The decision to give comedy Bamboozled the top award at Tropfest on Sunday has sparked claims it is homophobic. In this cross-posting from The Conversation film lecturer Greg Dolgopolov explains why it matters.
It would have been hard to avoid the news that the best-picture award at Sunday’s Tropfest short-film festival in Sydney was given to filmmaker Matt Hardie for Bamboozled – and even harder to ignore the huge online response to the film’s perceived homophobia.
After recent pitches marketer Jason Stidworthy realised clients need to take a long hard look at how they act towards agencies.During a recent conversation with a good mate, he highlighted his frustrations with the real estate agency selling his house because the promotional material artwork was riddled with mistakes including the show-stopping incorrect suburb listing. Seriously, how could they!
After a post listing five trends to let go in 2014Hugh Stephens adds his own pet peeve to the list. On the subject of 2013 trends that really shouldn’t continue into 2014, I can’t help but raise apps. If I had a dollar for every time I heard “we’re thinking of developing an app…” I’d probably retire comfortably to a private island.
As everyone eyes move to what we can expect in 2014 Bernadine Brewer shares the five trends and buzzwords she hopes are left in 2013.It’s that time of year again. The time when suddenly our e-newsletters, our favourite blogs, our Twitter timelines fill with predictions of the future.
Although I’m not averse to speculation and even idle rumour (after all, it’s nice to have a little daydream about what we might work on next year), I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I loathe trends articles. As in cartoon-level steam-out-of-the-ears loathe.
So this year, I’m doing exactly the opposite. I’m calling it Reverse Trends, the stuff I dearly hope we’ll stop hearing come January. I’m talking about them one last time, so you don’t have to.
The claim people buy on price is a myth, and in the latest in a series about consumer psychology Ashton Bishop and Gary Wilkinson look at how retailers can make the most of this.
Consumers don’t make rational decisions based on price and marketers need to stop pretending they do.
There is a common refrain amongst marketers in some categories that consumers buy on price. What nonsense. Price by itself is meaningless, and please slap the next marketer who trots out that excuse for why they are losing in their category.
Amid the media storm around the public broadcaster Michelle Grattan, in this crosspost from the Conversation argues the ABC's critics are on a crusade. Mark Scott has come under fire for his decision to co-publish NSA leaked documents with The Guardian. AAP/Alan PorrittThe ABC and its managing director Mark Scott are caught in a perfect storm.
With a burgeoning number of review sites and astroturfing appearing online, Miki Clarke looks at how brands can make sure genuine reviewers get cut-through in search.
As children we’re told if we don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. But in this social media world in which we now live, the opposite seems to apply.
We have witnessed exponential growth in search terms with review suffixes, not only in Australia but in the US and UK as well. This is not surprising in the land of electronics, travel accommodation and restaurants, but it is also happening for online dating sites and even dog food.
It has been a month since the News of the World phone hacking trial started in London and in this cross-posting from The Conversation UK director of undergraduate studies for journalism at Cardiff University John Jewell looks at what has come out so far. When Justice John Saunders opened what has been called the “trial of the century” he told the jury: “In a way, not only are the defendants on trial, but British justice is on trial.”
To say the defendants in the case are prominent in the world of journalism would be an understatement of gigantic proportions.
As more brands look to storytelling and content channels like blogs to get their messages across Lorraine Murphy says they should look to work with bloggers for the best results.
“Sponsorship” suggests whacking a logo on some content (be that an event, a TV show or a blog post) and that’s the extent of the relationship between the owner of the content and the brand in question.
The days of brands badging a logo and call-to-action on a blog post are gone. The space has moved on and successful content now calls for a co-creation approach with bloggers.
Amid the masses of journalism redundancies La Trobe University associate professor Lawrie Zion, looks at the question of what happens to those who take redundancy.
You’ve probably heard the news: the Australian media is experiencing the most serious contraction in its history.
Dear Chris,Our agency recently lost a client or two and I was given the difficult choice of taking a demotion or leaving the agency. I opted for the former but am struggling to adjust to my lesser position. Any tips on how to take the step down gracefully?
For the last year, we've been publishing a weekly tablet app. Mumbrella and Encore content director Tim Burrowes explains why today's will be the last.
The thing about failure is that people don’t usually like talking about it.
Indeed, I’m feeling somewhat rueful writing this.
But having shared the story of our journey with Encore so far, you’re entitled to hear about the bits that don’t work too.
With today's news the Mail Online is set to launch an Australian arm, Alex Hayes looks at what it means for the local media scene.
We could be about to see one of the most exciting periods for Australian journalism there has ever been. But, first, I have one question for you. How much is your house worth?
With a string of Aussie TV formats being remade overseas, Brooke Hemphill finds out how local production companies can get in on the act and whether there’s actually any money to be made in a feature that first appeared in Encore.
When Joe Connor and Renegade Films began shopping the concept for a quirky TV series about a talking dog around Australian networks, they were met with blank stares. Based on a short made for the Tropfest film competition titled Wilfred, the idea failed to generate much support. Connor says: “Everyone said it would never be anything more than a short film.”
With Netflix tipped to launch in Australia in 2014, Professor David Marshall from Deakin University looks at what this might mean for the Australian TV market and consumers.
Australians rejoice: Netflix is rethinking its avoidance of Australia, according to media reports, and could launch here as soon as next year.
We’re not like Barbara the bank manager, ANZ tells consumers
Barbara the unhelpful bank clerk features in a new ANZ ad from M&C Saatchi Melbourne, in which a customer discovers that in bank world what you see is rarely what you get.
The Paul Middleditch directed ad, which broke at the weekend, features comedian Genevieve Morris.
Credits:
CLIENT Paul Riley (Head of Retail Product Marketing); Linda Manos (Senior Manager Brand & Advertising); Melissa Hendrickson (Senior Manager Marketing Deposits); Lucy Gribble (Senior Advertising and Integrated Campaigns Manager)
CREATIVE Steve Crawford (Creative Director); Doogie Chapman (Senior Copywriter); Tony Leishman (Senior Art Director)
a bank doing this ad is like a doctor using a band-aid on my severed arm……totally failing to address the real problem
anothermous
19 Jan 10
9:49 am
Smiling ANZ staff welcoming customers??? Where??? Barbara simply reinforces most normal peoples perceptions of the real world of Australian banking and even highlights the great fee rip off that they all indulge in… Weird strategy … no wonder a stretch target for all banks is to be the least hated
Robbo
19 Jan 10
10:37 am
“Maybe if we say we’re not like every other bank, then people will believe us, even thouhg we’re not”
Again the marketing department trying to address consumer issues via advertising whilst leaving the actual issues in the too hard basket.
Everyone knows that every Bank and Telco’s main priority is to extract every last cent from us whilst smuggly smiling at you from behind ads like this.
Better off spending all the production & media money on branch staff bonus payments for consumer rated feedback on their smiles, attitude, friendliness and general customer satisfaction.
Don’t boast about it, actually DO IT.
itsdra
19 Jan 10
11:32 pm
UNBELIEVABLE!
Barbara personifies what all my experiences in ANZ have been like. No joke. I have had this EXACT conversation with different ANZ staff a number of times!
Way to kick dirt in a customers face.
Well produced and witty ad -wrong product/bank! FAIL
ANZ’s new brand strategy is obviously trying to make ANZ seem more approachable with the ‘We live in your world’. The problem is that the only way they’re trying to prove that is by saying ‘We live in your world’ there are no specific, tangible prove points that make that believable, if anything it alienates me because I think, do they?
Westpac’s ‘local branch manager’ campaign is achieving a brand position of approachable, understanding & they live in our world but by inferring it and talking about the tangible reasons – Local branch managers name, personality, face & what that branch deals with specifically – creative & media working well together.
If the ad above simply included 5 seconds about what ANZ are changing to be more like this, then maybe we’d believe & try them out.
Good Comms
20 Jan 10
9:14 am
This is a risky approach, as the negativity of the Barbara message often stays with the customer, especially for those who have had bad experiences with the bank.
As SimonT said, Westpacs ‘real staff’ approach, though done 1000 times before and launched at the same time as an ill advised rate rise, is better. Maybe more focus on benefits, rather than the competition, would have stood them in a better place in the consumers mind.
Lisa O
21 Jan 10
9:58 am
It’s just lippy on a piggy. Away with your aspirational nonsense please, give me something real.
Seems a bit hypocritical on ANZ’s part, I received service that very much resembled the lady in the ad. I’ve had an ANZ card for 3 years and now that my debt is nearly zero, I cant wait to dump them, St George IMHO better by a country mile. Well at least the St G staff at Newtown are.
OMG!?!? I just saw the secound add to this and it is sooo funny…. classic quote….. Guy: “i would like to speak the manager…”
Barbara…. “umm yer(she looks around behind her) that would be me”
LOL! ver hard to explain have to see it 4ur self..
Troy
29 Jan 10
12:35 am
Great Ad…actually i came across this article which has ANZ as one of the leading for customer service.
Does anyone know where I can view the second ad online with Barbara sitting in the office with the guy in a green shirt? It is too funny.
Emily
3 Feb 10
12:38 pm
Babs is the perfect representation of an ANZ branch manager! Similarly to the ad, I approched a branch manager about lodging a complaint (after several months of email wars). The response I got was:
“There are several ways we can address your issue :
Phone : Customer Response Centre on 1800 805 154 ( 8.00 am – 7.00 pm weekdays )
or write to ; ANZ Customer Response Centre
Locked Bag 4050
South Melbourne , Vic 3205″
She really should have followed up with a “…not my problem!…”
Must admit though…the ads are a cracker!!
Naomi
5 Feb 10
4:05 am
This is why I’m with as credit union. This ad just sums up the reason I’ll never end up with a bank. Barbara represents pretty much every bank manager and most head offices when you call them on your home phone.
Fail = ANZ
ANZ = Fail
The decision to give comedy Bamboozled the top award at Tropfest on Sunday has sparked claims it is homophobic. In this cross-posting from The Conversation film lecturer Greg Dolgopolov explains why it matters.
It would have been hard to avoid the news that the best-picture award at Sunday’s Tropfest short-film festival in Sydney was given to filmmaker Matt Hardie for Bamboozled – and even harder to ignore the huge online response to the film’s perceived homophobia.
After recent pitches marketer Jason Stidworthy realised clients need to take a long hard look at how they act towards agencies.
During a recent conversation with a good mate, he highlighted his frustrations with the real estate agency selling his house because the promotional material artwork was riddled with mistakes including the show-stopping incorrect suburb listing. Seriously, how could they!
After a post listing five trends to let go in 2014 Hugh Stephens adds his own pet peeve to the list.
On the subject of 2013 trends that really shouldn’t continue into 2014, I can’t help but raise apps. If I had a dollar for every time I heard “we’re thinking of developing an app…” I’d probably retire comfortably to a private island.
As everyone eyes move to what we can expect in 2014 Bernadine Brewer shares the five trends and buzzwords she hopes are left in 2013.
It’s that time of year again. The time when suddenly our e-newsletters, our favourite blogs, our Twitter timelines fill with predictions of the future.
Although I’m not averse to speculation and even idle rumour (after all, it’s nice to have a little daydream about what we might work on next year), I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I loathe trends articles. As in cartoon-level steam-out-of-the-ears loathe.
So this year, I’m doing exactly the opposite. I’m calling it Reverse Trends, the stuff I dearly hope we’ll stop hearing come January. I’m talking about them one last time, so you don’t have to.
The claim people buy on price is a myth, and in the latest in a series about consumer psychology Ashton Bishop and Gary Wilkinson look at how retailers can make the most of this.
Consumers don’t make rational decisions based on price and marketers need to stop pretending they do.
There is a common refrain amongst marketers in some categories that consumers buy on price. What nonsense. Price by itself is meaningless, and please slap the next marketer who trots out that excuse for why they are losing in their category.
Amid the media storm around the public broadcaster Michelle Grattan, in this crosspost from the Conversation argues the ABC's critics are on a crusade.
With a burgeoning number of review sites and astroturfing appearing online, Miki Clarke looks at how brands can make sure genuine reviewers get cut-through in search.
As children we’re told if we don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. But in this social media world in which we now live, the opposite seems to apply.
We have witnessed exponential growth in search terms with review suffixes, not only in Australia but in the US and UK as well. This is not surprising in the land of electronics, travel accommodation and restaurants, but it is also happening for online dating sites and even dog food.
It has been a month since the News of the World phone hacking trial started in London and in this cross-posting from The Conversation UK director of undergraduate studies for journalism at Cardiff University John Jewell looks at what has come out so far.
When Justice John Saunders opened what has been called the “trial of the century” he told the jury: “In a way, not only are the defendants on trial, but British justice is on trial.”
To say the defendants in the case are prominent in the world of journalism would be an understatement of gigantic proportions.
As more brands look to storytelling and content channels like blogs to get their messages across Lorraine Murphy says they should look to work with bloggers for the best results. “Sponsorship” suggests whacking a logo on some content (be that an event, a TV show or a blog post) and that’s the extent of the relationship between the owner of the content and the brand in question. The days of brands badging a logo and call-to-action on a blog post are gone. The space has moved on and successful content now calls for a co-creation approach with bloggers.
Amid the masses of journalism redundancies La Trobe University associate professor Lawrie Zion, looks at the question of what happens to those who take redundancy.
You’ve probably heard the news: the Australian media is experiencing the most serious contraction in its history.
Dear Chris,
Our agency recently lost a client or two and I was given the difficult choice of taking a demotion or leaving the agency. I opted for the former but am struggling to adjust to my lesser position. Any tips on how to take the step down gracefully?
For the last year, we've been publishing a weekly tablet app. Mumbrella and Encore content director Tim Burrowes explains why today's will be the last.
The thing about failure is that people don’t usually like talking about it.
Indeed, I’m feeling somewhat rueful writing this.
But having shared the story of our journey with Encore so far, you’re entitled to hear about the bits that don’t work too.
With a string of Aussie TV formats being remade overseas, Brooke Hemphill finds out how local production companies can get in on the act and whether there’s actually any money to be made in a feature that first appeared in Encore.
When Joe Connor and Renegade Films began shopping the concept for a quirky TV series about a talking dog around Australian networks, they were met with blank stares. Based on a short made for the Tropfest film competition titled Wilfred, the idea failed to generate much support. Connor says: “Everyone said it would never be anything more than a short film.”
With Netflix tipped to launch in Australia in 2014, Professor David Marshall from Deakin University looks at what this might mean for the Australian TV market and consumers.
Australians rejoice: Netflix is rethinking its avoidance of Australia, according to media reports, and could launch here as soon as next year.
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Comments
18 Jan 10
9:37 pm
I would actually suggest that Barbara is an excellent representation of an ANZ staff member.
FAIL – due to reminding me why I don’t bank with ANZ
18 Jan 10
9:40 pm
It’s a good ad but another example of a product/service that simply doesn’t live up to its promise.
19 Jan 10
5:24 am
This is definitely the ANZ bank
19 Jan 10
8:52 am
a bank doing this ad is like a doctor using a band-aid on my severed arm……totally failing to address the real problem
19 Jan 10
9:49 am
Smiling ANZ staff welcoming customers??? Where??? Barbara simply reinforces most normal peoples perceptions of the real world of Australian banking and even highlights the great fee rip off that they all indulge in… Weird strategy … no wonder a stretch target for all banks is to be the least hated
19 Jan 10
10:37 am
“Maybe if we say we’re not like every other bank, then people will believe us, even thouhg we’re not”
Again the marketing department trying to address consumer issues via advertising whilst leaving the actual issues in the too hard basket.
Everyone knows that every Bank and Telco’s main priority is to extract every last cent from us whilst smuggly smiling at you from behind ads like this.
19 Jan 10
12:16 pm
Better off spending all the production & media money on branch staff bonus payments for consumer rated feedback on their smiles, attitude, friendliness and general customer satisfaction.
Don’t boast about it, actually DO IT.
19 Jan 10
11:32 pm
UNBELIEVABLE!
Barbara personifies what all my experiences in ANZ have been like. No joke. I have had this EXACT conversation with different ANZ staff a number of times!
Way to kick dirt in a customers face.
Well produced and witty ad -wrong product/bank! FAIL
20 Jan 10
9:01 am
ANZ’s new brand strategy is obviously trying to make ANZ seem more approachable with the ‘We live in your world’. The problem is that the only way they’re trying to prove that is by saying ‘We live in your world’ there are no specific, tangible prove points that make that believable, if anything it alienates me because I think, do they?
Westpac’s ‘local branch manager’ campaign is achieving a brand position of approachable, understanding & they live in our world but by inferring it and talking about the tangible reasons – Local branch managers name, personality, face & what that branch deals with specifically – creative & media working well together.
Westpac WIN – ANZ FAIL!
20 Jan 10
9:02 am
If the ad above simply included 5 seconds about what ANZ are changing to be more like this, then maybe we’d believe & try them out.
20 Jan 10
9:14 am
This is a risky approach, as the negativity of the Barbara message often stays with the customer, especially for those who have had bad experiences with the bank.
As SimonT said, Westpacs ‘real staff’ approach, though done 1000 times before and launched at the same time as an ill advised rate rise, is better. Maybe more focus on benefits, rather than the competition, would have stood them in a better place in the consumers mind.
21 Jan 10
9:58 am
It’s just lippy on a piggy. Away with your aspirational nonsense please, give me something real.
21 Jan 10
10:37 am
i thought the ad was good – i’m an ANZ customer and am always really happy with the service I get which is a welcome change from my old bank
21 Jan 10
10:56 am
freaking hilarious though not sure if it can live up to it’s promise.
21 Jan 10
11:13 am
Seems a bit hypocritical on ANZ’s part, I received service that very much resembled the lady in the ad. I’ve had an ANZ card for 3 years and now that my debt is nearly zero, I cant wait to dump them, St George IMHO better by a country mile. Well at least the St G staff at Newtown are.
21 Jan 10
2:43 pm
The colour scheme of the “Bank” that Barbara works for looks remarkably similar to the CBA colours….
Subtle dig at the competition, eh? LOL!
22 Jan 10
11:40 am
I absolutely love Barbara.
27 Jan 10
9:46 pm
Babara you are so awesome! well done fantastic acting unbeliveable….. a ha ha lol
“when i said no i ment no with a silent k…. ha ha genious
27 Jan 10
9:51 pm
OMG!?!? I just saw the secound add to this and it is sooo funny…. classic quote….. Guy: “i would like to speak the manager…”
Barbara…. “umm yer(she looks around behind her) that would be me”
LOL! ver hard to explain have to see it 4ur self..
29 Jan 10
12:35 am
Great Ad…actually i came across this article which has ANZ as one of the leading for customer service.
http://www.smartcompany.com.au.....tings.html
2 Feb 10
9:02 pm
Does anyone know where I can view the second ad online with Barbara sitting in the office with the guy in a green shirt? It is too funny.
3 Feb 10
12:38 pm
Babs is the perfect representation of an ANZ branch manager! Similarly to the ad, I approched a branch manager about lodging a complaint (after several months of email wars). The response I got was:
“There are several ways we can address your issue :
Phone : Customer Response Centre on 1800 805 154 ( 8.00 am – 7.00 pm weekdays )
email ; yourfeedback@anz.com
or write to ; ANZ Customer Response Centre
Locked Bag 4050
South Melbourne , Vic 3205″
She really should have followed up with a “…not my problem!…”
Must admit though…the ads are a cracker!!
5 Feb 10
4:05 am
This is why I’m with as credit union. This ad just sums up the reason I’ll never end up with a bank. Barbara represents pretty much every bank manager and most head offices when you call them on your home phone.
Fail = ANZ
ANZ = Fail