Beirut is hot and so are we

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0300

As Will Ferrell put it so elegantly, "Mmmmm... I Look Good. I Mean Really Good. Hey Everyone, Come See How Good I Look!"

And more importantly, come see how good Beirut looks, in the latest issue of Monocle, the magazine read exclusively by good looking people in good looking places.

The article features the sexiest neighborhood of the Lebanese capital, and Clandestino Films was mentioned – yes I’m showing off but we feel honored.

Nancy and I were photographed to represent our team, and our offices’ pioneering presence in the underground-gone-overground area of Mar Mikhael.

Here is a snippet of the page.

Who wants to be a millionaire?

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:03:48 +0300

If I woke up and found 300000000 guilt-free Lebanese pounds under my pillow, I would:

a) donate it to myself
b) donate it to the "Hoummos is Lebanese" foundation
c) donate it to my agent

What would you do?

This incredibly deep philosophical question is the theme of the latest ad for the Lebanese supermarket chain Le Charcutier Aoun who is giving the chance to win these millions.

It is the lovechild of Clandestino Films and the agency Memac-Ogilvy Beirut.
It also marks the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious debut of Omar Boustany as Creative Director for Memac Ogilvy.

The principle is simple, catchy and penetrates the bizarre (and immensely superior) Lebanese mind:
Money = a nose job, a chance to become a politician (a recurring oddity amongst Lebanese males) or a private school bus (give him a year and he’ll want to be a politician too).

I don’t mean to blow my own horn, but people didn’t just like the ad, they loved it (even the Hoummos is Lebanese foundation listed it on their page. Respect.)
Who wouldn’t?

Here is the ad:

Dubai Lynx Awards - Silver number

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:17:54 +0200

When I was a broke bohemian, I had no choice but to get a mobile number that... well... let's just say it didn't look as good as me. Today, I still have the same unsightly digits and the same breathtaking looks.

For those of you who know what the hell I'm talking about, you'll be happy to know that Lebanon's love for golden numbers got me to win the Silver Prize at the Dubai Lynx Awards for the Alfa Telecom Commercials I directed.

A quick explanation for those of you who are lost: In Lebanon, we like our noses, hair, cars, and just about anything we touch to be drop dead gorgeous. This includes any form of number: phones, car plates – you name it, we’ve done it. (And done worse. Trust me.)

Simply put:
03946180 = not good (to make sure no girl ever calls you back)
11111111 = good (of course she called, she’s sitting next to me right now)

Thanks to the team who have helped us introduce Alfa Telecom and the rest of the world to the delightful absurdity of our country – and put every ugly number to shame.
Thanks to all you soopah doopah people: the agency Leo Burnett Beirut, Independent Productions, Yves Sehnaoui for the cinematography, and great actor Amin Dora (a fellow director who has a golden number. Wait, on second thoughts he only has a bronze one).

Sushi nights

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:32:32 +0200

Here is a little something that my fellows at Satellite My Love and I have been preparing along with French agency La Chose.

It is a (superb, naturally) ad that we shot in Paris-by-night, whilst almost freezing to death (we’re a dedicated bunch).

I can’t reveal yet what it was for, but I can tell you that, due to the snow, we lost time, continuity, patience and the use of our fingers.
The final version is currently being post-produced by wonder team at BUF.

Will share it soon.

Below is what Julien had to say to the snow.

Pepsi African Cup

Mon, 1 Feb 2010 12:41:46 +0200

After 20 intense days spent in the same hotel room in Cairo, I realized, only a few minutes before leaving that I could actually see the Pyramids from my balcony. Despite my incredible knowledge of botargo room delivery all over town, I work like a maniac – hard to believe I know.

You know what is less hard to believe? Egypt has just won the African Cup of Nations for the seventh time – which is the topic of my latest campaign for Pepsi.

The films follow the interaction between tradition and football, and the power the latter has on the former: in Egypt, there is not one event left untouched by Football-all-mighty.

This demented passion is the one reason we love Egypt (or, rather a reason that beats even the humour and botargo)

As always it was a pleasure working with the same team at good ol’ Impact BBDO Cairo, and my buddies the national football stars (who I’ve already shot several times – yes I’m showing off).

See below for a tasty Youtube foreplay – the final version will be posted by my very self shortly.