It seems like we’ve been hearing about cuts at TBWA\Media Arts Lab (although relatively minor) pretty much every week this month but all tips up until now have proven to be fairly inaccurate . Now, though, we’ve received word from sources that TBWA’s Apple-focused, L.A.-based unit did let go of some staffers last week (the \MAL camp, like always, is keeping quiet). From what we’re hearing, approximately a dozen or so \MAL folks have been cut based on skill sets needed for the business at present.

On the flipside, though, Media Arts Lab, which also has office space in London, Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul and Sydney, did make some creative hires in recent weeks including former B-Reel creative directors Hector Muelas and Ricardo Viramontes, who now serve as GCDs at the former agency.

Don’t worry, worried tipsters. Though they left TBWA\Chiat\Day LA rather quietly, we’re getting word from sources in the know that there was nothing sinister going on regarding the departures of group creative directors/significant others Becca Morton and Gage Clegg. But yes, we have received confirmation that Morton and Clegg, art director and copywriter by trade, respectively, have left Chiat LA after spending nine years with the agency (as well as with its innovation studio, Let There Be Dragons), where they worked on past and present accounts including Visa (remember the 2008 spot above?), The Grammys, Johnson & Johnson, Pedigree and Southwest.

Now that sources tell us their last freelance work with said agency is in the can, which may explain why their departure was a bit subtle, the pair has struck out on their own as you can see in their most recent LinkedIn update. Here’s an excerpt: “We love coming up with ideas, solving problems, finding solutions and making things that are smart and simple and beautiful. We don’t so much love meetings and politics and not ever being able to go on vacations and such, so have decided to enter the wild and wolly world of freelance.”

Morton and Clegg started out as senior art director and copywriter, respectively, before eventually getting bumped up to GCDs at TBWA C\D LA two years ago.

In perhaps the best spot since the passing of Steve Jobs, Apple and TBWA\Media Arts Lab’s latest for the iPhone, “Photos Every Day,” somehow mixes simplicity with more visually striking images than we’ve seen from the tech giant in quite a while.

“Photos Every Day” takes us outside of Apple’s infinite environment of white space and Helvetica and into the great outdoors, which may be the first time Apple’s ever done that to my recollection. However, I’m young, so correct me if I’m wrong here. The spot highlights one of the iPhone’s greatest, if overlooked feature: its 8-megapixel HD camera. Now, in this day an age, every phone on the market is a camera-phone, as has been the case for nearly a decade now. However, the iPhone’s camera is, and probably will continue to be, a step up from every Nexus or HTC phone on the market.

This is Apple’s way of saying, “Hey, remember this thing? We have the best, and, unlike Siri, it’s actually one of our features that you’ll use constantly for just about everything.” Add to that Instagram, which began as an iPhone exclusive and still works best with iOS, and you have yourself some simple, yet beautiful. Credits after the jump.

Read more

We’ve received confirmation that Robert Valdes, who’s spent just about four years as head of production at TBWA\Chiat\Day New York, is leaving the agency come Friday. From what sources tell us, Valdes is leaving of his own accord for a yet-to-be disclosed “new opportunity” though he won’t be starting his new gig for another month or so. During his at Chiat NY as well as TBWA network, Being, Valdes served as HOP on, among other things, several campaigns for Jameson including the “Iron Horse” spot from a couple of months ago as well as various efforts for Absolut such as the “NY-Z” collaboration with Jay-Z.

Prior to joining TBWA C\D NY, Valdes spent three years serving as executive producer at CP+B.

We’ve been getting a few tips on the Spy line that Ricardo Viramontes and Hector Muelas, who have each spent nearly a year as creative directors at B-Reel, have been lured away by TBWA\Media Arts Lab to, you guessed it, work on Apple. Since\MAL is like Area 51 considering its Apple tie-in, TBWA would not comment on the hirings, but prior to their work at B-Reel, Viramontes served as an art director for four-plus years at W+K New York on accounts including Jordan Brand and has also worked at the likes of CAA (you surely remember this) and BSSP.

Muelas, meanwhile, also worked at CAA on the same campaign among other things as well as W+K Amsterdam on accounts including Nike and Coca-Cola. We’ll let you know if and when Tim Cook & Co. or those on the agency level remove the leash and reveals more specifics.

Sources familiar with the matter confirm that Perry Essig, who’s been with Publicis for well over five years and most recently served as EVP/executive creative director out of its New York office, is leaving the agency for a gig a TBWA\Chiat\Day NY. From what we’ve been told by sources, Essig is moving to Chiat NY, effective May 1, to serve as global creative director on Accenture, which awarded TBWA its global AOR duties nearly two years ago. During his five-year stint at Publicis, Essig served as EVP/ECD on the Citi business (you might remember this spot that’s still been making the rounds) among other things.

Prior to Publicis, Essig served as partner/senior copywriter at Ogilvy on AmEx and Kodak among other accounts and has also served as an ACD at Arnold.

Nissan is bringing Google Maps to the road, so if you live with a parent or spouse who gets lost regularly and refuses to ask for directions, this car may be a solid investment. Navigation systems aren’t new, but the Google Send-to-Car technology can be accessed and modified remotely. In the sixty-second spot above, you’ll notice Google’s signature blue rope pulling along the Nissan Juke n-tec (I guess nobody will be buying this automobile for the name…) through an unmarked city during the night. And if you’re worried that this promotion will take away the comfort of watching a loved one go crazy in the driver’s seat after realizing he/she is lost, fear not. There’s always the chance that the angry driver will question Google Maps and make up a new route. Then, you can get the popcorn ready.

TBWA\G1 Paris developed the spot and corresponding “Urban Thrill Rides” campaign that will pop across Europe starting this month. Take a second to pay attention to the music, which a rapped by a man who is half-Jay-Z, half-Will Smith, a perfect combination for a European audience. A little pitchy Jay-voice and  some Big Willy over-pronunciation makes everyone happy. Hopefully happy enough for you not to realize that a car is grinding on a median X-Games style. Keep the Google, but maybe next time, we can stop pretending that cars are like skateboards. Safety first.

Credits after the jump.

Read more

Ryan Lochte may wear that clueless grin in the new Nissan spot created by TBWA, but he’s still laughing to the bank on the heels of his impressive, yet imperfect 2012 Olympics. Ryan Lochte’s “Office Burn” shows car customers (remember, this is for Nissan) how to stay fit at the office: conference call calisthenics, coffee curls, and synergy sit-ups are just a few of the drills Lochte powers through in a buttoned sport coat. Nissan’s Innovation for Endurance might make sense, say, if we actually saw more cars in the commercial. But–like most Ryan Lochte moments–things don’t always make sense.

For those interested in a funnier example of Lochte’s senselessness, watch this Funny or Die video. There’s no product placement, and you get to hear an Olympic gold medalist say, “The pool is the biggest and most expensive toilet. And it’s all mine.”

If only these office exercises could’ve helped Lochte win more gold medals than Michael Phelps. There’s always 2016. A ridiculously long list of credits after the jump.

Read more

From TBWA\Chiat\Day NY and director John Hillcoat (The Road, Lawless) comes this epic spot for Jameson that turns 1800s Dublin into the Wild West. Well, I guess it’s a possibility that Dublin did resembled the American frontier during this time period, but due my education at the hands of the U.S. public school system, I have no idea. Thanks, school.

In Jameson’s recent marketing blitz, which includes a slew of outdoor ads, the brand is attempting to re-introduce its founder and namesake, John Jameson, with some personality a la Captain Morgan. Jameson is depicted as a handsome, rugged, Irishman—a cowboy dressed in what I assume is traditional Irish garb. “Iron Horse” does a great job re-introducing the character to the small screen. In traditional Spaghetti Western form, Jameson leaps from his horse to a run away train, saving precious human and whiskey cargo while keeping the viewing audience compelled all the while. (The little twist at the end was delightful as well). Given Hillcoat’s experience directing Westerns, the brand and agency knew what they wanted, and they got it.

Keeping in mind Jameson’s reputation as “that whiskey you drink because you don’t feel like paying for Jack Daniel’s,” giving John Jameson a story seems like a move in the right direction for the brand. Let’s just hope the rest of his adventures are as compelling as this.

We suppose it hasn’t been the best week for TBWA\Chiat\Day New York, which after reportedly placing runner-up in the pitch for Pfizer’s Nexium biz (not sure when it became a Publicis Groupe agency–see below) has now had to let go of some staffers in its New York office.

We have received confirmation from sources familiar with the matter that “no more” than 14 people were cut from Chiat NY, across departments, “mainly” due to the loss of the Vonage ad duties, which eventually shifted to JWT New York a few weeks ago.