for some reason this dumb space wasn't letting me write any entries...for weeks! so i had all this amazing, insightful crap to write up and it's all just a dream now....sigh

 

i've been in hardcore pitch mode, my first asian pitch. really interesting stuff actually. how do you create a campaign that is sure to work in india all the way down to australia/nz and everywhere in between? the cultural differences between the asian powerhouses, although close geographically, are immense and sometimes bipolar opposites. for example, a tvc showing armpits will not pass through the malaysian censorship board and animals can not be shown in indonesian ads. just a few examples, but the list is huge....

 

one fun little minibreak i had was up to KL last weekend. i caught the bus up with Mehru and Noon, a 5 hour busride which was really fun as we spent the entire journey chinwagging ('chatting' for non-aussies). they both are asolutely tops!!!! i bid them farewell at their hotel and went to stay with Sonia (gorgeous as always!!!!!) who was flying through malaysia on her way to india for 6 weeks to become a famous bollywood actress. it was really great to see her and finally have a chance to catch up on overdue stuff. we didn't do much to be honest - kinda ate lots, visited a nearby temple, revisited KLCC and dropped by the night markets to satisfy any fake designer purchase urges (not mine although some of the hermes and coach stuff was seriously convincing).

 

i left her on the sunday morning and bumped into M&N a few hours before our return bus was to depart ole KL and boy did we have a smashing time. we found a little outdoor lounge bar and decided to get somewhat intoxicated ("vodka shots anyone???") to make the journey go a bit faster....and did it ever! hehe...to top it off, we went off for some haleem and nehari at 'Usmans' - the only legit pakistani food in sg - for a post-bus-welcome-home dinner when we got back in at around 10pm, it was truly a fantastic way to end a truly fantastic weekend!!!!! 

 

lots of fun stuff coming up in the next few weeks, hopefully CRAPPY MSN will let me actually make use of this space.

 

until then muffins,

choti xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

ps-i am going to be here for xmas and new year, may be back in oz towards end jan.

A religous music experience was had last Thursday night when I saw the infamous Peaches perform live at Zouk. The electropoprock princess graced the club in a silver leotard and trainers and rocked up a storm for over 2 hours, was encored for 3 extra tracks and danced IN the crowd much to the dismay and concern of her security...she is one of the best live acts I have ever seen and her tunes ain't so bad either (anyone who has ever seen the awesome show Freaks n' Geeks would recognise the theme music "i don't give a damn about my reputation", not to mention her famous duet with the main man Iggy Pop). Go and see her....

 

Yet another award ceremony was frequented by the usual types on Friday night. Bates cleaned up with some client work which was somewhat refreshing. Scam is the order of the day here, but to a ridiculous extent - it seems like regional clients don't buy award winning ideas and poor little deprived creatives are left to fend for their own 'cornershop' clients...This is starting to bug me as more emphasis should be put on sellling decent ideas to paying clients - keeps the creatives motivated to continue providing good work for the big bucks. Some nice work done by M&C Saatchi http://mcsaatchi.com/work_detail.php?workid=117 Check out the full 'Mediacorp Hear it First' campaign.

 

Last night I managed to hold my first Singaporean party. Wine, cheese and an open house. Starting at 2pm, finishing up at around 2am have a look at tha pics of the aftermath.

 

Apar from that, it's time to get back to work.

Choti xox