Almost every week, I share a curated list of creative ads. The movie Marty Supreme’s Zoom Call, TVC for Bang & Olufsen and other good stuff are part of this week’s compilation.
Marty Supreme: marketing Zoom call
Marty Supreme is an upcoming sports comedy movie. In a fantastic ad promotion idea, they show Hollywood star Timothée Chalamet ‘pitching’ whacked out ‘marketing’ ideas for the movie. The ad itself is supposedly a recording of the Zoom call. All the actors have done their part perfectly and makes the 18-min watch totally worth it.
Agency: A24
I found myself laughing out loud at so many instances and also filled with that ‘I have been there’ feeling, especially when he said ‘fruitionized’ and asks the team all sorts of inane questions and they respond with fake enthusiasm. Love the attention to detail including the name of the uploaded file:’Timothee_Chalamet_internal_brand_marketing_meeting_MartySupreme_11.08.2025.mp4‘ reminding me of days when files were named ‘final_final’ or ‘final_without_client_logo’ etc.
Sadly the situation is also a reflection of the perceptions around advertising & marketing – that of snake oil salesmen, vacuous ideas and such like. The Zoom call perfectly captures how people react in such calls – right from the introductions to agreements and pointless comments. Mark Ritson rightly commented that it’s a reflection of the fact that a majority of marketers (and ad agency folks) lack training, and hence they chase tactical theatrics.
Bang & Olufsen: Sound. Elevated
Imagine listening to the audio track of a TV commercial on your laptop, appreciating the richness, the detail – and imagining how much better it would have been if it was on the advertised brand. That was the power of the new Bang & Olufsen ad – at least that’s how I felt. Created to mark the brand’s 100th anniversary it showcases one family’s love for Bang & Olufsen across generations.
Agency: The Or
Morocco: sun and football
Football is an integral part of Moroccan culture. A new campaign timed with the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations positions the nation as a land of sun & football. I liked the line ‘where football and sun shine as one’. Watch the film here.
Agency: BETC
Sanpellegrino: Italian time
Self-deprecating humour works very well for brands. Italians, their way of life and their love for food has long been a subject of humour in movies & sitcoms. A new campaign for S. Pellegrino, a natural mineral water and drinks brand, ‘explains’ the reasons why mealtimes stretch un-endingly in Italy, with all the usual references to cousins, leftovers and stories. The brand is woven naturally in the film script as the one that helps you through the meal, the after meal and the after-after meal.
Aside from the main film, the edits use the pre-roll ad time on YouTube cleverly.
Agency: Ogilvy
Blast from the past: Neil French ads
Back in the 1990s, Neil French was the name all of us in ad agencies – including the Account Management folks, were not just familiar with but revered. He was an incredibly talented copywriter and quite a colourful character. Before joining advertising, he held a variety of jobs, including bullfighter, debt collector, and manager for the rock group Judas Priest. He rose to fame when based in Singapore working with Ogilvy & Mather, Batey Ads and The Ball Partnership. Among his famous work, was a print ad for a fake beer brand called XO Beer to prove the effectiveness of print advertising. He passed away recently, 81 years of age. Here are some samples of his work:
Itsu: saddest Christmas ad
How can a brand of sushi be relevant during Christmas in the UK? This is how. Loved it.
Agency: Block Report
Supercell: Irish Castle Contest
Clash of Clans is a popular game on Apple Store and Play Store. An in-game upgrade has been turned into a real-world experience in a contest where winners can spend a month at an Irish castle. I thought it was a brilliant idea which blends well into how users play the game – using real money to buy objects relevant to the game theme.
Agency: DAVID New York
Johnnie Walker: Keep Walking refreshed
Okay, I have mixed feelings about this. In my mind, Keep Walking is a timeless tagline. Apparently, Johnnie Walker is ‘re-imagining’ its iconic ‘Keep Walking’ campaign idea for a new generation. I thought ‘walking’ was just metaphor for keep moving ahead, being persistent in whatever you do. Did it have to be spelt out? They say ‘Today, people define progress on their own terms. This campaign reflects that shift and gives ‘Keep Walking’ new meaning for a new generation.’
Agency: Anomaly
Ryanair: social media
Kudos to the social media team. I think it comes from clarity on both the brand’s business model and tone of voice. Also there is confidence in knowing that humour is okay, even if it’s edgy bordering on being ‘rude’. I guess the intended target audience appreciates such humour and takes it in their stride.
Which one was your favourite? Do comment in.