LBi

LBi officially declares Twitter the best thing ever

The final league game of the Black Eagle’s season was begun long before we reached Regent’s Park. Whilst we channelled our superior creative efforts into a propaganda program the like of which is rarely seen in a democracy, Facebook quickly established themselves as the team of dirty tricks, whilst at the same time undermining their efforts to convince us of their value as an ad platform.

On Wednesday 21st July, record numbers of LBiers descended on the pitch,  in a last desperate effort to end Facebook’s unbeaten winning streak, we discovered someone had put up a marquee next to the pitch, taking up a large chunk of the playing area and requiring some ad-hoc rule tweaking.  We don’t know why it was there, but we would certainly never assume that Facebook commissioned another underhand move to throw us off our game.  We chose to bat first, and quickly realised that if nothing else Facebook are very good at catching balls. However our own opening fielding was strong as well, and things were shaping up for a close-fought battle.

Our expanded roster continued the proud Black Eagles tradition of a ragtag band of rebels taking on the uniformed all-conquering empire. In post-match analysis Facebook’s second innings in particular was definitively proven to be the result of a quasi-Faustian pact with the unspeakable creatures that dwell beyond, but we kept giving our all, with Darling and an especially Angry Bambi risking their very lives (or at least general leg health) for the cause. However as time went on it became woefully clear that Facebook were top of the league for a reason, whilst pluck and hurling  verbal abuse could only take us so far.

The final score was 19-14 to the dark ones, with Facebook declining their last go at bat in order to get to the pub… and then failing to join us at the pub. For some reason I thought they’d be a more sociable bunch. But whilst we failed to top the league, ultimate glory can still be ours: the best teams now enter into an almost-definitely-metaphorical battle to the death, so we still need our new legions of supporters (maybe some cheerleaders next time would help – just a thought).

Catch of the Match – Boris’s spectacular save – what a hero!

MVP – Jason Grant: some great play, and even brought his family along to support

Best Joint Effort – Johnny running for Darling, who twisted his ankle in pursuit of victory

Dick of the Day – the entire Facebook team, using their ad platform as a weapon for pre-match banter – nice work!

see pictures here

Tags: , , , , , , ,

0 comments Add This

Your Shins, Your Face, Your Mum

This week the LBi Black Eagles soft ball team, entered their penultimate game.  Though Crayon were at the bottom of the league, as former underdogs ourselves, our optimism was cautious. Furthermore, with a hurricane blowing around us and the pitch surrounded on all sides by inept footballers, the arena was set for an epic battle.

Crayon stepped up to bat first, but we saw them away with no danger of them scoring. Our most reliable weapon, Captain Darling himself, got us started, and the hits just kept on coming, occasionally in all violation of sense (common or otherwise). He had superlative backup throughout in the form of J Miesner 2: Electric Boogaloo, Keith from Google, and Doc Brown, whose hits were so powerful they warped the very fabric of space and time, so that to the untrained observer they kept looking like foul balls!  And let’s not forget the tireless efforts of Pollyanna, because there’s no shame in walking to victory. Meanwhile our masterful fielding kept Crayon off the scoreboard, eventually granting them a solitary run for the sake of preserving some level of tension. In Crayon’s final turn at bat, their last hope was caught out by Darling in a display of ninja prowess Splinter would be proud of.  We went on to get another 7 runs, rendering our victory complete.

The final score was our most resounding triumph to date, 16-1! Looking back at our Week 1 loss of 17-2, we have truly completed our evolution from plucky outsiders to an unbridled force of nature. Now the final chapter awaits: next week we challenge the unbeaten Facebook for the title of most awesome-est softball team ever (….division 5). We have the will, we have skill – we need supporters!  Ask not what your softball team can do for you, but what you can do for your softball team: join us as the Black Eagles soar into the pages of history…

AS ONE!!!

(Also there will be beer.)

Catch of the Match – Darling’s ninja skills

MVP – Pollyanna, doing a sterling job in backstop (and playing her first ever softball game!)

Dick of the Day – The Chancellor, for her preeminent sledging of the opposition

Photos can be seen here

Tags: , , , , , , ,

0 comments Share

LBi and bigmouthmedia Brazilian Staff Party

This years summer staff party for all the troops @LBiLondon and @bigmouthmedia is Brazilian themed.

“London’s got its Sunny on, the beer’s flowing and the caipirinhas are being mixed. Squint and you could be shaking your hips at the Copacabana or slinking down Ipanema.

This year’s summer party has a Brazilian flavour, so get in the Samba spirit and join us on the roof terrace”

LBi and bigmouthmedia Brazilian Summer Staff Party


NB: THIS IS A PARTY FOR LBi AND bigmouthmedia EMPLOYEES ONLY.

Tags: , ,

0 comments Share

LBi exhibits darkest imaginations of London’s top creative directors

What happens when you ask 45 leading Creative gurus from the UK’s advertising and design industry the question ‘What is your ultimate fantasy portrait?’.  Yves de Contades photographer and Director of International Life Magazine did just that and captured the results on his Leica camera.  Then he asked leading psychologist Dr Cecilia d’Felice to comment on the portraits.  You are invited to see the results…..
All 45 portraits come deep from the imaginations of London’s leading creative genius’s and are currently being displayed at LBi, 146 Brick Lane, E1 6RU.  You are welcome to look at these portraits from 9pm until 8:30pm Monday to Friday.

Interested? Imagine a leading creative shooting badgers in a tweed suit and holding a martini glass, the scene dripping in blood, think of a spaceman standing in the centre of Piccadilly circus all the traffic halted and someone else you will know who is as tall as Big Ben leaning against it reading the Times.

Creative Directors such as Linda Burrows from The Sunday Times, Tim Cole from Saatchi Design, Theo Williams at Habitat, Chris Clarke at Lost Boys International, Steve Vranakis at VCCP, Tom Hudson at Lowe Worldwide, David Hillman of David Hillman Studios created their ultimate fantasies.  Each creative was asked for a quote on their choice of portrait and creativity and this was evaluated and commented upon by the leading psychologist Dr Cecilia d’Felice and her words accompany each portrait and make for powerful reading.

So what did Chief Creative Officer Chris Clarke have to say….

“Yves has truly captured the diversity energy and indeed psychology of the London creative scene. He also knows how to handle a badger, which is always a plus in my book“.  Chris Clarke, Global Creative Director, Lost Boys International

All images were shot exclusively on the new Leica S-System.

Fantasy Portraits can be viewed 9 am till 9 pm Monday to Friday, from Thursday 1st July, at LBi, The Atlantis Building, Truman Brewery, 146 Brick Lane, E1 6RU.

Yves de Contades has commenced shooting series two of Fantasy Portraits; these will be showcased as a one night only exhibition at The Worx Studios towards the end of October. Watch this space.

The video of the exhibition

Thanks go to Leica Camera, Genesis Digital Imaging, The Worx Studios and Jennie Lam for their generous support of the project.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

0 comments Share

Favourite Cannes winners

Chris Clarke’s view on this years winners at Cannes…

“Here’s a selection of some of my favourite Cannes winners. Lots of great technology creativity in there. There’s every reason to believe we will be there next year.

Grand Prix went to Fun Theory

http://www.adqualifier.com/cannes2010/thefuntheory/index.html

This is interesting as it’s an experiential / technology piece based on an interesting behavioural economics insight. It is absolutely something we ought to be able to do.

Interestingly it didn’t do as well at D&AD because others on the jury (not me) questioned it’s connection back to the brand.

This is good old fashioned beautiful digital craft for Wrangler:

http://www.kokokaka.com/demo/bluebell_ss10/

This is a really cool piece of technology thinking: A handwriting app. Got Gold.

http://www.pilothandwriting.com/cyberapp/

This is really more of the same from Crispin for Burger King. Another good example of their “show me the press release” thinking.

http://media.mdc-partners.com/awards/2010/video/BK_Someone_Special_Dollar_Holidays.mov

This is fantastic work for Samsung. Another example of a technology piece which we absolutely ought to be able to do:

http://www.samsungshakedown.com/competition/

Uniqlo are still making waves. Beautiful craft, but I find the app disappointing – getting images of Japanese ski resorts on a calandar day in June in London doesn’t seem that clever to me.

http://www.canneslions.com/work/cyber/entry.cfm?entryid=12627&award=99

These guys got Gold for their IKEA iphone app which lets you place catalogue items into your home:

http://www.canneslions.com/work/cyber/entry.cfm?entryid=6271&award=2

The already famous Boone Oakley You Tube annotations website won gold too:

http://www.canneslions.com/work/cyber/entry.cfm?entryid=3553&award=2

I like this too – by Allie who used to work at Oyster. Nice animation bringing to life what would otherwise be a boring UGC piece.

http://mccannny.com/Golden%20Grant/

And this is beautiful. Possibly the best “Crowd Sourced” piece I’ve ever seen

http://www.thejohnnycashproject.com

This is a good integrated digital idea powered by social media

http://www.anonymousagency.net/showroom/savethechildren/thelotteryoflife/

I’ll send some more out when I’ve been through them all”

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

0 comments Share