Ralph plays with Number Four

Last week, Penguin Books UK released the sensational new thriller “I Am Number Four,” the first release in a trailblazing new science fiction series, The Lorien Legacies. Together with Penguin, the principals of digital creative agency Ralph are proud to announce the launch of “The Legacy Test” online at www.iamnumberfour.co.uk. A complete news release on the project, featuring input from Ashley Wilks, Head of Digital Marketing and Websites for Penguin, and Chris Hassell, Ralph’s co-founder and creative director, is available here.

Covert affairs from Ralph

In support of the new USA Network original series COVERT AFFAIRS, digital creative agency Ralph recently developed The Farm (http://thefarm.usanetwork.com), which allows fans to work alongside Annie Walker (series star Piper Perabo) to hone active spy skills, including closed-course driving, video surveillance, lock-picking and more. For completing tasks, fans can win prizes such as iPods, Bose products and more. New challenges continue to appear, allowing fans to use Facebook Connect to pull in information, share scores and gain extra points by recruiting their friends to help answer questions. Check out The Farm anytime, and COVERT AFFAIRS on Tuesday nights 10/9c on USA Network. You can also become a fan of the series on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CovertAffairs and follow it on Twitter: http://twitter.com/covertaffairs.

Uplift and Upload Now for Prizes from BET and Coca-Cola

BET Videos

In their latest collaboration with advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy, international creative design and production studio Brand New School and director Jonathan Notaro recently produced the stop-motion brand film above, which promotes the Uplift and Upload Contest sponsored by Coca-Cola for BET’s popular daily music video show, 106 & Park. Seize this chance to show how you’re creating and spreading happiness in your community by uploading a video of your good deed at www.bet.com/uplift — but please note, according to the official rules, entries must be received by 6pm ET on Friday, July 23 (even though the video states that July 21 is the entry deadline).

No moment of happiness is too big or too small for your chance to win the grand prize: $5,000 in spending cash, and an all-expense paid trip to New York, where you’ll present the “Wild Out Wednesday” Best in Show winner, alongside Rocsi and Terrence. Creating and spreading happiness is just an idea away.

Good luck!

NYC, where will you watch the World Cup?

With soccer (er, football) now reigning as our planet’s most popular sport, beginning tomorrow, the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa will take center stage as its most prominent sports event. According to Jeremy Hollister at creative ideas studio We Are Plus, as a tribute to New York City’s vibrant international diversity, World Cup fever is greater there than nearly anywhere else in America.

We Are Plus is applying the power of social networking software to tap into this native enthusiasm with its World Cup Game Finder, a free mobile app — now available at iTunes — that helps NYC-based fans find local venues screening games featuring their favorite teams, and offering the easiest way to find the best spot in the city to join your fellow fans and support your favorite team. For more information, please visit www.nycgamefinder.com, and please help spread the word!

ESPN: Thanks for the Documentaries

ESPN 30 for 30 is an unprecedented documentary series featuring 30 films from some of today’s finest storytellers. Each filmmaker brings their passion and personal point of view to their film detailing the issues, trends, athletes, teams, rivalries, games and events that transformed the sports landscape from 1979 to 2009. The series kicked off in April with “No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson,” directed by Oscar-nominee Steve James, who is represented in the commercial industry by Nonfiction Unlimited. Check out the official 30 for 30 website — 30for30.espn.com — for the full schedule and more information.

Webby recognition for Ralph’s BIMA-Winner “Walt’s Warning”

The immersive “Walt’s Warning” AMC “Breaking Bad” promotional project produced by digital creative agency Ralph for Sony Pictures Television, was an Official Nominee in the 14th Annual Webby Awards (“Best Use of Video or Moving Image” category). Read more

Scion debuts online reality series “Reinvent The Wheels”

It’s my sincere pleasure to share global creative agency ATTIK’s news release on the new online episodic reality series from Scion entitled “Reinvent The Wheels,” and the agency’s innovative cross-platform campaign behind it. You can find ATTIK’s story and accompanying digital media assets here. The series debuted online this week exclusively at www.ReinventTheWheels.com, where you can now watch the first episode. Scion’s project press release from Rogers & Cowan is available here. I look forward to hearing from you if I can provide any additional information.

Inside Ralph’s “Kick-Ass” promotion for Lionsgate…

The principals of award-winning digital creative agency Ralph (www.ralphandco.com) are very proud to detail their latest project, the website www.iwillkickass.com, which makes deep and innovative use of Facebook® Connect. Launched last month, the site continues to attract and entertain thousands of visitors daily in anticipation of the April 16 release of “Kick-Ass” from Lionsgate. Ralph’s project news release and accompanying videos and materials are available here. Thank you very much for your interest!

Love clicks, in the true spirit of the season….

We’ve reached the time of year when I invite you to join me in sending daily clicks to www.hungersite.com, where our simple mouseclicks can benefit a number of vital causes each day. Big thanks to Travis the Elf for picking The Hunger Site as his Project for Awesome entry at this time last year, and for posting this video. Together with my family, I am sending my warmest thoughts to many friends and colleagues worldwide, and feeling a lot of gratitude.  I’m especially thankful to the individuals behind my client companies ATTIK, a52, Elastic, Brand New School, Rock Paper Scissors, Shilo and We Are Plus for helping to support the following organizations over the past several years. Read more

Business ventures of your dreams…

I remember being 12 years old and being very impressed by a young guy I met, Tommy Ewasko, who at that time (1978) was well on his way to becoming a professional photographer. Tommy was the first professional creative person I ever crossed paths with, and after getting to know him a bit better, I began to see the world in a different way. Last month, my successful English entrepreneurial comrade Rob Ford of Favourite Website Awards (TheFWA.com) shared a story with his friends on Facebook where he was included in a 10steps.sg feature by Johnson Koh entitled “Interviews of Ten Accomplished Founders.” If you have not visited TheFWA.com before, I can easily imagine you having a kind of epiphany when you do, and there are other domains within Rob’s empire which are equally inspirational, including FWATheater.com and FWAPhoto.com.

To me, because his business model is original, creative, seemingly very fun, and largely self-guided, Rob represents the kind of successful entrepreneur that one only dreams of becoming. Do please read the “Interviews” article linked above to learn more about the origins of Rob’s business, and those of the other talented young gentlemen listed below. There’s enough inspiration here to change many people’s perceptions of the very nature of business… and represent new approaches to how resourceful individuals can build their own unique success stories independently.
. BuySellAds – Todd Garland
. Envato – Colliss Ta’eed
. Good Tutorials – Zach Holman
. Abduzeedo – Fabio Sasso
. Tutorial9 – David Leggett
. DeviantArt – Angelo-Sotira
. iStockPhoto – Bruce LivingStone
. Pixel2Life – Dan Richard
. SmashingMagazine – Vitaly Friedman & Sven Lennartz