same should apply to an opinion on a piece of creative work on this blog.
Just because you’re famous or highly awarded doesn’t mean that the next thing to come out of your mouth isn’t a steaming load of bullshit.
Top stuff Nads and Alex. You guys are going places.
It’s very good, particularly for an instant coffee. Well done!
In the next episode can we have a cameo appearance by Carmen Miranda with some maracas, anywhere in frame i don’t mind…you know, gives it a “Riva” feel.
Riva! Riva!, aye aye aye!
i think the amount of comments is less a reflection of the work (good but not great) and more of a reflection that there a shit load of creatives out there with fuck all to do. me included.
I’m only on this blog to stop myself from worrying about being made redundant
Screw the jealous negativity. This is nice work.
for those of you out there who don’t think this is great casting and comedy writing. may i remind you of the wonderfully funny midget (or dwarf?). if that’s not enough, his name is tower (which is funny because he’s short – not like a tower at all). there is also a side splitting sprinkle of gold dust at the end, where the overly tall black guy in the afro thinks the midget is the other guys kid (that’s funny because he’s probably not… just really short).
btw, i seem to be missing my copy of ‘complete idiots guide to comedy writing’. anyone seen it?
You don’t need to be a non award winner to have an opinion either…we’re all equal.
We all deserve a say. Let’s go dancing in the daisies together. It’s a nice job.
And that doesn’t mean I’m from the agency, the client, the production company, the grip, the sound designer, or even the cockroach that passed through the set.
Just an opinion.
“…the veracity of my opinion is somehow tethered to my status…”
I hope you are not a copywriter, you verbose, pompous goose.
Hammer and Coup?
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/03/mini-ad-watch-hammer-and-coop/
I guess this blog goes to show how different we are. I really, really like it. Maybe the problem here is that some of you are so divorced from what it is to be a consumer (someone who doesn’t give a fuck) and so entrenched in the role of ad critic that you confuse your ass from your tit. But hey, the flip side is that you have never been more flexible.
Actually, as a copywriter myself I really liked “…the veracity of my opinion is somehow tethered to my status…”. Nice writing, 11:00am. And certainly a whole lot better than the script for the commercial we’re all expressing our views on.
I like it. I’ve never won any awards but I still like it. Is that ok?
Good morning sir. Can I offer you a new mobile phone?
1:18 – you are right – it’s a total rip-off of the Mini Cooper stuff from 2 years ago.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/03/mini-ad-watch-hammer-and-coop
First!
Why is it set in the 70s??
i’m an award school copywriter looking towards the industry for inspiration. but this ad is about as funny as a fart in an elevator. oh shit… has crc already use that highly original gag?
Recently, a very now brand management strategy digital media neutral communications experiential agency held an inspiration seminar/presentation with their furniture retailer client. Their recommendation? Place an interactive touch screen inside the retailers door [sorry delete inside door, replace with touch point] so the consumer could interplay with various products and room layouts. The old school client, when asked her opinion, just said “why do I want people playing with a picture of a couch when I can have them sitting on the couch? It’s like asking someone in a car showroom to look at the brochure rather than sit in the car. Don’t you guys know anything about selling?” Sometimes I think we’re so busy admiring the emperor, we forget that occasionally he has no clothes on.
What’s gonna happen to digital when clients figure out the margins agencies are making from it?
I agree with 4:38PM.
We as an industry are often so embarrassed by the products we have to sell and so in love with ourselves that we look beyond what is relevant to the consumer to produce that which we think is cool or funny or entertaining.
Sell me Riva instant coffee. Not instant coffee. Riva instant coffee.
Without a compelling selling idea, they are fucked going up against Nescafe et al.
Great work Nadia and Alex. Very impressive.
Exactly 4:47.
CEO to staff recently: “We’re at our most successful when we stop looking in the mirror and start looking out the window”.
Oh so right 4:47. Its an ad for the category based on a category truth.
My window offers a view of a cooling tower.
Any suggestions, 5:07PM?
“Why is it set in the 70s?”
Classic, 3.54.
Great concept. Love it. Just in time for Cannes fellas.
THIS BLOG READS LIKE A PACK OF NASTY BITCHING CHILDREN. HONESTLY, GROW UP. IT’S AN EMBARRASSMENT THAT WE CAN BEHAVE LIKE THIS IN A PUBLIC FORUM. WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE WORKING IN THIS INDUSTRY ANYWAY? NO WONDER GOOD PEOPLE LEAVE AUSTRALIA.
Sorry, Mr Capital Letters.
I’m a good person and I still live here.
Oh, 4.47, your insight amazes me and astounds us all.
Let us not make anything cool, funny OR entertaining, so that someone who genuinely DOES NOT give a fuck can just stroll straight past it without giving it any more thought than the colour of the underwear they chose that morning. Fantastic strategy. Can really see how that would help product leap off the shelf.
Most of us ignoramus’ just blunder through advertising with the simple (if not misguided) belief that the first thing an ad has to do is actually make you look at it. Absurd as it sounds, a lot of people believe that a great brand campaign actually builds the brand…not just flogs a sales pitch like ‘richer’, ‘smoother’, ‘creamier’, ‘brazilian blend’…which incidentally do category jobs anyway, because they’re all now saying the same thing. If you’re in a category with nothing new to say, perhaps it makes sense to say it differently. (Or is that too avant guard?)
But hey, nice to know someone is suggesting that there was a more inspired way to tackle this brief. Unfortunately the client doesn’t appear to be stupid.
I’m still laughing at 4:46 PM’s comment:
“I like the rays of light on the print stuff. It’s very ‘in’ right now.
Great idea. They need to stay awake for a stakeout. I get it.
Poo poo to those who bag the 70s thing. That’s not the idea – just fun packaging. Better than a stylistically awkward 90s stakeout, or the recently rehashed, done to death 80s.”
HILARIOUS! Only a junior crc creative would write that. Why does it have to be retro? What’s wrong with 2009? Or are we missing something? And rays of light are very “in” right now? Please explain. I don’t get it.
Jay your an idiot. Who gives a shit what you think. It’s a good ad and you’re a goose.
And one last thing Jay, go fuck yourself.
March 12, 11.59pm.
What a nasty piece of work you are.
Dick.
Nice job CRC. it certainly has the industry talking. Hopefully it will sell a jar or two of Riva.
Good luck
12:26PM
I understand your point and, sure, I agree with you. Getting people to notice your work is the critical first step of any effective communication. And it’s hard. Moreover, entertaining people is absolutely a valid way of grabbing their attention.
Now, I am not sure if people are as uninterested in the product and its advertising as you suggest. I reckon the mantra that no-one gives a fuck is a little bit self-serving. If you are an instant coffee drinker, I think you are interested in it and will pay attention. I know I do when I’m in the market for a product.
I just don’t believe this work provides the brand with a clear, relevant, novel or sustainable point of difference in a brutally competitive category. Hence, I don’t rate it. And, hence, why I was, by contrast, a big fan of the recent Boag’s TVC featured on this blog recently. (I’m not a perennially bitter bagger of work on this blog).
Either way, the market will decide if the idea was really any good or not. Not you or I.
12:26
Don’t kid yourself, there’s nothing new about this work.
12:26
If getting noticed and being entertaining is SO important can you explain why Nescafe is STILL so successful, even with the ‘tuned-in coffee audience’?
If the idea’s supposed to be coffee being great in a stakeout (is there an idea there?), why is it so completely lost in the un-funny 1970s retro stuff?
What an embarrassing mess.
I was told some smart people worked at that agency. Were they all on leave when this was made?
don’t worry guys, the fact that a few people don’t like it says its different..a lot of good things have been different.
Has this blog just entirely collapsed into anarchy and chaos. I can’t believe the type of garbage that is allowed to be posted on here. Incredible. Is anyone filtering anything on here? Hello? Anyone home?
I don’t normally write stuff on here but in response to some pretty vicious repetitive attacks from one individual – I wanted to say it’s the best campaign of the year in my humble opinion.
We all know how slow this year has been for the advertising industry. It’s good to see films coming out. Hopefully it won’t be a completely dry year for us at the awards.
Our office has not produced on TVC all year. It’s going to be a tough year.
Watching it in hd has chewed up all my internet, or was it the porn?
I really like this work, and I’m not from the agency or the client. is that allowed?
fudge!
I really, really want to get the last word in.
6:35 sorry we received your cheque that only allowed positive comments from agency staff and blew it on strippers.
The fundamental problem of the blog is this. When agencies submit their work to the blog, they are also inviting comment and no matter how brilliant an agency might think their work is, others might hold a contrary view. That contrary view is often inflamed by the pr spiel that accompanies the work. Riva is no exception in this regard with ‘our tuned-in coffee audience’ and ‘right in the heart of their world’ doing their case no favours. I say let the work speak for itself. So, if some comments are bordering on the nasty side of cruel, maybe someone should tell CRC that sort of thing can happen when you talk to your audience as if they’re a bunch of juniors and not your peers.
7:46, I think you raise a very valid point. Talking yourself up always makes you look like a dick. Unfortunately, we also very regularly delude ourselves into thinking that what we are working on or have done is truly brilliant. In reality, one or two pieces a year (maybe) are even in the ballpark of great. Trying to persuade people that your work is awesome just doesn’t work.
174 comments! Fuck that’s funny. its a record!
Actually, 175.
2:50 that is fucking GOLD!
MTV was great. Riva is not.
Ok I just saw this and it made me embarrassed for the guys at CRC. Sorry to be a hater, but it’s soooooo bog ordinary.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen more self-praise on this blog.
What a joke.
No wonder there’s so many comments of disagreement.
Very mediocre work indeed.
7.46, 11.05, you are assuming that every good comment here is from CRC and I have to tell you thats not the case. I for one put good comments on here and I am not from CRC, so you are proving the point youre arguing against. People do like this work, maybe not you, but people do really like it and for you to just assume that every nice post is from the agency only goes to show that you’re out to be nasty. I know the guys at CRC, they’re not those kind of people and if I remember correctly Snoop Dog and the RAdiohead thing both got absolutely slammed on here too then went on to clean up at the awards and no doubt create a lot of attention for MTV. So it just goes to show what ‘anonymous’ knows. Bit of a backwater barometer really. The fact that you don’t like it and you’re so motivated to tell everyone is probably a good sign. Reading these comments I have to say that I’m not likely to put any more work here.
Some seriously poor performances by the hero talent. I couldnt bring myself to watch one episode of this cheese-fest, never mind return periodically for more. Big thumbs down from me.
I felt like a coffee half way through the first 30 seconds.
Was that the desired response?
If so, fucking brilliant guys.
Someone stole/borrowed/subconsciously absorbed my idea… who’s dirty?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGCNFj7xAgk&feature=related
This is Gold, Stakeout is not.
“And rays of light are very “in” right now? Please explain. I don’t get it.”
If you looked at ads from around the world, and not just on CB or Best Ads, from places like Luerzer’s Archive, or God forbid in magazines where ads actually run. You will notice that recently there have been a lot of ads where there are rays of light in the background of the print stuff. Like you will see on the print stuff above.
Scroll up, ah yes, now you see it.
It’s a small thing. But a recent thing. Maybe you don’t know what I’m talking about because you don’t know anything about art direction.
Good luck with that.
It’s just good to see more Australian sites getting to make webisodes. They look like fun projects to work on.
Smirnoff also recently did a site which had a heap of web video a well.
Wasn’t 70’s though – http://www.itstartedwithamule.com
CRC good job.. electric art did a nice job on the print stuff as well. bus ad was what got me curious.
Don’t forget 2.51; you don’t choose whether to put work up here on Bloggo Road. It’s Lynchy’s decision alone. He uses a sextant and diving rod to decide which will best serve his nefarious purposes.
Hey Matt, hows things going over there?
Webisodes.
Call me skeptical. Call me old school. Call me a cock sucker.
They are a load of shit. No one watches them. No one ever has. No one ever will. And they do absolutely nothing for the brands that back them or get tricked into backing them.
If your life is so bereft of meaning and your time in such generous supply that you have the minutes to waste watching a moderately amusing webisode for Riva coffee, you are a fuckwit.
There are a billion things I’d rather be doing online and/or offline than watch that crap.
Hmm. Should I pull myself to that new Russian porn site I just discovered or should I watch that Riva coffee webisode? Fuck off. I know who is really pulling themselves in all this.
The problem with the net is that it has made distribution too cheap. Now, the lamest rubbish can get a run. At least in the past, everyone had to think long and hard before commissioning work because of the financial risks involved.
2:22 – Skeptical. Old School. Cock sucker.
To Mr Skeptical,
Fair rant, pretty hostile. You obviously don’t have too much going on in your life as one of the billion things you’d rather being doing is just slagging people off on a blog site about advertising. I suggest you should stick to Russian porn sites and keep pulling yourself off, as you a total wanker. 🙂
11:44, the diving rod hasn’t been invented yet. But it’s a brilliant idea, and perhaps it will feature in an episode of the next series of the Riva stakeout, which is set in the 22nd century and features a couple of very grumpy undercover coppers who haven’t slept for a hundred years thanks to (brand goes here) instant coffee.
No, I suspect that in addition to his trusty sextant, Lynchy uses a divining rod.
Hostile? Yes.
Contained an argument?
Yes again.
Feel free to rebut without mindless, personal waffle.
DDBoom!!!
Sorry. Not relevant. It’s just that this thread has become such a free-for-all, rambling shambles of irrelevant nonsense, I thought, why not?
2.22PM,
No blog is anonymous
Just thought you should know
See you soon
Are you seriously threatening me, 8:16PM?
Like what are we talking here?
Violence, legal action, tickles?
Over what?
Bagging webisodes?
What a mindless and gutless post.
I may have been deliberately inflammatory, but there is a line that should not be crossed, friend.
As far as I am concerned, you should be identified and banned from this forum, you gutless fucker.
Shall we push on to 200?
2.22/7.27
Interesting that your mind would revert to a threat of violence
Seems more indicative of your nature than anyone elses
Enough to just say hello knowing what lies behind the veil
‘Fuck off. I know who is really pulling themselves in all this.’ crosses a line
An argument against the work is different to a personal insult
People seem to forget that…and the fact that nothing is truly anonymous
The war of words between 8:16 and 7:27 needs to be decided in a boxing match.
Gentlemen, please nominate a preferred venue.
One last reply to Mr Skeptical,
My last post was at 5:53pm regarding your hatred of video made for the web. Your response was imo fairly hypocritical – Contained an argument, yes.? not much of one.
Your post was full of personal opinion “Fuck off. I know who is really pulling themselves in all this.” Is just one example.
The only reasonable point you made was the web made distibution cheap. So i’ll respond to that.
It has also allowed many people to share their thoughts, artwork, music without the need to pay massive sums of money to distribution pipelines like record companies and um advertising agencies. Yeah it may mean some stuff is crap but gee I have never seen a shit ad on TV which cost a crap load to produce.
So I take the good with the bad but I think there is a definate future in made for web video. Like TV shows that have expaned their content by creating online only webisodes which give fans more back story and add actual value for one
p.s the threatning post didn’t come from me. I don’t believe in tough typing 😛
All those recently retrenched and sitting at home on their laptops put up your hands.
There’s a lot of ‘spare time’ going on out there.
12:33PM
I agree with your take on distribution. However, I think that way too many people in our industry underestimate the difficulty of producing genuinely engaging long-form content. Just because you can make it doesn’t mean it’s good.
Putting out your own music, short film, novel etcetera on the web is one thing. I’m all for the democratisation of content distribution on that front. My problem is when ad agencies and creatives get gullible clients to fund such projects when they lack any real artistic merit and have nigh on zero chance of going anywhere.
I believe agencies more often than not pull out ‘webisodes’ to impress award judges and build their status as innovators and being on the cutting edge. Yes, the old model is dying (it’s not dead yet, especially in categories like instant coffee), but a lot of what is being pulled out to replace it is still shit.
P.S. – Assuming 8:16PM weigh under 80kg, I’d be happy for a fully sanctioned NHB cage match.
12:07 he did leave open the possibilities of tickles
THIS BLOG HAS GOTTEN RIDICULOUS.
Totally agree with 3.44.
And 4.19 for that matter.
Did I miss the 200th post celebratory cake?
Chill out cage fighter man!
lets try get 300
I’d fuckin’ laugh to see advertising folk punch on.
Sitting at a desk 10 hours a day doesn’t create much of a fighters physique.
I bet there’d be a lot of haymakers, and the occasional girly slap.
Last comment, woot!
If the agency spent as much time on the idea as they have commenting on this post it would be a fucking Cannes titanium, no fuck it, Lithuanian award.
More like ground-and-pound, baby. Trust me!
Topical. I like.
I’ve decided to comment here to keep the “Controversial Carlton Campaign” post out of top spot. Who’s with me??
9.49 I’m hetro but saw that moves like jagger maroon 5 and think I may be gay, you feel the same? as for the ad reminds me of starsky and hutch, not new but quite funny.