Advertising Week: Three Reel-Life Tips From Jimmy Rees & Maria Thattil
Yesterday’s “Keeping it Reel with Jimmy Rees and Maria Thattil” session at Advertising Week APAC brought together two beloved Aussie creators who believe that when it comes to engaging video content, size doesn’t always matter.
It was a hard slog in the proverbial Adland office yesterday with Advertising Week APAC (AWAPAC) calling the media masses to Luna Park for what can only be described as the second most exciting communications conference in Australia after Cannes in Cairns.
And while the tracks boasted a feat of thought-leadership, AdTech, innovation, and ideas to herald in the next era of media, The Creative Showcase stage was the lunchtime hot spot if laughs were anything to go by.
It was a given, “Keeping it Reel with Jimmy Rees and Maria Thattil,” hosted by Meta ANZ’s marketing lead, Rogan Houlihan, was a pedestal for the titular Meta product. Taking the stage with Houlihan were Australian entertainer and all-round funnyman, Jimmy Rees, and author, activist, and media personality, Maria Thattil, who became renowned after being crowned Miss Universe Australia 2020.
Setting the sales pitch aside, the session offered valuable lessons and reminders for brands wanting to tap into the creator economy and engage audiences through short-form videos on platforms like Facebook Reels, as well as the TikTok, and YouTube Shorts (sorry, Meta).
Which brings us to! Our top three takeaways for brands:
1) People want to see “real shit”.
When it comes to short-form content, relatability is the nexus for engagement, even if it is for more elevated comedy, as is Rees’ niche.
Rees began his foray into short, sketch comedy video making during the COVID lockdowns. As the father of three boys, including twins who were 18 months old at the time, parenting naturally became the comedic subject.
Rees explained: “Any time of a kid’s life when you’re parenting is just psycho, so I just started capturing a few things.
“If you have these sort of relatable moments, [engagement] can just start growing.”
Speaking from her experience, Thattil described her content learning curve: “Initially, when I started doing Reels, whether I was getting branded content for beauty or fashion, I thought it had to be amazing. And then I realised that people wanted to see less polished things from me.
“I filmed these amazing pieces of content and got people to help me do it. And then I put up the laziest video … that’s shot on an iPhone, and it would just do so well.”
2) You’re paying for personality, not polish.
Brands over-briefing the talent they are trying to align with was an obvious bane of content creators’ existence.
Rees suggested that it’s easy for there to be a disconnect for brands paying for advertising media that is less elevated. But by clinging to that fear and enforcing a one-size-fits-all model, brands risk alienating the very audiences they aim to connect with on short-form video platforms.
“You want it to fit in,” said Rees. “If I scroll and see an ad that should be on TV, I know immediately,” he continued, “Even if it’s vertical!”
Coming from a TV background, Rees noted, “I’m always an advocate for making [my videos] look pretty nice, while still having that authentic ‘it could go anywhere!’ vibe to it.”
Thattil affirmed, “I totally get that you [brands] have an aesthetic that you need to meet or a way that your brand is meant to be presented. But ultimately, it’s not going to land with the audience if it’s not looking true to the person you’re engaging.”
3) Collaboration is key, and so is knowing what you want in the first place.
To mitigate such briefing woes, Thattil proposed the following solution: “You’re paying a creator because you want to syphon their audience, right?
“So the best thing you can do as a brand or an ad agency is be super collaborative with the people that you’re investing the money in, because they know their audience best. Develop your briefs with them instead of telling them what to do.”
Rees, who has collaborated with brands such as Woolworths and Specsavers, and even created bespoke characters such as ‘Woolworths Wendy’ mentioned that he’s happy to work with briefs that include mandated lines of dialogue, jokingly adding, “as long as I can get my red marker out.”
Latest News
Mastering the balance beam: Finding cut through via experiences and exposure in sport
From the hallowed turf of the MCG to every local suburban club around Australia, we’re a nation famed for our fervent love of sports. Sport in Australia is also becoming the last bastion of immediate mass reach entertainment, argues Starcom’s Roger Linttzeris (pictured above). Australian’s have a greater level of access to sport than ever […]
Chris Salter Appointed Director Of News For Seven Melbourne, Gemma Williams Named 7NEWS Spotlight Executive Producer
The Seven Network announced the appointment of Chris Salter as the Director of News in Seven Melbourne. Lead image: Gemma Williams. Salter, who has been 7NEWS Adelaide news director since June 2018, will succeed Shaun Menegola. “Chris has done an amazing job in Adelaide, where 7NEWS has been #1 for more than 13 years. I’m […]
Sunday Gravy Welcomes Ego Pharmaceuticals To The Table
Following a competitive pitch, Ego Pharmaceuticals has moved its business to Sunday Gravy. Ego produces over 150 different products, including well-known brands such as QV Skincare, SunSense Sunscreen, Aqium Hand Sanitiser, Elucent, MOOV, and Azclear. “We were looking for a creative agency partner that was just as passionate about long-term brand building and collaboration as […]
Unveiling Distinct Channel Opportunities: Insights From Dash Hudson’s Cross-Channel Social Media Benchmark Reports
The rise of algorithmic content has changed social media, shifting feeds from social-driven to entertainment-driven. Short-form video now accounts for 38 per cent of social content on Instagram, and its dominance continues to grow. Community-building and curated content from creators have come to the forefront of marketers’ strategies, and at the same time, social commerce […]
Cummins&Partners Welcomes Tim Collier As New Head of Strategy
Cummins&partners ramps up its client strategy offerings and its Dungeons And Dragons staff team with latest recruit.
‘Let’s Break Ingrained Industry Muscle Memory & Help Marketers Keep Their Job’ – Mat Baxter On Why He Joined Mutinex
The adland sage has joined marketing platform Mutinex which, admittedly, sounds like a high-fibre breakfast cereal.
Today The Brave Snares Alyce Gillis From Havas Host
In what may be seen as another win for the indies but possibly shouldn't, Havas' Alyce Gillis joins Today The Brave.
TAC Wakes Victorians Up To The Risks Of Driving Fatigued In A New Campaign Via Clemenger BBDO
Latest Clems campaign highlights the dangers of driving tired. Or, worse, listening to Guy Sebastian while on the road.
TikTok Partners With Billie Eilish To Launch New Fan Spotlight Feature
Did you know that Billie Eilish has won two Academy Awards? Which is two more than both Tom Cruise & Megan Fox.
TorchMedia Secures Sydney Light Rail Advertising Contract
Judging by the painfully slow speed of the Sydney Light Rail, advertisers certainly get excellent dwell time.
TV Ratings (21/05/2024): Todd & Dustin Find Love As Farmer Wants A Wife Comes To A Close
Judging by Farmer Wants A Wife's success, you'd reckon the National Party would be of way more interest to voters.
Senior Appointments Expand Hatched Sydney Team
New appointments at media agency Matched. Unlike press photo outfits that are daringly contrary to the idea.
History Will Be Kind Builds Client Portfolio With Appointment Of Koskela
HWBK nabs sustainable furniture maker Koskela's PR. Also takes the opportunity to replace ageing boardroom table.
JCDecaux Launches Dominion Road SMARTFRAME
It's rare outdoor news from New Zealand today. And you think it's bloody freezing in Australia at the moment.
Innocean Australia Announces Giorgia Butler As New Chief Strategy Officer
Giorgia Butler named Innocean's chief strategy officer. Thankfully cupcakes weren't served at the staff announcement.
INVNT Appointed Creative Experiential Partner For SXSW 2024
The countdown's on for this year's SXSW in Sydney. Alas, B&T unsure what the actual count is at the present time.
The Media Store Wins Melbourne Royal Show Media Account
Media Store's rose garden set to bloom thanks to new manure after agency snares the Melbourne Royal Show's media.
Toby Jenner: ‘The Power And Energy Of Our Good Teams Will Get Us Through Tough Times’
Toby Jenner has been named global president of GroupM clients & B&T was 9th on the phone to offer our congrats.
Foxcatcher & InMobi Partner To Enhance Media Planning And Activation
Foxcatcher & InMobi unveil plans for a new collaboration that thankfully hasn't required any hounds to be released.
Brookvale Breweries & Distilleries Launch Three Days Of Savoury Bites, Delicious Pints And Spirits
The goodly folk on Sydney's northern beaches need little prodding to drink, so this has 'sold out' written all over it.
VALE Dennis Merchant – A Giant Of The Media Industry
In terribly sad news today, Aussie adland legend Dennis Merchant has passed away at the age of 82.
Gravity Media Australia To Deliver Crankworx Cairns For Red Bull TV
Are you a committed mountain bike enthusiast? Cairns is where you need to take your grazed knees & concussions.
Connecting Plots Nabs Former Saatchi & Saatchi Leader Craig Page
Connecting Plots turns the Page with this hire.
Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal Revive Core Values Campaign For Louis Vuitton
If Rafael misses his next match with a runny nose you'll know why with these inappropriately dressed mountain images.
Orphan Steals The Show At Australian Fashion Week With World-First ‘The Last Season Collection’
Australian Fashion Week has been run & done for another year, meaning lots of people can now go back to eating solids.
One Year Later, Is BAR Ogilvy’s Livingfont Making A Difference?
As super important as they are, these animal extinction campaigns can be a mega downer for the unprepared.
“These Issues Aren’t Unique To Our Industry”: Rose Herceg Chats To B&T Ahead Of Create Space Census Results
Rose Herceg admits struggles with diversity & inclusion aren't unique to adland. Take F1 racing as an example.
Kieran Moore: ‘No Client Has Ever Asked For More Junior People On Their Account’
PR guru Kieran Moore's talking the dangers of ageism. That said, it remains a good thing for red wine & prosciutto.
Zitcha appoints Josh Forsyth as sales lead to drive retail media growth across APAC
Zitcha names Josh Forsyth as its APAC sales lead, as confusion reigns over the Maldives' APAC claims.
Moët Hennessy NZ Adds Special PR To Agency Roster
If there's a client you want on the books it's Moët Hennessy. Ben & Jerry's would also be fantastic, albeit fattening.
Dylan Alcott, Ellie Cole & Kurt Fearnley To Headline Nine’s Paralympics Coverage
They say Olympics is more aspirational & Paralympics is more inspirational, but B&T is here for goalball & murderball.
The Monkeys, Howatson+Co, VML Australia Win Big At The One Show’s Awards
A top showing saw Australia ranked fifth globally, well above our friends over the Ditch.
Readers Are Looking To Books For Escape – Should They Look To Adverts, Too?
Are you or someone you know a bibliophile? That's a lover of books & not an 80s paper filing system. Read on here.
TV Ratings (19 May 2024): Nine’s Travel Guides Goes Head To Head With Seven’s Farmer Wants A Wife
Love travelling to Kuta to watch the lads from the Currawong Goannas footy club whoop it up? Travel Guides is a must.
Sky New Zealand Initiates Process For Advertising Sales Representation In Australia
Sure, on the surface they pretend to despise us, but this news offering proves the Kiwis love of all things Australian.
Opinion: Queer & Present Danger – Australia’s Battle For LGBTQ+ Recognition Through Communication
Aside from this absolute cracker of a headline, Think HQ's Blake Mason piece is very important.