The Weekly Roundup: 22nd November 2013

Bringing you our selection of the biggest and baddest adland breaking news from the last 7 days. No, thank YOU.

The week at a glance:

This week we were mainly staring agog at Jean Claude Van Damme’s crotch. And this was mostly because it was dangling precariously above a road as he ONLY BLOODY DID THE SPLITS between two moving lorries for the latest Volvo masterpiece. British Airways showed how Big Data and a simple execution can make us all #lookup, Microsoft get their claws out and Coke encourage you to challenge your nan to a tacky festive jumper competition. A delightful week all round.

Volvo, JCVD, and extreme flexibility

When agency Forsman Bodenfors received the brief to ‘demonstrate the stability and precision of Volvo Dynamic Steering’, they clearly went and had one too many vodkas and decided they absolutely must film JCVD doing a full 180 degree split between two moving truck cabs. Kudos guys, we’re thrilled you got sloshed and produced one of the best ads of the year. Hold onto your seats and watch it now.

British Airways make you #lookup

The clever little people at BA took flight path data, a cute kid and a big billboard, whacked them all together and created possibly the best use of digital outdoor advertising we’ve ever seen. Currently in Chiswick but soon to be landing in Piccadilly Circus, whenever a BA plane flies overhead (and the cloud level is high enough – yep, it detects that too) a toddler looks up and points toward the plane. Oh sweet Lord it’s beautiful, look here.

Microsoft lash out at Google

Microsoft have initiated a smear campaign against Google due to their privacy policy (and probably insane jealousy too). Within the Microsoft online store you will find a new ‘Scroogled’ section selling anti-Google merchandise such as slanderous mugs and t-shirts. It’s all very bad taste and makes Microsoft look a bit pathetic.

Google responded yesterday with a very civilised statement mocking Microsoft’s low-tech approach to ‘wearable technology’. Google: we’ve got your back.

Coke and their festive sweater-making machine

Coke Zero have recognised the joy and warmth that a good reindeer-emblazoned knitted jumper can bring, and so created a little competition inviting Joe Public to create their own design. Once the design is made in the Sweater Generator it enters a gallery and the top 100 designs get knitted fo’ real and sent to you by Christmas. Frustratingly, the competition is only open to our friends over the pond – maybe Coke don’t appreciate our ironic love of tat.

And finally….

Over in Toronto, the folk at agency John St take experiential marketing to the next level with their hoax exFEARiential strategy – spoofing some of the recent pr stunts we’ve been privy to and taking it to the next level. “Most ads are dramatic. We want them to be traumatic” says creative director Chris Hirsch. It’s a hilarious Friday treat for you (thanks @c_kroc)

If you think we’ve missed anything world-changing that should be covered, let us know and we’ll put it in next week’s round-up! Email: hello@toworkorplay.com

[Images courtesy of Youtube, BA, Scroogled, Microsoft, Coke Zero & John St] займы на карту срочно быстрый займ онлайн спбзайм онлайн без отказа срочнозайм без проверок на киви