Private View: Bill Venn, executive creative director, Cathay Pacific Central Team, McCann-Erickson Hong Kong

'Does it work with the sound off?' A maxim that I've always thought was handy to utilise when asked to evaluate television work. In the few years that I have been in Hong Kong I have, of course, found this rule even more relevant as often work in our region covers multiple languages.

These six TVC's are a case in point. I was gratified to see that all passed the test (to varying degrees).

Dove: I don't know about all you other 'sweet-tooths' out there but I have never found the subject of chocolate boring. Parallels have often been drawn between sex and handfuls of Choccies! (I could have just made that up though). Evidently this was the creative starting point for the Dove team. A good looking spot, though perhaps the comparisons could have been more dramatic.

Durex: You have to admire simplicity and the ability to place your tongue firmly in your cheek when working on the subject of sex. Obviously I did not understand the voice-over but like any television viewer, I got the point.

Just Gold: In the words of William Shakespeare "much ado about nothing".

Full marks to the man behind the camera but I'm afraid I was not whipped into a religious fervor about gold jewelry. I'll have to defer to my wife on this one.

Sun Life: Exploring human emotions and portraying them well on screen, is often the hardest task in advertising. After all, filmmakers have the luxury of an hour or so to create a bond between two people. Agencies usually get around 26 seconds (allowing for logos and supers). This Sun Alliance spot manages to create magic as well as develop a clever mnemonic with the elements of sun and sky.

Fristi: Who needs the 'Big Idea'? When you can have Action, Adventure, Excitement and Nutrition as well!

Who could ask for more? This Fristi TVC is right in tune with its young audience. A fun spot well put together.

McDonald's: Sweet, soft, cuddly and contrived. I'm sure this approach will work very well for 'Macca's' and their consumers. Just watch those fluffy dolls disappear off the shelves of your local McDonald's as they jostle for position on the dashboards and the tops of computer monitors all over Hong Kong.

DOVE

Brief: Promote Dove triple chocolate.

Agency: TBWA

Creative director: Scott Whybin

Art director: Alex Fenton

Copywriter: Paul Hastings

Producer: Joanne Alach

Account management: James Graham

Production: Silverscreen Sydney and NZ (Tracey Rowe)

DUREX

Project: Frog, Countdown and Take Off

Brief: to introduce the flavored, sheer and ribbed condom products.

Agency: McCann-Erickson

Creative director: Martin Doyle

Art directors: Chanyuth Nogyai & Surachet Srikokcharoen

Copywriters: Pairath Hanwattanawutti and Thidarat Nitikijphaiboon

Production house: Macho Mango (Rajit Saeng-Xuto)

JUST GOLD

Project: 'The Religion of Beauty'

Brief: a new platform to promote the brand image.

Agency: Leo Burnett

ECD: Eddie Booth

Creative directors: Connie Lo, Ray Lam

Writer: Connie Lo

Art director: Ray Lam

Producer: Goretti Yau

Production house: off-lo-hi, HK

Director: (David Pun, Alfred Hau)

SUN LIFE INSURANCE

Project: Shining on you

Brief: to build corporate image.

Agency: Ogilvy & Mather

Creative director: Simon Handford

Art director: Connie Hong

Copywriters: Florence Lai, Wen Louie

Production house: Film Factory (Winnie Tang)

FRIESLAND PROJECT: AIRPORT

Agency: Leo Burnett

Brief: to persuade Vietnamese kids to try the Fristi brand.

ECDs: Jonathan Swanepoel, Piet Human

Art director: Paul Busschau

Copywriters: Piet Human, Jonathan Swanepoel, Pete Watman.

Director: Nathan Price

Production house: SilverScreen NZ

MCDONALD'S

Project: Summer Colors

Objective: energise brand and business in the key summer season.

Agency: DDB Hong Kong

Creative directors: CC Tang, Barry Mok, Jeffry Gamble

Art director: Greta Lai

Copywriter: Frankie Fung Production house: Such Films

Interested in having your campaigns reviewed? Send submissions to Atifa Hargrave-Silk in the form of trims, transparencies or video printouts for TVCs plus the TVC itself, and proofs for print ads and posters. Please send all material to Media, 2201, 22/F The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong.

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