Behind The Billboard

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/2022/12/31/episode-49-best-of-2022/

Of all the end of year lists, this is obv the one you’ve been waiting for.

Yes, it’s Behind the Billboard’s Best of 2022.

And what a year it’s been.

So much great work to choose from.

Digital posters, traditional posters, fly posters, posters made from fruit juice, posters towed by horse drawn carriages, posters of cute cats and dogs, posters with 500 different executions in the campaign. Posters that had been put up wrong. Posters that came alive at night. And then there’s posters for yoghurt. Yes amazing ooh work for yoghurt! Surely that is this years headline!

But what was number one? Which billboard was most talked about? Which agency had the most entries? And how many mince pies did Hugh and Dan eat live on air?

As it’s the end of the year we also wanted to say a huge thanks to you our listeners for supporting us this year, liking us, saying nice things about us as well as spreading the word. We’ve been downloaded now over 30,000 times so we’re obv doing something right. But if you have any suggestions for the show or guests you’d like to hear from, please do let us know. 

And obv a huge hank to our sponsor Talon, without whom none of this would happen.

See you in January when we’ll be hearing from some amazing guests including David Kolbusz, Mark Tutssel and Dave Masterman.

Until then “We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” - surely one of the best headlines of all time ;-)

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-48-scott-silvey/

You wait for a D&AD black pencil winner for nearly 50 episodes…then two come along at once.

Shelley Smoler for The Zimbabwean last time and now Scott Silvey for Hopeline 19.

We talked about the work in depth and discovered how the campaign actually put Scott and the creative team Darren Beresford & Richard Gayton at the forefront of the pandemic, talking and listening to nurses and doctors trying to cope with Covid. A brilliant campaign that shone the spotlight on these amazing people who keep this country on its feet.

We also chatted about another recent award-winning project from Adam&EveDDB for CALM ‘The last photo’. An equally emotively charged subject from creative team Andy Clough and Richard McGrann, highlighting how ‘Suicide doesn’t always look suicidal’. The work comprised posters, press ads and most heart-breaking of all, an exhibition on the South Bank.

This campaign, like Hopeline 19, looks destined for gongs galore also. On the day we spoke it won big at Campaign BIG awards and we wouldn’t be surprised if it too got a black pencil. Obv it’s nice to get awards, but we agreed really the point of the work is to raise awareness and hopefully save lives.

And then along came Colman’s Mustard! We talked about how Scott designed a few billboards and ended up with his work appearing on the actual jars of mustard. Next time you’re in the cupboard looking at a jar of Colemans, chances are it’s got Scott's work on it.

Towards the end we discussed 1830 and NSPCC. Huge pieces of work which Scott paid a massive part. Credit also to Ant & Mike (BtB episode #12) who work with Scott on many projects and all the incredibly talented peeps at Adam&EveDDB.

Thank you again Scott for being so kind and generous with the stories behind the work. It felt quite an emotional session but a very important one.

A multi-talented humble craftsman. It was a real pleasure.

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-47-shelley-smoler/

Our first South African.

Our first D&AD black pencil winner.

Our first guest with a sparkly (possibility pitch winning) top.

Shelly Smoler, thank you so much for taking the Behind the Billboard podcast to new heights.

The Zimbabwean campaign is one of the most famous in history and one we’ve been longing to discuss. Such was the parlous state of the Zimbabwean economy back in 2009, money was literally not worth the paper it was printed on, with people paying for goods with barrow loads of notes. From this crisis came the idea of billboards made entirely from bank notes. The campaign was lauded and awarded around the globe and is now part of the permanent collection at the British Museum and the Design Museum. Listen to how one of the most famous campaigns of all time came to be. And how it lead to Shelley nearly being banned from the country for her efforts. It’s an amazing story.

And an approach that has permeated Shelley’s work ever since. Be it for Vestiaire Collective or Amazon Prime Video or Diet Coke, her work has a cool, effortless, subversive nature, always going beyond the conventional.

Thanks so much for coming on Shelley. Fingers crossed for the pitch.

(Thanks also to the ex-BBH crew Bill Scott, and in particular, the legend that is Peter Wardle, who helped make this episode happen)

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-46-russell-ramsey

We’re back!

Series 4 is here and first up is Russell Ramsey, ECD of Pulse Creative and the brains behind some of the most famous OOH from the past 30 years.

Audi, Paddy Power, Toohey’s, Levi’s, Polo, Kit Kat, Kleenex, The Times - the list of clients that have benefited from Russell’s craft is long and impressive.

And yet he remains incredibly humble and hungry for more. The Times Queen’s Platinum Jubilee billboard was shortlisted at last night’s prestigious Campaign BIG awards.

Russ is man of many parts - consummate art director, CD, ECD, semi-professional gardener, professional Geordie, fashion guru “No one ever got anywhere wearing trainers Hughey” and owner of a lot of blue jumpers.

For a man who says ‘No’ a lot (but only in the pursuit of creative excellence) we were chuffed he said ‘Yes’ to coming into our billboard world for an hour or so and we revelled in his joy and passion for the great outdoors.

Thanks again Russ. You were immense.

Watch that bookshelf on the way out. 

NB: The final slide is when Russell defaced Hugh’s Man Utd book, replacing the word ‘Champions’ with the word ‘Wankers’, but in such a beautifully crafted manner Hugh didn’t notice for 2 years.

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-45-guy-moore/

We’re back.

And most appropriately we’re back with a Cannes man.

None other than Guy Moore, who amidst many career highlights, won the Cannes OOH Grand Prix in 2018 with McDonalds ‘Signs’ campaign, which has a brilliant back story.

And coming in a close second is Guy’s British Heart Foundation campaign which involved calling Saul Bass - yes the legendary Saul Bass - in the middle of the night in New York for a little art direction chat.

Smart, funny, wise (and wearing a cracking shirt) Guy it was a total pleasure hearing, in your dulcet tones, the stories behind your billboards.

Thank you so much for coming on - an hour felt way too short - maybe a part 2 sometime?

Until then, enjoy this one.

See pictures and watch a video of the panel here: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-44-behind-the-billboard-cannes/

C’est ici!

Yes, podcast #44 is here and it’s unlike anything we’ve ever done before.

It was live in the South of France and despite a few technical glitches, it was tres bon.

A lovely hour at LBB beach chatting with our esteemed panel of Daniel Fisher, Keka Morelle and Sanjiv Mistry about all things OOH @Cannes 2022.

Sanjiv was our man in the judging room, giving a real insight into this year’s winners, esp how and why the Adidas ‘Liquid Billboard’ swept the board. It’s a great story.

As well as discussing this year’s winners, we chatted about how to win at Cannes (Daniel tip: “Don’t try to win at Cannes”) and the panel nominated their fave Lion winning billboards and most memorable Cannes stories.

It was a brilliant experience. Thank you to everyone who’s supported us along the way.

Huge thanks of course to our sponsors @TalonOOH without whom none of this would’ve happened. The T-shirts were epic, nicely modelled by BtB’s very own human billboard, Dan Dawson.

And of course thanks to the man behind the men behind the microphones, tech legend Jon Jones.

Special mention also to ‘Birdy’ aka Andy Bird Le Truc @Publicis (BtB ep22 and ep23) who was vocal in the audience offering his favourite Lion winner. He also came to lunch, wore our sponsors hat and laughed a lot.

We’re very much hoping to be podding and laughing in the sun again next year.

Auvoir!

Ps. The key image here is a homage to the great Expedia campaign from Jon Morgan & Mike Watson. Cheers chaps. 

Beady eyed followers will know we’ve already posted about our #CopySafari with Vikki Ross.

But today we’re pleased to say the podcast episode is available.

During the trek through the wilds of Shoreditch, there were a few technical problems which slowed down the editing process - we think the issue was extreme humidity in Dan’s trouser pocket.

But thankfully the recording has been rescued by intrepid IT pioneer Mr Jon Jones, who has not only salvaged the audio file, but edited it into a fully fledged episode.

And it’s quite a detour from our regular studio recording - proper front line stuff - real billboards in the real world with real punters walking past, occasionally glancing up and taking in the hard work of the creatives responsible.

Some campaigns really stuck out - Minor Figures is brilliant on many levels - ditto Spiritualised - and some cool shit from Calvin Klein x Palace.

‘Bring on the sun’ from Ace & Tate was perfectly timed and a neat follow on from the previous teaser campaign of people squinting their eyes in readiness for summer.  Most apt as the sun warmed us.

Thanks again Vikki. A great experience. Essential for both creatives and clients alike to appreciate what it’s like out there.

Next stop The Wild West End?

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-42-ewan-paterson/

‘How about Carl Lewis in his running gear, but instead of wearing spikes that normally propel him to 100m in 9.86 seconds, we put him in a pair of size 12 red stilettos with the headline ’Power is nothing without control’. Oh and let’s insist on getting legendary photographer Annie Liebvitz to shoot it. What do you reckon?’

This is why we love advertising. The dreamers. The moon shooters. The creatives who think nothing of putting the most famous athlete in the world in a pair of shiny red high heels.

And it’s why BtB love Ewan Paterson who in 1985 with then partner Graham Norways, created the seminal poster for Pirelli.

Lewis wasn’t even an ambassador for the brand at the time. He was an unsuspecting ten-time Olympian minding his own business until someone asked if he was up for it.

Thank you Carl, from all us spoddy billboard nerds, for saying yes.

In our eyes, it’s your greatest moment 🤓

Episode 42 features the charming, humble and passionate Ewan Paterson who told us the story behind this and many of his other billboards.

VW, Tfl, The Times, The Sunday Times Rich List, Robinson’s and more. It’s an incredible line-up of work which Ewan talked us through.

Thanks again Ewan for coming on and bring so generous with your stories. And a special thanks also to your strepsils, that kept your voice going til the very end. You’re a pro sir.

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-41-ed-morris/

Podcast 41 features one of the industry’s greatest talents - Ed Morris.

Ed has flexed his creative muscles across just about every discipline you can think of.

Art direction, writing, typography, creative direction, photography, commercials direction and most recently turning his hand to film, directing his brilliant debut movie ‘How to stop a recurring dream’.

There’s no end to his talent. He even plays the ukulele. But thankfully he can’t do the Rubik’s cube ;-)

We spent a wonderful hour hearing how these talents have helped shape his billboards, which have won at every major award show.

And every one of them is a cracker. From the beautifully judged b&w portraits for Tfl to the utterly joyful Red Stripe, the iconic Kew Gardens 96 sheet, the graphic Sta Prest and our favourite - Quality Street - which in Ed’s own words are ‘like stills from a film’.

Every campaign has utter simplicity at its heart, executed with fantastic craft.

And when Ed is the client the standard doesn’t drop - the poster for his movie is a belter - courtesy of another BtB guest Paul Belford (Episode 2).

Ed epitomises what creativity is all about. Passionate. Restless. Honest. Hard working. Collaborative. Always with a point of view. And always with a ton of energy.

Thanks for coming on Ed. We loved it. 

Visuals: https://getbehindthebillboard.com/episode-40-graham-fink-pt2/

Is the sequel ever as good as the original? For Graham Fink Part 2, think Godfather Part 2 (but without all the killing).

More brilliant cigarette billboards. This time for Silk Cut and the iconic Shower Curtain and Birds executions.

Then Dixons….’the last place you want to go’ which started life on the radio but thankfully ended up on billboards, winning at every award show around the world.

Graham then literally gave blood for the (billboard) cause with the seminal ‘Blood’ poster (and film) for Playstation when he and Trevor Beattie formed advertising’s first ever SuperTeam at TBWA.

And then a move out of the comfort zone. All the way to Ogilvy Shanghai where Graham offered a regional Coke brief to a student who wasn’t working at O&M. Or even in the same country.

Enter Jonathan Mak who changed the face of ad history with his Coke ‘Hands’ poster - China’s first ever Cannes Grand Prix.

And we end on ELEPHant. A suitably audacious bonkers final act.

Graham, what can we say.

Epic.
Audacious.
Funny.
And just f***ing great to hear your stories.

You and your billboards did us proud.
Thanks so much again.

Secretly hoping there may be a Part 3 one day :-)