Tactical ad for jobs.co.za

At 10:30 this morning, FNB’s legendary CEO, Michael Jordaan announced he would step down. Personally I have the utmost of respect for him. Other than just claiming innovation, he actually did it. He took to twitter to speak to consumers and lead FNB through a groundbreaking era that introduced iPads and tablet deals, eBucks at fuel stations and a mobile banking app to name a few. They also won the most innovative bank in the world.

When he made the announcement on twitter, we immediately knew we could pay homage to him through an ad. That’s where our new client, jobs.co.za, comes in. While they are only officially launching their new site in July, jobs.co.za were brilliantly quick to approve the concept. Within 90 minutes of Mr Jordaan’s announcement, we posted this ad on twitter and facebook and received some really cool responses.

Dear Michael Jordaan... #fnb

Dear Michael Jordaan… #fnb

Thanks to Michael Jordaan for being a great South African leader and making my bank rock and thanks to our client, jobs.co.za for being so agile in this.

I think this queues a blog post on agile marketing. Watch this space.

2013
05/22
CATEGORY
Creative ideas
Halo thinking
Our work
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The Fastest Film Posters

I read once that if you want to be creative; you need to have not enough money and not enough time. Well, in this case, we had none of either.

Our good friends over at Team Best are part of a ridiculous, record-breaking attempt to make the fastest feature film ever made. The goal is to make a film, from concept to script to shooting to post to premier, in 11 days.

Fastest-Film-SA1

We were briefed on Tuesday morning (7th of May) to create the film poster for the movie. In the spirit of the collaboration achieved on this project and the incredible time effort, we decided to continue in the spirit with the fastest movie posters ever created – 10 minute brief, 60 minutes design time. Due to the film time pressure, we had to host the poster designs on Wednesday evening (8 May). We found ourselves with 30 hours to choose and invite 8 designers, find a venue, organise a camera crew and the tech to live stream, find prizes and create some hype and a brief. Read more

2013
05/13
CATEGORY
Halo thinking
Our work
3 comments

Once upon a time…

There was an old poor beggar walking down a suburban road on crutches. He looked as if he had polio. One of his crutches got caught in a pothole in the road and he fell to the ground, dropping his plastic bag he was carrying. He looked dejected. Embarrassed. A really nice old man stopped his car on the side of the road to help. As the old man walked up to him, the beggar pulled out a gun, shot the old man twice in the abdomen, got in the car and drove away.

Think about the emotions you went through in such a small space of time here… People are fascinated with hearing stories. We at Halo love telling brand’s stories (probably not like the one above).

This post is dedicated to making better stories.

It started off with writer’s block. I didn’t know what to write about. In true modern, 2013 style; if you can’t decide what to do, ask Twitter (WWTD).

After some suggestions about Rock, Paper, Scissors, tattoos or my Mom; I received this from @iDale (who better read this, test to follow):

I'll do it!

“Yes Dale, I’ll do it!”

So story-telling. Once upon a time… A man walked into a bar… It all began… I am sure there are way more people who know a lot more about this than I do. Guys like Spielberg, Tarantino, Lee, Affleck and my favourite, Ritchie.

What they do as story-tellers does have a vast difference compared to what we as brand-custodians and agencies have to do: their stories are way, way longer. They have 90 minutes to tell stories and while that must be close to impossible to successfully achieve, it certainly has it’s pros. Character development is one of them. Building protagonists, conflict, antogonists, twists and turns can all be done in detail over the 90 minutes available to them. Read more

2013
04/17
CATEGORY
Halo thinking
Musings of a creative
3 comments

Sunday Times Generation Next 2013

Some of you may know of it from previous years. The Sunday Times Generation Next is South Africa’s biggest Youth survey (ages 8-22) where they highlight the top brands the Youth think are cool. We were briefed by the awesome team at Times Media to recreate the new Generation Next logo and a theme for the 2013 event.

We decided to build a much bigger experience for Sunday Times and their readers to not only understand what the Youth are saying in terms of their coolest brands (the existing survey), but also provide a platform for what the are seeing and capturing through the lens of their cameras and sharing off either mobile or DSLR. We therefore created South Africa’s biggest Youth Photography competition with the brief: “Share the narrative of your city”. All ads for the event that run in the Sunday Times will feature photographs taken by the Youth… All details on entering on their website: GenNext.co.za

<3.

<3.

Click to see full details.

Click to see full details.

All winners and best entries will be published in a special edition in the Sunday Times on the 16th of June.

2013
04/16
CATEGORY
Creative ideas
Halo thinking
Our work
2 comments

The Amazing Race for Charity 10 – video

So the 10th race for Charity is over. R106,000 raised for rhinos and the Wildlife Act Fund as well as R8,000 raised for CANSA. Here’s the video from the day including the amazing snails who won best dressed. Such a cool day. Thanks to Adam Heyns for making an awesome video!

2012
12/03
CATEGORY
Creative inspiration
Halo thinking
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It’s all about brand parenting.

For those who follow things at Halo, you’ll know Heidi Brauer began here as Chairmama recently. This was a great post she wrote for The Media Online.

I’ve just come out of a fabulous role as marketing director or chief marketing officer (CMO), caring for, building and creating a bunch of amazing brands. On my journey I’ve had to wonder if what I do is enough. Surely I should want to be the CEO rather than the CMO  either where I am or in my next place?

Then I was asked to write this piece, considering an article that Reg Lascaris recently wrote about the plight of brand managers. Apparently their tenure is getting shorter in the United States and they are looking to stretch their role reach for added relevance and respect and a chance for a seat at the CEO’s table.

Great timing. I’ve been wondering about the same stuff for years and especially in the last few months. I’ve vacillated between being über-proud of being a marketer and then feeling like I should surely want to be a CEO next. I mean, isn’t that what you want to be when you grow up? A bit like becoming a parent…

Read more

2012
11/14
CATEGORY
Halo thinking
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I’m I’m racing racing in in a a Tuk-Tuk.

Check it. I am finally a blogger. I am a real wannabe journalist. Well, I must be considering I have been invited to compete in the Old Mutual #SheshaTuks Blogger Challenge tomorrow. Actually, I am not a blogger at all. Well not in my personal capacity and this is the only site I knew that would accept my ramblings for this occasion. And I want to win this thing badly because then I can be the only non-blogger to win a blogger event. That would be like, so ironic.

#SheshaTuks. Like India but without the runs.

But, because we’ve been running the Amazing Race for 6 years I guess I know why I cracked the nod. And I am damn excited. This is one of the coolest social media thingie mabobbies I have seen.

It works like this. It’s the launch of Sandton’s 25 new Tuk-Tuks that offer a service up to 5km (radius) in and around Sandton. Costs will be R25 for a 3km radius (Parkmore, Corlette, Craighall) and R35 for a 5km radius (Parktown North, Rosebank, Blairgowrie). Currently, a taxi ride for 10km in Sandton would cost you about an arm, a leg and your first born’s soul. Considering I like drinking taking the Gautrain so often, this is very good news. From the airport to Halo’s office now costs R140 in about as much time as it takes to read an average Mail and Guardian article. And all on public transport. So 3 thumbs up for the vision of the dudes, Ryan and Sean who did it and Old Mutual for supporting the initiative and making it possible. Check out their site http://dogreatthings.co.za/foundation/tuk-tuks/ to see more about it…

So how does tomorrow work and why do I need your help:

  1. The race has 10 challenges from which we have to use our twitter followers to help solve them.
  2. The follower I consider the most valuable will win 2 thousand South African Rondsteens.
  3. The official #hashtag is #SheshaTuks.
  4. Follow me, pretty please. (@deanoelsch)
  5. Help me. Make this non-blogger win a blogging event and if you’re the heat, you’ll win R2000.

OK? Good. Now don’t plan anything from 9am tomorrow, Tuesday the 6th of November.

I love you all.

Good talk.

2012
11/05
CATEGORY
Musings of a creative
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