WHO BORROWED MY PEN?
April 2 2008, 10:24 am | | 18 Comments
Is there too much of a similarity between these two ideas for the same client, Amnesty International, in different parts of the world? The version that was first off the blocks (pictured below) was created last year by Aussie expat creative team Samira Ansara and Amy Hollier (with Tony Granger and Sarah Barclay) at Saatchi & Saatchi Paris – and was a finalist at Cannes, the other created more recently by Publicis Mojo, Auckland…
18 Comments
I wouldn’t be holding my breath at Cannes, D&AD or anywhere else.
Both join the long list of over-complicated, failed attempts at stating the obvious –
The Pen Is Mightier Than The Sword.
The young guns from Paris would’ve been better off copying that than worrying about a couple of Kiwis copying their work
If who I think was involved, was, it must be a coincidence.
Enough is enough Lynchey.
You need to do a profile on this shit from Mojo.
Their list of ripped off ideas over the years is disgusting.
Once is enough. Ten times is a crime.
Quick, before it starts happening across town at Colenso.
Looking at the credits I’m not surprised.
Ummm…. yes. It’s exactly the same idea. Silly question.
Clearly, all involved are genuinely motivated by helping Amnesty and the victims it represents.
Don’t forget the bug spray ads (upside down VW beetle)….
There’s more.
I think the one that ran properly should get the cake.
Having said that, I read a lot of creative sites and this is the first time i’ve seen either.
Methinks if you want an ad that’s genuinely fresh, write a strategy instead of doing a one off pot shot.
Out of the two, DM piece is stronger in execution.
And it’s a shame this has happened but in my department I constantly hear ‘Yeah, like that ad from 20 years ago in London’ around the over-payed over-greyed end of the building.
12:00pm, assuming what you say is point-for-point accurate, that was the most brutally impressive demolition job I have heard this side of Rumpole of the Bailey. Shame you’re not taking home $10K for your day’s work.
Anonymous said:
Hey, it’s not Mojo, it’s one individual.
Perhaps he should officially change his name to Juan Individual?
Bugs pray? Wasnt that like 14 years ago?
Just for the record, the pen from Paris was a finalist at Cannes last year…
Can confirm Ms Ansari & Hollier (expats currently based at Saatchi Paris) penned the original and yes it was a Cannes contender in 2007. Good to see they’ve continued to do well on the international circuit. Well deserved! Such great chicks too!
how boring.
saatchi and mojo. why do these agencies insist on doing scammy charity work just to win awards. do award judges not get bored of them?
what is the purpose? why not just do your job?
You never see scams coming out of fallon london or w+k. they just get on with doing good work for their clients – their real clients. they don’t spend january until march pushing out bullshit award ideas.
and why even bother publishing this shit? yes, of course they are same. they are award ideas. award ideas are always first thoughts done by lazy creatives who can’t get work through on normal clients.
The mojo amnesty Pen first ran as DM piece and sold for a donation during freedom week in July 2007, it was part of a week long campaign which raised 30% more money then the previous years appeal.
The client brought the idea at the end of 2006. Over 5,000 pens were made (not just a one off for a photo) and took four months to make. It was going to enter in Cannes last year (the same time as the Paris one) but wasn’t going to run until July falling outside the Cannes dates. So It was held back not to break the rules, even thou the pens were made and sitting ready to go. It was legal for the next round of shows. They will be going up against each other at D&AD, Oneshow and Clio. So i guess they will both be knocked out.
Karl
1:40am works at Singos. Well, used to. Now he’s got plenty of time of his hands, making for a ‘life’ where being on the blog in the middle of the night is not unusual.
What’s wrong with judging an idea on its creative merits?
The ‘eeeek, it’s a charity’ crowd need to lighten up, relax. You shouldn’t get angry at someone who comes up with a good idea for a charity – it’s not their fault there’s no Cannes category for DM Telco fliers. You’d like it if there was, wouldn’t you 1:40am.
Thanks for clearing that up Karl. See, I told you all it was a coincidence!
tut tut…so quick to judge…..
Or even more common is the situation where the client doesn’t want to pay a UK or US photographer Australiasian usage so briefs an Aussie photographer with an identical layout. See Toby McFarlan Pond’s brilliant work for Adidas compared to the imitation.