Ziad Batal, creator and producer of Street Smarts
Apart from Star Academy, which was a huge hit 3 years ago, but never recaptured its initial massive audience, no other reality TV shows managed to generate similar success… until Street Smarts.
This show bucked the trend of unsuccessful reality TV programs in the Middle East with Street Smarts 1, by proving that a culturally sensitive reality show could be hugely popular.
Contestants of Street Smarts 1 with creator of the show Ziad Al BatalSo, it returned again with Street Smarts 2.
The contestants of Street Smarts 2And ‘Street Smarts 2′ has now achieved a nomination in the ‘Best Reality TV Programme’ category for inaugural pan-Arab MEB Awards 2007.
Street Smarts 2 features 16 Arab participants contending for prize money of US$ 100,000. The contestants are split into two mixed teams and will be judged on their expertise and skills through 15 intense and intellectually stimulating assignments in business, entertainment and creativity.
Over 4,500 applications were submitted from all around the Arab region, and the final contestants chosen come from Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Jordan, Iraq, Oman and Algeria. Every week, the losing team will vote out one team member. The viewing audience will also participate via SMS, voting off the contestant from the losing team.
Street Smarts is an Infinity TV production. The show is hosted by the popular Taleen Kirresh and is sponsored by Al Qudra Holding, an investment company in the UAE.
Apperantly, reality TV works in the Middle East. A production by MBC, ‘The Biggest Winner’ was also successful.
So, what’s next?
Via [ mediaME ]
December 6th, 2006
Here’s something for Middle Eastern advertising agencies to be proud of.
Tonic Communications in Dubai have a winner in the food category at the Epica 2006 Awards!
The TV commercial is for Nando’s Chicken, and features an open-mouthed man waiting for the sunset call of Iftar.
Well done. And here are the credits:
Creative Director: Vincent Raffray and Khaled Gadallah
Art Director: Peter Walker
Copywriter: Vincent Raffray
Production Company: Filmworks
Executive Producer: Tim Smythe
Producer: Rob Neuhold
DOP: Anthony Smythe
Directors: Vincent Raffray and Peter Walker
Post Production: Condor Dubai
Got to this post on [ mediaME ] to watch the commercial.
December 2nd, 2006
Not recycling this newspaper is the same as cutting down another tree
This advertisement from Turkey is a Winner of the Silver World Medal at the New York International Advertising Festival and the Kristal Elma (for Best of Media Usage) in the local advertising competition.
Agency: DDB&Co. Istanbul
Creative Director and Copywriter: Karpat Polat
Art Director: Ali Bati
Via [Marcom Turkiye]
October 17th, 2006
Mercedes-Benz Turkey, sponsors of International Istanbul Music Festival
BBDO Turkey have won “Star Awards” for this advertisement featuring the steering wheel of a Mercedes Benz CLS-series car, with musical instruments engraved into the steering wheel.
It was an advertisement to announce Mercedes Benz sponsorship of the Istanbul Music Festival.
Via [Marcom Turkiye].
September 14th, 2006
Winner of the Gold Lion award at the Cannes International Advertising Festival by Wunderman Middle East (Dubai); Creative Director is Kerry Platts, Creative Writing by Richa Khan.
Concept Synopsis:
You get a letter with an unbranded CD and a post it note, letting you know all the software is on the CD and the serials are enclosed.
When opening the CD you get a surprise Windows blue screen of death and the effect of the monitor shutting down.
Then you get a message from Microsoft, that you are lucky time this is just a DM, but next time your machine can crash for real if you use bootleg software.
See this piece of work in full at Ads Of The World.
July 5th, 2006
