Ground Zero, Marina del Rey, Calif., scored best in show but Wieden+Kennedy (W+K), New York and Portland, gained the most recognition at the 2005 Women’s Image Network (WIN) Awards held last month in Los Angeles.
The WIN competition was launched a dozen years ago to honor feature films and TV programs that dispel female stereotypes. For each of the last two years, though, the WIN Awards have broadened to include commercials. The now annual spot component of the competition recognizes outstanding TV and/or interactive advertising written, directed, produced or art directed by a woman. Also eligible to earn WIN Awards distinction are commercials created for women that promote a positive, progressive message.
Taking the best of show honor was Ground Zero’s “The Squeeze” for Miller Lite and ESPN, which was agency produced by Heidi Hawkings. “The Squeeze” was directed by Laurence Thrush who was with bicoastal Headquarters at the time but has since joined Fools and Horses, Los Angeles.
Next up were a pair of first place WIN Hecate Award winners: W+K, New York, for ESPN’s “Running Away,” agency produced by Temma Shoaf, and directed by W+K’s associate creative director Paul Renner via bicoastal Smuggler; and W+K, Portland, for Nike’s “Barefoot Run,” with Jennifer Fiske serving as agency producer and Monica Taylor as art director. “Barefoot Run” was helmed by Noam Murro of Biscuit Filmworks, Los Angeles.
SECOND PLACE
W+K’s Portland and New York offices were also prevalent in the field of WIN second place Isis honorees. W+K, New York, garnered two second place finishes–one for ESPN’s “Keepsake,” the other for Nike Brand Jordan’s “Brother.” W+K, Portland, earned a second place slot for Nike’s “Chamber of Fear.”
The latter was agency produced by Tieneke Pavesic and directed by Dave Meyers of bicoastal/international @radical.media. “Keepsake” was directed by W+K’s Renner, with Shoaf serving as agency producer. And “Brother” was written by Lisa Topol, with art director Robert Rasmussen directing via 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, Brooklyn.
Also scoring second place honors were DDB Chicago, McCann Erickson, New York, and Network BBDO, Johannesburg. DDB’s spot was “Sky Diver” for “Budweiser,” with Marianne Newton serving as agency executive producer. “Sky Diver” was directed by Michael Downing of harvest, Santa Monica.
McCann Erickson garnered its second place WIN recognition on the strength of MasterCard’s “Cashier,” which was agency produced by Sally Hotchkiss, and directed by Bryan Buckley of bicoastal/international Hungry Man.
And Network BBDO scored its second for Cell C’s “Cell C-City,” which was directed by Leigh Ogilvy of Frieze Films, Johannesburg and Cape Town, with Network BBDO’s Marianna Kelly serving as art director.
THIRD PLACE
W+K, Portland, also had a pair of third place WIN Persephone honors for Nike spots “Natural Selection” and “Team.” Both were produced by W+K’s Jennifer Smieja, and directed by Max Malkin via bicoastal/international HSI.
DDB Chicago also earned a third place finish with Budweiser’s “Snowball,” also produced by the agency’s Newton. Director was harvest’s Baker Smith.
Venables, Bell & Partners, San Francisco, garnered its third place slot with Pacific Gas & Electric’s “Wind,” for which Tavia Holmes was the art director. Phillipe Andre of bicoastal Villains directed the ad.
And rounding out the third place honorees was “Songs,” part of the high-profile Dove campaign out of Ogilvy & Mather, New York, which presents women of all sizes–except fashion-model petite–in a positive beauty/fashion light. The writer/art director team on “Songs” consisted of Teresa Surratt and Holly Thompson. The spot was directed by Leslie Dektor of Dektor Film, Hollywood.
The first (Hecate), second (Isis) and third (Persephone) place awards are named after the triple Greek goddesses. This year’s WIN Award judges included: Susan Credle, executive VP, creative director, BBDO New York; John Butler, creative director, Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners, Sausalito, Calif.; freelance creative director Charlotte Moore; Danielle Flagg, art director, Wieden+Kennedy, Portland; Joyce King Thomas, chief creative officer, McCann Erickson, New York; and Lisa Shimotakahara, group creative director, McKinney+Silver, Raleigh, N.C.
Beyond the honored commercials, WIN’s ’05 Harriett Abbot Award recognizing innovation and vision in the field of advertising was presented to Lu Chekowsky, who is slated to launch Heart New York, an ad agency devoted to promoting positive images of women through advertising. Plans call for Heart to open its doors in spring ’06. The new shop is the brainchild of Chekowsky and is being incubated by W+K, New York.