The SPOKE Daily

spun by SPOKE™ | Live Green in Dundas Square

Karen Lo — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:22:08 +0000

Planet People was amongst one in the 100 exhibitors taking part in the annual Live Green Toronto Festival at Dundas Square on August 28 & 29, 2010. SPOKE was there to show our support. Long live the Planet!!!! See all the event photos on our Flickr set!

A DOC WITH HEART, TEENAGE PAPARAZZO

Rachel Noonan — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:00:05 +0000

Yet again, Torontonians were spoiled with another exclusive, and SPOKE was there. An intimate advanced screening of Adrian Grenier’s documentary, Teenage Paparazzo. SYNOPSIS When precocious 13-year-old paparazzo Austin Visschedyk snapped a photo of celebrity Adrian Grenier (HBO’s Entourage), little did he know his life was about to change. Turning the tables on the juvenile paparazzo, Grenier stepped to the other side of the lens in an attempt to mentor a teenager obsessed with the lure of the Hollywood lifestyle. Grenier develops a meaningful relationship with his camera-clicking young friend as he attempts to reconcile their mutual exploitation. Indeed, Grenier puts himself on the line here, trying to make sense of his own recently acquired fame. Post screening, a poorly managed Q&A session (Get a mic people) took place where Adrian and the host bantered back and forth about Plato, the contrast between Old and New Hollywood and how many times the host could call Adrian “Vince”. Some good questions were asked about the social commentary of the story and why society has this hyper obsession with celebrity. Much to my surprise, Adrian was reflective, articulate and very mild mannered. It became clear his intention with this documentary was not to exploit Austin, but to put a lens inward to the core of the industries intent. Why do we care about people we don’t know? Why do we want them built up and broken down? Why have we decided to idolize only a few, putting the common folk into a sort of “Peasant” like status? Paparazzo does not attempt to take a position about whether societies collective confidence is decreasing due to “us” creating unrealistic personal expectations set against these “god like” creatures. It doesn’t try to paint the “shooters” in a particular light or make excuses for celebrities. Paparazzo just asks questions. It was actually one of the most unbiased documentaries I have seen in a while. I am sure considering the intense nature of the subject, it was tough to keep it clean and not veer in one particular direction. It’s really cool that a “celebrity” is taking the time to look at the world we put on a pedestal. It’s the don’t bite the hand that feeds you thing. Nobody wants to put a microscope on it, especially when they are in it. With Adrian, he’s not just in it, but represents the epitome of it with his character “Vince” in Entourage. It was brave for him and his supporters to make this documentary. Well worth watching. I am going to go ahead and put this out there; I think Adrian Grenier’s calling may be behind the camera.

QUAKER Digest

Karen Lo — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:14:18 +0000

A few months back we put together a consumer digest to promote Quaker’s campaign for healthy eating. The TV spot was placed in grocery stores and doctors’ offices and the digest is available at health clinics nationwide. Agency: SPOKE/Praxis Creative Director: Kai Exos Art Director: Paula Sommerz Graphic Designer: Karen Lo 3D & Editing: Ramon Charles Photography: Ryan Szulc Copywriter: Kai Exos Video: Nigel Holdbrook Account Managers: Susan Shapiro, Lauren Grant, Karen Krugel

Mongolian Polo

Karen Lo — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:02:13 +0000

Shanghai Tang is the leading luxury brand emerging from China with a mission to weave the craftsmanship of imperial Chinese tailoring into modern-day fashion. A dedicated advocate for traditions, Shanghai Tang has announced their annual Polo Cup’s return to Mongolia from August 27 to August 29, where Genghis Khan’s warriors once played the regal sport. Polo has been long lost to Mongolian culture but has recently been revived to breed the next generation of world-class polo players. Mongol players play up their heritage by attiring in traditional costumes worn by their mighty cavalry ancestors. With a strong sense of heritage and one of the world’s most breathtaking and well-preserved landscape, this polo match seems promising as an equestrian’s dream come true. Here are some of the event photos from Shanghai Tang Polo Cup’s last visit in Mongolia in 2006.

Presidential Gourmet Photoshoot

Karen Lo — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:45:46 +0000

Here’s a sneak peak of Presidential Gourmet’s new branding identity in the making. Thanks to 2b1’s photographer, Jeff Coulson, you will soon feast your eyes with a selection of PG’s signature dishes. We were all happily exhausted after a full day of food porn and sweet action. See it all here!

Campaign: Bon Appetit Café at the Bay Restaurant

Karen Lo — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:39:53 +0000

After a long week of work and running errands, the last thing you’d want to do is confront the aftermath of a busy household. To help restore some balance, the Bon Appetit Café at the Bay Restaurant rewarded a lucky mommy or daddy with a year of free maid service. The contest ran from May 21 – June 17, 2010 and was open to all Canadian residents. The nationwide campaign involved in-store posters, counter cards, tent cards, and handouts to encourage customer traffic to the restaurant. HBC Rewards Card holders are automatically enrolled once they make a purchase of $10 or more at the Bon Appetit Café. Another way to participate or get an additional entry is to sign up for the newsletter via the online contest page. (TRIVIA: note the photo in the first frame on the left. It’s taken from a childhood photo of one of SPOKE’s team members! Keep scrolling for the grand reveal!) (ANSWER: It’s Paula Sommerz, our Associate Creative Director!)

BFF Toronto Dates Announced!

Karen Lo — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:12:52 +0000

After much anticipation, the Bicycle Film Festival has finally announced its return to Toronto from August 18-22. Friday and Saturday Screenings at THE ROYAL 608 College St. Sunday EMPIRE Screening at CINECYCLE 401 Richmond St. Complimentary valet bike parking will be provided by Toronto Cyclists Union at screening locations. See program details here.

BIKE POLO

Rachel Noonan — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:20:34 +0000

What is bike polo (BP) you ask? Well, it’s pretty darn simple; Polo with a modified mallet, usually in a hockey rink and hockey nets on a bike. A variety of characters hit the concrete to take a wack at the ball and pick serious speed. It is a game of skill, having to maintain balance on the bike while keeping an eye on the ball and the opponents net. Chosen rides range from cruiser to high end fixies. I am going to subject myself to BP next week and will probably head out with a single speed for weight, speed and the ability to not kill everyone in the game. BP is fun to watch, can get hairy and brings a freshness to NEWSPORT. That’s what we call “hybrid” or “new” sports hitting our streets. If you can get out and catch a game of Bike Polo, do it.

HIPSTER OR HOMELESS?

Rachel Noonan — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:55:49 +0000

It’s a beautiful morning in Toronto. I am woken with a warm ray of sunshine beaming through my window. The birds are out and my bunny Jermaine is awake and loving the balcony breeze coming through his cage. This is a perfect day for a walk to work. I get showered, dressed and equip myself with sunglasses, moccasins and an Earl grey tea with a touch of honey. Within five minutes I am making time to the beats of She Wants Revenge and rolling along. As per usual I am scoping the morning fashions of my fellow concrete travelers. We’ve got tweed hats paired with cute worn leather cropped jackets, ripped denim with layers on top of lace, cotton and what appears to be a mesh type thingy! As I continue my morning fashion scope I come across a woman walking in front of me. From the rear she looks like the average hipster. Messy bed head hair, black worn out Lacoste jacket, Vintage long strap purse, fishnet pantyhose paired with what appeared to be a black mini skirt and 80’s style kitten heels that could have easily come from a fashionable vintage boutique. She was hipster hobo chic to the extreme and it amazed me someone would spend so much time putting together a look that gives the appearance of a gypsy traveler. She was dressed for the part of jaded concertgoer at the next MGMT concert or the always-indifferent party girl that shows, looks sullen for most of the night and spends half her time in the bathroom smoking. I keep my eyes on her and as I get closer it’s starting to dawn on me that this lady is looking a little more worse for wear than your average downtown try hard. The vintage leather bag had one too many holes, the fishnets were not a patterned rip as per Urban Outfitters style direction for the season and although her hair was the perfect “ haven’t washed because I’m writing poetry” look, it was just a bit too greasy. I’m about two feet from her at the point when it becomes crystal clear, she’s from the local half way house and pretty much a semi or totally homeless person. I couldn’t tell the different between a local hipster and a homeless person, we are close to the end peopleHIPSTERS ARE SO EARLY 2010. Upon my arrival at work I fill everyone in on my morning insights and the lovely Karen directs me to a story about a man in China who becomes somewhat of a hobo fashion icon. Reports on him offer parallels to his daily homeless fashion creations to that of the runways in New York and Paris. The report did yield something positive. Due to the publicity, the homeless man’s family was tracked down in their hometown and they were reunited. That aside, WTF. Hello Zoolander and Derelict. Zoolander shows how absolutely absurd the fashion industry can be, going as far as exploiting the homeless and less fortunate for collection inspiration. What do we do? We become the joke. Wow, sad times people, sad times. I have spent the last while trying to sit on a few Toronto street corners to capture a visual for you of both a Hipster hobo and the real deal Homeless that live amongst us. Every time I find a spot, get ready to shoot I start to feel guilty. I feel bad that A) I am going to exploit someone who either could use some help or needs to go back on the meds. B) I am slightly angry at the indifference that lives under the hipster garb. The world is a pretty rad place to be right now. Apathy and indifference are soo early 2010.

CALL FOR DESIGNERS

Rachel Noonan — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:13:40 +0000