We are definitely well into the season of Award ceremonies, and another took place this week to celebrate the best creative advertising in the UK over the past year. More than 70 eminent judges were recruited for their expertise as originators or buyers of creative advertising looking for ideas that were distinctive and successful.
Campaign magazine hosted the Big Awards on Wednesday night in London and the event was attended by all the great and the good in advertising.
I was pleased to see that the Adam & Eve/DDB were awarded gold in the Film category for their The Long Wait spot for John Lewis. Starring UA client Lewis McGowan, the 2 minute commercial won all our hearts last Christmas and I think it was a worthy winner.
Have a look at the film again and all go “aaaaahhhhhh”:
On Monday, the Hollywood Film Awards presented its Spotlight Awards to a line-up of six actors recognising acting talents that are on their road to discovery and stardom.
This year, UA client Samantha Barks is a winner for her role in the highly anticipated film version of Les Miserables.
This is what the Hollywood Awards said about her: Samantha Barks is emerging as one of Hollywood’s most engaging, vivacious and talented young actresses.
Samantha will next be seen in the Universal film “LES MISERABLES” directed by Tom Hooper. She will star as “Eponine,” which was one of the most coveted and sought after roles of 2012.
She will co-star opposite Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, and Eddie Redmayne.
Congratulations to Samantha and if you want to have yet another look at the extended extract of the film here you go:
Each year the Observer Food Monthly Magazine celebrates the best of the food world in its Annual Awards chosen by readers and a judging panel.
2012 has two UA clients collecting awards:
Nigel Slater was awarded Best Food Personality by Observer readers. He has had a relationship with the paper since 1993 when he took over from Jane Grigson, and his simple, seasonable recipes are still incredibly popular 19 years on.
Nigel’s latest book Kitchen Diaries II is available HERE.
The panel of judges chose to award Outstanding Contribution to Raymond Blanc who they felt still sets the standard to which future generations of chefs aspire.
Raymond’s skill and attention to detail makes him a great teacher as well as chef and restaurateur – 27 of his protegees have gone on to win Michelin stars.
The OFM has a recipe from him, a delicious chicory, walnut and roquefort salad you can make if you can get hold of a copy of the magazine.
It’s that Emmy nomination time of year again and UA has several clients in the running.
The Emmys are the annual American television industry awards, another glamorous date in the US entertainment calendar.
It’s rather complicated with three related but separate organisations presenting the Awards: the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
The Awards were created in 1949 as part of an image-building exercise to honour shows produced and aired locally in the Los Angeles area, but in another ten years they were an America-wide phenomenon and the Award is still much prized.
The Emmy statuette represents the TV Academy’s goal of supporting and uplifting the art and science of television. Designed by television engineer Louis McManus, who used his wife as the model, it depicts a winged woman holding an atom – the wings represent the muse of art; the atom the electron of science.
This year, Florian Hoffmeister is up for Outstanding Cinematography For A Miniseries Or Movie and Annie Symons for Outstanding Costumes For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special, both for the BBC series of GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
THE AMISH, from director David Belton, is nominated for Exceptional Merit In Documentary Filmmaking.
And for the second year running, casting director Jill Trevellick CDG‘s work on DOWNTON ABBEY puts her in the category Outstanding Casting In A Drama Series. The series itself, on which both Andy Goddard and James Strong were directors, is flying the flag for the UK with 16 nominations in total.
The ceremony itself takes place on September 23rd this year – good luck to all our UA clients!
It was a big night for UA clients last night at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards.
I’m sure I’ll miss someone out (have a look at our website later on to check) but, Richard Bean won Best Play for two of his creations: The Heretic (Royal Court) and of course, One Man, Two Guvnors.
Best Director went to Mike Leigh for Grief at the National’s Cottesloe. Adam Cork won the Best Design award for his sound design of Anna Christie and King Lear at the Donmar Warehouse.
The Moscow Art Theatre’s Golden Seagull went to Tom Stoppard for his contribution to Russian theatre and the international stage.
And finally, the Charles Wintour award for Most Promising Playwright was won by Giles Smart’s client Penelope Skinner for her play The Village Bike which was a runaway success at the Royal Court in the summer.
Designed by Helen Goddard, the show followed the on-edge Becky in the summer of her first pregnancy, in a darkly comic exploration of romance, intimacy and sexual frustration. The play also won the 2011 George Devine Award.
The reviews were wonderful: Penelope Skinner’s new play The Village Bike at the Royal Court is mercilessly funny and savagely insightful.
The Telegraph
The Royal Court has harvested a strong crop of female writers in recent years, although no playwright has put women themselves centre stage with quite such bravado as Penelope Skinner.
The Metro
This is a wickedly wise, furiously funny play that freewheels among the mess and indignities behind the many myths about sex.
The Times
The wonderful new play from Penelope Skinner… this bicycle’s path, one feels, has only just begun.
New York Times
Campaign magazine hosted the Big Awards on Wednesday night in London and the event was attended by all the great and the good in advertising.
