Chris Kyme: Postcard from Hong Kong
Chris Kyme continues his “Postcards from…” series and this time he is searching for inspiration.
Searching for inspiration
I’m actually a bit late with my ‘postcard’ this month and that’s because it’s been a bit of a struggle deciding on what I’ve seen that’s worth writing home about.
See that picture of a door? That’s the toilet door in our building. It’s where I usually go when I’m looking for inspiration. I pray to the Toilet God for help, and usually he gives it up. But this time? Hm. And it’s a pressure you know. Although this column is supposed to be a little light relief away from the blood sweat and tears of doing a 50th round of presentation to another client who’s just cut the budget in half, it’s actually a great pressure.
Mainly because the publisher of Campaign Brief Asia had me sign a contract that says, if I can’t deliver, I have to watch a video about Australia’s greatest ever moments in cricket. And I can tell you, it’s a very boring way to spend 5 minutes.
So, the list of options so far has been:
– The Hong Kong Kam Fan awards: coming up soon. Who are the contenders? Who’s going to win big? Yawn. I’m sure you’re at wits end waiting to find out.
– A really cool, fun new industry service innovation I was introduced to along with a big group of other agency people who dress in black like me that is apparently so secretive I can’t write about it.
– The fact that Cheil Hong Kong was Hong Kong’s top performing agency at the London International Awards with 7 Gold, 2 Silver, 4 Bronze plus Regional Agency of the Year ..but I don’t need to because ECD Paul Chan has already told the world, phoning Donald Trump personally to give him the news. Donald replied that it was ‘fake news’ but my faith is with Paul. Well done fella.
So. The Hong Kong Article Ideas Barrel has been a bit dry this month, and instead I’m just going to mention two bits of work from overseas that I’ve seen this week, both of which thrilled and delighted me so much I cried out “Yasooth yasooth Algernon, the horses are coming!” Or something like that. And both of which are a million miles away from your nearest scam catalogue.
The first is the gob-smackingly beautiful film for Christies by Droga5 (surprise surprise) entitled ‘The last da Vinci. The world is watching.’
Watch it and drool.
The second is this lovely, brilliantly simple new campaign for Great Western Railway in the UK, featuring Enid Blyton’s most celebrated gang of interfering schoolchildren + one dog, the Famous Five (pictured at bottom). Anyone who grew up with these books will instantly understand the reference. But what it also does effortlessly is rekindle evocative memories from the great age of train travel. And make people want to get out there and explore England.
Best bit of UK tourism I’ve seen since Bill Bryson. I believe the credits go to adam&eveDDB in the UK for that one, who were funnily enough European Agency of the Year at the aforementioned LIA this year.
So, that’s it. I’m safe from yet another innings by Don Bradman or Dennis Lillee. I’m now off to the loo. I have next month to think about.
Chris Kyme is chief executive officer at Kymechow, Hong Kong
