Toronto's Zulu Alpha Kilo Fun Outdoor Installation For Interac

Interac: Don't let debt snowball, Don't get burned by credit fees, and Kiss credit fees goodbye.
Launched on the morning of Toronto’s first significant snowfall, a giant snowball made entirely of real snow and credit card statements was placed on the busy corner of King and University in the financial district.

Creative Credits:
Interac: Snowball, Burned, Kiss
Advertising Agency: Zulu Alpha Kilo, Toronto, Canada
Chief Creative Officer: Zak Mroueh
Executive Creative Director: Ron Smrczek
Art Directors: Shawn James, Grant Cleland
Copywriters: Sean Atkinson, Nick Asik, George Ault
Producers: Kari Macknight Dearborn, Tara Handley
Account Team: Rob Feightner, Laura Robinson, Kait Babin
Strategic Planner: Ebrahim El Kalza
Production Company: Marianne Klein, Brahaus Productions

More work by Zulu Alpha Kilo here.

Read More

DriveTime's New Commercial Campaign via Duncan/Channon

Above, Tina and Tara rescue a gentleman with pretty eyes and get him in a vehicle with DriveTime's new low price Cancel Anytime Lease in the "New Lease on Life" spot.

Below, two more spots from the campaign see the duo in the "Hold the Lemon" and "Taken for a Ride" spots where Tina & Tara rescue a customer from an online car approval hoodwink.





Credits:
Agency: Duncan/Channon
Advertising Agency: Duncan/Channon, USA
Executive Creative Director: Parker Channon
Creative Director: Anne Elisco-Lemme
Christine Gomez: Executive Producer
Content Producer: Justine Barnes
Group Account Director: Eric Dunn
Account Executive
: Nick Gustafson
Production company: Arts & Sciences
Directors: Adam & Dave
Managing Partner / Executive Producer: Marc Marrie
Managing Director / Partner: Mal Ward
Producer: Pat Harris
Editorial company: White House Post
Editor: Lucas Spaulding
Post Producer: Kristin Branstetter
Producer
: Lynne Mannino
Telecine company: CO3
Colorist
: Sean Coleman
Finish/VFX company: Carbon VFX
Executive Producer: Marlo Baird Kinsey
Associate Producer: Nick Vassil
Creative Director: Chris Noellert
Lead Flame: Pete Mayor
Matte Painter: Shannon Burkley
Recording studio: One Union Recording
Engineer: Joaby Deal

Read More

Interac Flash - Flashing Can Be Funny via Toronto's Zulu Alpha Kilo

Zulu Alpha Kilo is launching a campaign to promote Interac Flash® - the only contactless debit payment option in Canada.

As an enhancement of Interac® Debit, Interac Flash has all of the same benefits, just faster. With a quick hold of your card to a terminal, you can use your own money to pay for those everyday smaller purchases easily and securely.

“In today’s ‘need it right now’ society, being able to get what you need instantaneously is more than just a convenience, it’s a necessity,” says Chief Creative Officer and CEO of Zulu Alpha Kilo, Zak Mroueh. “And the work clearly demonstrates the true benefit of Interac.”

In this campaign of 15s spots, we feature people in humorously urgent situations and demonstrate how the speed of an Interac Flash transaction can get them out of their predicament.



Scenarios range from a woman who mistakenly eats too much wasabi to a man with bushy moustache who urgently needs a shaver so he can kiss his girlfriend.

The campaign is also supported through online banners, social media, and in-store media at all participating Cineplex theatres across the country.

Media Experts created the national media campaign with French creative for the Quebec marketplace was handled by TANK.

Creative Credits:
Ad Agency: Zulu Alpha Kilo, Toronto, Canada
Chief Creative Officer: Zak Mroueh
Executive Creative Director: Ron Smrczek
Art Director: Allan Mah
Writer: Nick Asik, David Horovitch
Broadcast Producer: Jennifer Cursio
Account Team: Rob Feightner, Laura Robinson, Adrian Goodgoll
Strategic Planner: Ebrahim El Zalza
Client (Company): INTERAC Association
Clients: Jennifer Lee, Hizola Toovi, Barry Campbel
Production Company: Sons and Daughters
Director: Quinn
Sound Production House: Vapor Music
Editor: Melanie Hider, Saints
Visual Effects & Online: Topix
Media Agency: Media Experts
Media Team: Richard Ivey, Phil Borisenko, Jenna Piirto, Lauren Rosenbloom

Read More

Fitzroy Amsterdam "Giving it All" in new ad for Bank Knab

After a successful and instrumentally approached campaign at the beginning of the year, online bank Knab launched a new integrated campaign.

This campaign follows on from its predecessor by giving more substance to the “Bank in your Favour” as it reveals how Knab is helping its clients to get the most out of their money.
“Our previous campaign was primarily focused on conversion and this contributed to a tripling of our customer base. This time we wanted the campaign to put Knab into context and highlight the fact that we are an online challenger,” says Leslie Hogeveen, marketer at Knab.

“In addition to the requested content, we also looked for a way that visually supports Knab in its role as an online bank. We ultimately chose to portray the dynamic lifestyle of the target audience through their interaction with online devices and screens. There are three 40-second commercials, each one of them centred around one of the following Knab bank advantages: double the interest (on both current and savings accounts); a fixed monthly banking fee with no extra charges; and the online bank switching service,” Fitzroy’s Jur Baart explains. “With such a distinctive campaign, we can see it surpassing the success of the last one.”

Creative Credits:
Ad Agency: Fitzroy, Amsterdam

Read More

Peyton Manning Humming The Nationwide Insurance Jingle In New Ad

Peyton Manning finds himself humming the lyrics to the Nationwide tune throughout hi day in the new ad created by Ogilvy & Mather, New York. The spot also debuts Nationwide's new logo with an eagle, referred to as "N and eagle."

Peyton Manning’s a Five-Time MVP, Super Bowl Champion and NFL record-holder. His latest title? Nationwide Member. Welcome to the Nation, Peyton.

CREATIVE CREDITS:  
AD AGENCY: Ogilvy & Mather, New York
GROUP CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Chris Van Oosterhout
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Melanie Baublis
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Steve Howard
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Tom Elia, Zach Korman
EDITOR: Chris Franklin
EDIT COMPANY: Big Sky
DIRECTOR: Josh & Xander

Read More

State Farm Commercial "Steve's Kid" with Rob Schneider

After State Farm Agent Ashley saves her customers money with a Discount Double Check, they run into surprise guest Rob Schneider in the copy room. See how it might have paid to Double Check which copier they used.

Creative Credits:  
Advertising Agency: DDB Chicago, USA
Chief Creative Officer: John Maxham
General Creative Directors: Barry Burdiak, John Hayes
Chief Digital Officer: Joe Cianciotto
Group Strategy Director: Gustavo de Mello
Group Business Director: Penn French
Production Company: Hungry Man
Director of Production: Diane Jackson
Executive Producer: Scott Kemper
Producer: Luke LiManni
Director: Hank Perlman
Editor: Grant Gustafson, Matt Walsh, Aaron Kiser, Patrick Casey / Cutters
Finishing: Rob Churchill, Daniel Pernikoff, Derek de Board / Filmworkers

Read More

Epic Elephunk – MoneySuperMarket's new TV Advert

The latest advert in the series presents Graeme who’s just saved money at MoneySuperMarket and feels stupendously EPIC!

Jumping into his ride, Graeme decides to take a celebratory lap around the City. The only thing is, Graeme doesn’t drive a sporty hatchback or a family saloon – he travels on the back of a ginormous African elephant.

Graeme’s as happy as Larry, the cat that caught the canary, the dog with two tails…we could go on but you get the idea. Quite frankly, Graeme couldn’t be any more pleased with himself. And neither could the elephant.

Do your dance Mr Elephant, do your dance!

Credits:
Advertising Agency: Mother, London, UK

Read More

TD Bank Canada - ATM Thanks Customers

Sometimes you just want to say thank you #TDThanksYou. TD turns ATMs into Automated Thanking Machines to create some very special moments for customers across Canada.

Read More

Startup Production Shop Zandrak Creates Beautiful "Where First" Spot

People expect certain things to be bland: saltine crackers, the DMV, CSPAN, high school reunions more than 20 years after high school, and financial commercials. Are these kind of ads just uninteresting because finance itself isn’t particularly exciting? Or is it possible that advertisers just haven’t given these ads the chance to be meaningful?

This was the question Zandrak got to tackle this past month during our latest spot, "Where First," a commercial for Dale Frank Financial Services. Going into this project, we were prepared for the massive challenge of trying to find something personable about finance and retirement planning; but what we quickly found out is that the challenge was really only an imagined one...Read more behind the scenes and spot details here.

Creative Credits:
Production: Zandrak
Director- Charles Frank
Producer- Andrew Hutcheson
Writer- Kyle Harper
Gaffer- David Brickel
Key Grip- Adam Silverstrim
Cinematographer- Kunitaro Ohi
1st Assistant Camera- Kevin Beuschen
Production Designer and Actress (Young Wife)- Rachael Currie
Location Manager- Ben Madeires
Actor (Young Husband)- Dylan Grunn
Actor (Older Husband)- Mark Davies
Actor (Older Wife)- Dawn Frank

Read More

Tangerine Launches Biggest Most Innovative Advertising Campaign in its History

Today, Tangerine (formerly ING DIRECT) is launching a new, fully integrated advertising campaign aimed at engaging Canadians from coast to coast. Rooted in the company’s focus on improving Canadians’ banking experiences, the bold campaign features a fresh face that personifies the brand’s commitment to simple and progressive everyday banking.

“You only get one chance to make a first impression, and we wanted this campaign to not only be memorable, but to reinforce the values inherent in the brand,” said Andrew Zimakas, Chief Marketing Officer at Tangerine. “What Canadians are now seeing is the culmination of nearly two years of strategic planning, research, development and execution that cuts through the noise to underscore the very simple message that banking doesn’t need to be complicated.”

The campaign execution also demonstrates the innovative nature of the brand. Tangerine is the first Canadian bank to integrate contextual pre-roll advertising on YouTube as part of its campaign. This comes on the heels of being the first Canadian bank to launch a fully responsive website, tangerine.ca, which ensures a consistent website experience regardless of the device used to access the site.

The advertising campaign was designed to roll out in two phases. The first phase was a transition period that communicated the name change while reinforcing that the bank’s core values will remain intact. The second phase, launching today, focuses on the simplicity of banking with Tangerine.

Tangerine’s media plan includes:

• Wide use of television, radio, out-of-home (OOH), print and digital advertising, with a television presence that is nearly 70 per cent higher than previous company airings.
• OOH advertising that will reach Canadians through the use of vertical boards, transit placements and multiple station dominations.
• Contextual pre-roll advertising on YouTube and contextual search engine marketing that will engage consumers in a relevant way when they search for common, non-financial related topics; a first for a Canadian bank.
• Broadcast visible, in-arena and online assets in the home arenas of the seven Canadian NHL teams.
• Presence in all Cineplex movie theatres.
• National presence through various media that spreads beyond the country’s larger urban markets of Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver to include Halifax, Moncton, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, St. John’s and Charlottetown, as well as smaller communities in Ontario and Quebec.

For its television ad production, Tangerine enlisted award-winning director Martin Granger and feature-film cinematographer Barry Peterson who is known for his work on blockbuster comedies such as Zoolander, 21 Jump Street, We’re the Millers and The Lego Movie.

“Banking in Canada is still complex and at times unfair,” says Chris Hirsch, Creative Director at john st. “We wanted to develop a consistent creative platform that showcases the brand’s unique position in the industry.”

Nellie Kim, Creative Director at john st. adds: “We want to show consumers that the choice to bank with Tangerine is as simple as the Tangerine banking experience itself.”

john st., Tangerine’s advertising agency, spearheaded the overall campaign strategy, brand positioning, television, radio and OOH creative. Dashboard created all digital and online components, including contextual pre-roll, social media assets, website assets and banner ads. Initiative Media planned the media buy. Response Innovations took care of direct mail, including the largest mail-drop in the bank’s 17 year history.

Image courtesy Tangerine Press release via: Newswire.ca

Read More

Horror, Drama, and Romantic Comedy: RBC and Entrinsic launch cinematic campaign for first-time homebuyers

Buying your first home can feel like an experience straight out of a Hollywood film. Digital culture agency Entrinsic has partnered with RBC® to create a campaign worthy of Tinseltown, connecting first-time homebuyers to the financial institution to help make sure their story has a happy ending.

RBC's first-time homebuyer campaign is centred around three movie trailer-style films directed by veteran Hollywood filmmaker Jeremiah Chechik (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Benny & Joon). Each trailer promotes a fictional movie following a couple going through the ups and downs of buying their first home, showcasing just how different the journey can be for everyone—it might feel like an upbeat romantic comedy, an emotional drama, or at times even a horror.

“When it comes to buying your first home, everyone's story is different,” says Larry Jacobs, Marketing Head, Personal Financing Products, Canadian Banking, Royal Bank of Canada. “No matter the journey, RBC mortgage specialists are there with advice to help guide new homebuyers along the journey, making sure that, at the end, everyone’s story has a happy ending.”

The campaign enables viewers to click through to get pre-approved for a mortgage, or book an appointment with an RBC mortgage specialist who will provide them with expert advice and solutions. All three YouTube trailers include embedded annotations that drive viewers to RBC’s digital properties for first-time homebuyers. Unique tracking codes are included, allowing for adjusting annotations, performance measurement and active learning and optimization throughout the campaign, so RBC can ensure clients have the information and tools they need to navigate through their biggest purchase.

“Analytics are always behind everything we do at Entrinsic,” says Eli Singer, Founder and President, Entrinsic. “We call it 'creative by the numbers.' Based on the data we gather we'll be able to augment the campaign, making it increasingly connected so that it drives strong results for the client, just like we did with RBC's successful students initiative.”

“The annotations are a key part of our strategy,” adds Jacobs. “We wanted to go one step further in leveraging this innovative approach to better provide our clients with expert advice and solutions. No matter where our clients are in their home-buying journey, every annotation drives them directly to the relevant information and advice they're looking for.”







RBC has also taken to social media platforms like Twitter to connect and share. Twitter events are just another way to reinforce the ease with first-time homebuyers can connect with the financial institution. RBC will also promote the launch of the campaign and a contest for the chance to win $25,000 towards a mortgage downpayment.

The first-time homebuyer campaign will also be supported by integrated offline content including full page movie poster-style ads in newspapers, mock “coming soon” posts promoting the movie trailers on relevant websites and blogs, in-branch advertising, wild postings, in-cinema advertising, interactive banner ads and social content and influencer outreach to further extend the conversation. It will be in market through the key spring home buying season.

Creative Credits:
Title: “The Mortgage”
Client: RBC Royal Bank
Marketing Head, Personal Financing Products, Canadian Banking, Royal Bank of Canada: Larry Jacobs

Advertising Agency: Entrinsic, Toronto Canada
Executive Creative Director: Anthony Wolch
Copywriter: Kyle Carpenter
Art Director: Christina Pinto
Agency Producer: Rea Kelly
Executive Director Client Service: Carolyn Contois
Account Executive: Maegan Thomas

Production Company: Revolver Films
Director: Jeremiah Chechik
Producer: Rob Allan
Executive Producers: Luc Frappier, Richard Cureton
DP: Doug Koch
Post Production: Rooster Post
Editor: Dave DeCarlo
Assistant Editor: Drew Stevenson
Executive Producer: Melissa Kahn
Colour Transfer: 1188
Colourist: Hardave Grewal
Online: Fort York
Flame Artist: Andrew Rolfe
Audio: Boombox Sound
Music Supervisor: Roger Leavens
via:

Read More

INTERAC - Be In The Black via Zulu Alpha Kilo

Toronto ad agency Zulu Alpha Kilo creates a humourous TV spot featuring AC/DC's Back In Black celebrating how good it feels when you pay with your own money with Interac debit versus paying with credit and going into debt.

Press: After landing the business last spring, Zulu Alpha Kilo is launching a new brand platform for the Interac brand and the organization behind it.

The Interac Be in the Black™ platform extols the benefits of using your own money for everyday purchases.
“We want Canadians to know that the end of the month doesn’t have to seem like the end of the world,” says Chief Creative Officer and CEO of Zulu Alpha Kilo, Zak Mroueh. "When you use your own money instead of credit, you can simply enjoy what you buy instead of worrying about paying it off."

The 360 campaign consists of TV, out-of-home, video pre-roll, and standard and rich media banner ads – along with a social promotion – meant to inspire positive conversations around the many benefits of using Interac products and services.

“It’s crazy to think that people are using credit for everyday purchases like groceries, or a cup of coffee,” says Ron Smrczek, Executive Creative Director, Zulu Alpha Kilo. “In our launch spot, we enlisted AC/DC’s iconic rock anthem, Back in Black, and some over-the-top pyrotechnics to bring the swagger back to the notion of using your own money.”

The creative is supported with a national digital media campaign that is handled by Media Experts. French adaption for the Quebec marketplace was developed by TANK. The campaign will run into the spring.

Creative Credits:  
Agency: Zulu Alpha Kilo, Toronto, Canada
Chief Creative Officer: Zak Mroueh
Executive Creative Director: Ron Smrczek
Art Director: Allan Mah
Writer: Nick Asik
Broadcast Producer: Catherine Wrinch
Account Team: Rob Feightner, Peter Brough, Adrian Goodgoll
Strategic Planner: Ebrahim El Kalza
Client (Company): Interac
Clients: Andrea Danovitch, Leslie Vera, Lauren McKay, Catherine Boshell, Barry Campbell
French Agency: TANK
Executive Creative Director (French): Alex Gadoua
Account Director (French): Marie-Claude Céré
Production Company; Industry Films
Exec Producer; David Cranor
Director; Simon Cole
Line producer; Trudy Turner
Sound Production House: Pirate
Sound Director; Chris Tait
Senior Engineer; Keith Ohman
Exec Producer; Joanne Uyeyama
Editorial; School Editing
Exec Producer; Sarah Brooks
Editor; Brian Wells
Assistant editor; Mark Lutterman
Visual Effects & Online: Fort York
Flame Artist; Mike Bishop
Exec Producer; Erin Kuttner
Color: Alter Ego
Colorist; Trisha Hagoriles
Media Agency: Media Experts
Media Team: Richard Ivey, Phil Borisenko, Jenna Piirto, Lauren Rosenbloom

Read More