Robyn Hobson
On an average day
Meet Al and Munkeh!
Jul 5th
PG Tips has been voted the nations favourite cuppa in Britain. Given Britain’s obsession with tea, that’s quite something. I think their adverts are largely responsible. One of the recnt ones features a knitted chimp and I love it so much that it almost made me switch from morning coffee to tea… almost.
Because let’s face it … who doesn’t want to start their day with a monkey who is partial to a bit of cabaret.
It’s brillint : kick start your day with the ad .. never mind the tea!
I also found one of their adverts from 1971 featuring a host of real chimps. If you’re feeling nostalgic, give it a watch . I laughed quite a bit.
It seems they’ve kept their brand humour pretty consistent across the years. Almost a 40 year gap between both ads and they still feel the same… a brand that has kept up with change but not forgotten who they are.
It’s the Taste!
Fairytale Ending
Jul 5th
I watched The Princess and The Frog the other night. I’ve been dying to see it because it uses old-school 2D animation and it does what Disney does best : a good old fashioned, magical fairytale. It deals with princess wannabe 101 .. kiss a frog and you’re sorted.
I love CGI
BUT my heart will always belong to hand drawn animation. As a little girl I watched Snow White and Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King… in fact the list is endless. I loved those Disney Princesses. They were beautiful, smart, witty, independent : the modern girl who could still find time to be swept off her feet by a handsome prince.
I watched Lilo and Stitch a few years ago. There is a scene where the older sister kicks a car and yells ‘Stupid-Head’ …. I just remember thinking Disney? Is that you …. really? I lost a bit of faith in their movies. But then CGI Gems like Wall.E and Up restored it. Up is one of the best films I have ever seen – do yourself a favour and watch it.
Disney execs pretty much declared hand-drawn animation dead. I was told that a guy at Disney had been instructed to chuck out all the animation desks ( animators who wanted to keep these stunning 1940 pieces had to buy them back !) anyway he didn’t have the heart to destroy them. So he locked them up somewhere and kept them safe. Thank goodness he did, because they were all ready to be dusted off and used once more for the Princess and The Frog.
The Princess and The Frog is visually stunning and has gorgeously rich characters. Raymond The Firefly is awesome. Disney has announced since it’s release that they are on path to release a 2D animation film every 2 years. This makes me a happy puppy and I would pick them over some guy screaming at and firing his apprentices any day.
Because just like handwritten love letters, newspapers and rolos I don’t want 2D animation to die out.
Paul: The Oracle Octopus
Jun 30th
Latest Prediction:
There are now several pschic creatures trying to carve the niche in the world but according to CNN, the famous Paul has called Spain to win the World Cup final in Jozi on Sunday. I love that squid!
Go Spain!
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I was a little early for a meeting this morning so I read the paper… how old school right? It seems Papers have got a bit strange since my last encounter… clearly there were no modern-day pirates or assisted trespassers popping into English dressing rooms. Anyway this slow news day is how I found out about Paul.
Germany has placed their betting faith in a soothsaying Octopus. Yes you read right. That does say Octopus.
Paul The Octopus has correctly predicted all of Germanys World Cup match results, including their win over England and Serbias upset over Germany.
He is offered two boxes, each containing exactly the same food. One box the German flag on it and the other, the flag of their opponents.
Good news is that he picked Germany to win against Argentina after an agonizing 45 minute decision process. This apparently indicates it will come down to penalties.
I love Argentinas colours but I’ll go with Paul on this one. Let’s face it, you’re just not living unless you can say you’ve taken advice from an Octopus.
I got a bit squeamish when I watched it because it has 8 legs ( spider-phobia ) but for the purposes of bringing random, quirky, happy things into your life , here is the vid 
Meet Triton
Jun 30th
Heard about this at coffee this morning … so much for kicking that habit … I am on two cups today 
But back to the point !
Even our wildlife is feeling the Gees 
Triton is one of the resident White lions at Jozi Zoo and he loves playing soccer.
Hmmm maybe Bafana can use him… I mean who didn’t want to see Saurez ( the Uruguay number 9 who has a strong magnetic attraction to the ground) get chomped
Triton should be the unofficial, official mascot of the you know what.
He beats the Ayoba man and that spotty, green haired leopard hands down.
PS This is the only time Derek Watts will appear on this blog
PPS … you can so tell I have had 2 cups of coffee. Look at all the deranged smiley faces in this post.
Print Rocks My World
Jun 30th
I love clever, funny Print ads. Even more than I love tee-shirts and French Bulldogs… which is a lot. I have a big book of Europe’s Best Print campaigns for the 07/08 year.
Every now and again I get the book out and page through it.
I could spend hours in this world of creative intelligence.
Hyundai
Heinz Hot Ketchup
No Insects Left
Kissing Boxes
Jun 26th
There comes a time ( or even a few times) in your life where you stop and ask yourself what the hell am I doing?
Yesterday I had a request casting for a conceptual film. They said that my character had a kind of Milla Jollovich feel about her. There is no dialogue in the film and the actors have to communicate with just their eyes and body language. Tough ask.
I really can’t wait to see the finished product. I think it is going to be awesome.
At castings we often get asked to do some strange things. I would love to see the casting reels .. we must all look like lunatics.
Back to this one. I had to do several scenes but only one with another actor. The scene is a pretty, cute, Hollywood beginning: my character falls madly in love with a guy … who has a TV for a head.
This is where the fun starts.
The guy I was casting with was given a box to put over his head. It looked like one of those boxes you would use to carry about a few wine bottles. For future reference those fit peoples heads quite well.
I had to walk up to him, it was love at first sight ( screen?) and he would take me in his arms, we would kiss passionately and my foot would pop.
The camera rolled.
I started walking towards him and only then did I notice that they had taped a picture of Milla Jovovich ( hardest surname to google in the world) to the front of the box.
This was round about where I had the moment.
I stepped outside my body, looked down at myself about to smooch the face off of a wine box doing it’s best impression of Milla and I went … What the hell am I doing?
Of course I did it and hands down one of the best castings ever. I mean life is just not as cool if you can’t say you’ve kissed a cardboard box
A pretty smart guy told me that every good job has several of those what am I doing moments and apparently it’s a good sign.
So here’s to many more
Thanks Charlotte
Jun 21st
I am not a method actor and once I have left the role, it does not take me weeks to wash away the characters habits and influences. Yet I do believe that I learn something from every character I play. After all, you take on the skin of that character. You learn their habits, their weak points, their strong points and even their favorite flavor of ice cream. Most of them can teach you something about yourself that you didn’t know.
Recently I took on the role of Charlotte Lucas in Pride and Prejudice. I did not like Charlotte and I wasn’t thrilled about the prospect of playing her. Yet eventually I got to understand her, grow fond of poor Miss Lucas and now I even miss her a bit.
I was told that Charlotte would have to have her hair pinned back tightly in a bun. Now Charlotte wouldn’t mind this, but trust me Robyn minded a lot.
I have always relied on my hair to feel pretty and detract attention away from my face. Big sunglasses also help Throughout my life people have always said nice things about my hair. So it’s like having a security blanket strapped to my scalp 24/7.
I used to have braces, glasses, freckles and acne : got to love those teenage years and truth be told I have never really liked my face all that much. I still don’t really smile with my teeth in photos and I really prefer having my hair loose; even a loose plait.
It sound ridiculous but I was dreading pinning my hair back for the dress rehearsals and the run.
So I put hair back in an old maid bun and fearing the worst, slapped on spatula-loads of Make Up. I arrived at the first dress rehearsal and not only was my costume see-through but nearly every other member of the cast said I now looked like a Charlotte. Charlotte Lucas was a character that was around 25 (old for those days), unmarried and terribly plain. So hearing this sent me into a bit of an irrational spin.
What was I going to do? I really did need my hair to feel pretty! Yes, this does sound vain, but honestly most girls do want to feel pretty inside.
For two weeks I pinned my hair back, involuntarily shed the security blanket and realised that I could survive. I was forced to look into a mirror whilst putting on make up and see my face alone and without my overpowering mask of hair.
And do you know, I’ve actually grown to like my face. I am not saying it is an oil painting, but I definitely feel I don’t need to try hide it.
In fact I’ve noticed that since the play has finished, I have walked around and gone out (gasp the horror ) with my hair pulled back, away from my face and it hasn’t even bothered me.
So thanks Charlotte, I liked you the least and so far you’ve taught me the most.
PS Hopefully the next character will teach me to smile properly in photos
BP Adverts: Unite The Nation
Jun 17th
I came across these yesterday.
Since BP has been pumping oil into the ocean at a furious rate and dealing with a PR nightmare far worse than anything Janet Jackson could’ve worn ( or not worn), people have forgotten that they are in fact an official sponsor of the 2010 World Cup. Pity they went and made this mess, as these ads have been severely overshadowed.
Their Unite The Nation adverts are aimed at South African soccer fans and depict several unlikely teams facing off against one another. They have won several awards and I think they’re brilliant, especially the banners of support for Team Car Guard.
Well done Ogilvy SA.
Very Sharp
The Car Guards vs. The Boyties
Watch it here
The Taxi Drivers vs The Divas
The Mama’s vs. The Cafe Owners
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