The Monkeys’ Lizzie Wood Says Cannes Young Lions Allows People To “Show The Diversity Of Your Thinking”
Entries are well and truly open for the 2022 TikTok Cannes Young Lions Competition Australia so we decided to sit down with winners from previous years and pick their brains.
Today we’re with Lizzie Wood from The Monkeys, the 2021 winner of the Cannes Young Lions award in the film category alongside her creative partner Katie Kidd.
Graduating from the University of Sydney in 2015 with a BA (Media and Communications), Marketing, Wood took a detour into Business Development for 4 years before launching into the world of Advertising.
Wood shot through the ranks of creative advertising after snagging herself a copywriting position at The Works in early 2019 then moving on to The Monkeys later that year.
Last year she secured herself the award of ‘Tutors of the year 2021’ at AWARD School, alongside her partner in crime Katie Kidd, and currently rocks the NSW co-chair position at Youngbloods.
Whether you’re thinking of entering the Young Lions competition yourself or just looking to get in the mind of a young creative, check out the interview with Lizzie below.
What originally inspired you to enter?
Honestly, I was bitter about coming second the year prior and was desperate to win. But also because it’s a great experience. You get to make work purely off your own bat without anyone giving you advice, which is a really cool challenge. There’s no security in a Creative Director reviewing your ideas or giving you feedback, you have to trust your gut and go with it.
How have things changed since you won your award?
I guess the main change is that I now sit at my desk in a gold throne and my ECD feeds me grapes on the hour. Aside from that, not a ton. I won a trip to Cairns which is exciting. Not quite as exciting as Cannes, but I hear it’s pretty french up in far north Queensland. I guess producing anything on the side can show your creative directors what kind of work you’d like to make, and what you can do. It’s a way to showcase ideas that you might not get to concept or make in your day to day.
So what advice would you give to this year’s entrants? And is there anything you wish you’d known when you were preparing your response?
Hate to be a cliche, but have fun with it. While I don’t know exactly what the judges are looking for, this is a chance to show a unique thought, the benefit for you is that you can show the diversity of your thinking. So go left of field. There’s no point making the same ad everyone else will.
How important is the Cannes Young Lions Award for the industry? And why?
I think it’s great. It’s a really good way to show how talented some of the young people are in this industry. Every year there’s so many really great ideas that come out of it because people aren’t tied down by competing client objectives or brand legacy or any other rules. It brings together a bunch of people as enthused about creativity as each other, and encourages them to be even more so. Plus it’s almost the only way to get to Cannes for free.
Check out Lizzie and Katie’s winning entry right HERE.
The Young Lions Australia competition, presented by TikTok is officially open for entries and we’re on the lookout to find the best and brightest of young Aussie talent to compete at the 2022 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
If you’re under 30 the Young Lions competitions are one of the best places to celebrate your creativity. Entries are open to teams of two young advertising, media or marketing professionals.
This year’s competition will cover five Young Lions categories, including a brand-new category for Design professionals.
Get started on your entry HERE, as the deadline for submissions (14 MARCH 2022) will be here before you know it. You can find all the details you’ll need right HERE.
Latest News
The Mars Agency Announces Latest Findings Of Retail Media Report Card
The Mars Agency has developed a scorecard that assesses the capabilities of leading platforms across key criteria required to optimally plan, execute, and measure effective retail media programs. The scorecard aims To help brands efficiently evaluate their spending options across retail media networks in Australia (and New Zealand). With spending on retail media advertising in […]
‘It’s The Lesser Of Two Evils’ – NRL Eyes US Betting Market As Aussie Regulators Circle
US betting firms will be delighted by the circa 50,000 Americans who could soon watch the NRL on their favourite app.
A-League In Deep Discussions With New Partner To Keep Games On TV After Production Company Enters Administration
The A-League's insatiable appetite for scoring own goals continues.
TV Ratings (27/03/2024): Jungle Members At War Over Concealed Lipstick
A heated argument between two jungle members did the numbers for Ten last night, with I’m A Celeb obtaining a total national reach of 1,282,000. Fans were delighted as Candice Warner and influencer Skye Wheatley got into it over a stick of lipstick, leading Warner to dub the Instagram star “selfish.” Wheatley, best known for […]
Is The Australian Music Industry In Trouble? Inquiry Launched Following Splendour Cancellation
Earlier this week, an inquiry was launched into the challenges and opportunities currently facing the Australian live music industry in the wake of multiple festival cancellations. On 25 March 2024, the Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Tony Burke MP, asked the Committee on Communications and the Arts to inquire into and report on the […]
Liana Dubois, Leandro Perez, Aimee Buchanan & More Gather For Inaugural Compadres Leadership Event
Didn't get the invite? Perhaps you're not as important as you thought.
Cathay Captures The Unforgettable Thrill Of Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, Via Publicis
Nobody does rugby like Hong Kong, apparently. Certainly nobody does it as badly as Australia.
Cocogun Nabs Christine Watts, Kirsty Reynolds & Shev Tan Bolstering Management & Creative Teams
Cocogun bolsters its team with new hires. Committed to purchasing a bigger sofa, too.
The Media Store’s Jacquie Alley & Sam Cousins Take The Plunge With Pro-Bono Work For Cure Cancer
B&T chats with The Media Store bosses about their great pro-bono work and sponsored swim.
Hawke’s Brewing Co. Taps Rocket Comms For PR Agency Following Competitive Pitch
We're expecting Rocket Comms productivity to crash in spectacular fashion following this win.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Patties Serves Up A Taste Of Home For Olympians & South Sydney Rabbitohs Recommit To Gambling Reform
While the Rabbitohs commits to gambling reform, B&T reckons the team should commit to a decent auto sponsor.
Google: “Inevitable” That Bad Actors Will Abuse Ads Platform As Advertiser Account Suspensions Double
Google maintains it's simply impossible for it to entirely stop bad people placing & paying for ads using its service.
Quantcast Expands APAC Sales Team With Appointment Of News Corp Account Manager
No pressure at all when you are appointed as a client success manager.
Publicis Sapient Tests Microsoft-Powered Gen AI Search Tool With Homes & Villas By Marriott Bonvoy
Given Gen AI's record for mangling stuff, B&T cannot see the problem with letting it decide your next holiday digs.
Volkswagen & DDB Group’s “Roo Badge” To Reduce Kangaroo Related Road Collisions
Watch out for RooBadge as Cannes Lions' most debated campaign this year.
Twilio Launches Unified Profiles & Agent Copilot Features To Boost Productivity & Engagement
Agent Copilot sounds like James Bond's less interesting cousin.
Reebok & Honda Among New Clients For onetwo agency
OneTwo finally lives up to its name with this double billing.
Ogilvy Report: Throw Out The Social Strategy Rule Book, The Rules Of The Past No Longer Apply
B&T was puzzled that all 'influencers' aren't, effectively, 'virtual', but here we are.
WhiteGREY & AKQA Merge In Australia, Lee Simpson Departs
Fortunately, the combined agencies aren't opting for a trite portmanteau for the new name.
Splendour In The Grass 2024 Music Festival Cancelled!
Music fans all over the country reportedly relieved they can pack away their rain coats and gumboots for another year.
TV Ratings (26/03/2024): “Fairy Bread, F***ing Disgusting”: Gordon Ramsay Slams Aussie Food In Food Stars Launch
Ramsay not one for mincing his words, even when it comes to minced meat pies.
Paramount+ International Boss Doubles Down On Aussie Content, Says Ad-Tier will Grow Audiences And Revenue
Good news as Paramount will not be binning I’m A Celebrity for re-runs of Frasier.
Brent Smart: Telstra Pushing For 50-50 Brand-Performance Split But Warns Numbers ‘Won’t Look Great’ Initially
The old brand vs performance debate continues. But here, Brent is firmly sitting on the fence.
Crowded House, Tones And I & Dom Dolla Win Big At The Shure Rolling Stone Music Awards
B&T staffer reports back with humdinger of a hangover & feeling seriously uncool after mixing with music types.
Opinion: Dyslexia “A Hidden Gem” For Brands & Agencies
Dyslexics offer underappreciated benefits in the corporate field, according to this op-ed.
David Jones Taps Criteo To Power Online Retail Media Arm
Want to see ads for things you probably can't afford? David Jones has got you covered with new retail media play.
oOh!media Sets Up Team To Target Business Audiences Across Airports & Offices
oOh! wants brands to harass you every minute of your next business trip.
QMS Launches Australian First DOOH & TV Partnership With Samba TV
Samba TV, of course, is not a channel dedicated to dancing. Much to our dismany.
Slew Of New Hires At Amplify
Four new faces join the Amplify offices. Team say desk scarcity becoming "acute".
Adobe Announces Content Authenticity Initiative Expansions To Counter Deep Fakes
Try as they might to enlighten them, we suspect Trump supporters will continue to watch and believe Fox News.
The PR Group Appoints TechCrunch Senior Reporter Catherine Shu As Director Of Content & Media
Catherine Shu makes the bold leap from journalism to PR. Says inevitable pay bump was "unrelated".
HERO Nabs Ebony Santin From AMPR
Rumours Santin cleared out the stationery cupboard before departing are as yet unconfirmed.
Karena Noble Checks Out Of EVT Hotels & Resorts To Launch Comms Consultancy
Noble still managed to squeezed in a continental breakfast before departing.
Canva Acquires Design Platform Affinity To Bring Professional Design Tools To Every Organisation
Canva & Adobe face off continues. We're not picking sides but keenly aware that Canva's office is next door to ours.
“Lean On Our Team To Help You Find An Audience”: Why Understanding Audience Engagement Is Essential In Journalism
Engaging the audience is critical to journos, apparently. We'd thought self-loathing & alcoholism were key.
Adobe Summit: Major Gen AI Developments, Data Concessions & Partnerships
What happens in Vegas stays there. Unless it's the Adobe Summit and then you get to read about in B&T.