Winners of the 43rd Annual thinkLA Belding Awards Announced

LOS ANGELES, April 16, 2009—Chaired by Executive V.P., Chief Creative Officer David Smith of LA-based agency RPA, the winners of the 43^rd Annual thinkLA Belding Awards were announced on Thursday night at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center Eli and Edythe Broad Stage. Winners received accolades for outstanding work in the categories of broadcast, print and interactive.

With the pristine Broad Stage as the backdrop for the event, Smith decided to focus the show on “talent.” Aside from the obvious talent displayed by the works submitted to the show, lesser-known talent was exhibited in the form of an art installation of personal works and surprise musical performances, all from various employees of LA agencies.

thinkLA honored the best advertising produced by Los Angeles and Southern California agencies, as judged by a panel of peers from across the country. “The Belding Awards celebrate the unique collaboration that exists between the creative communities here in Los Angeles,” said Jerry McGee, thinkLA Beldings Committee Chairman.

The top Sweepstakes Award went to RPA for its Honda Musical Road, entered in the miscellaneous category. Belding Bowl Awards were given to agencies that created a wide range of work including:

• Conill Advertising for its “Is that the lineman?” miscellaneous advertising for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.
• David&Goliath for its ”Borrego Stickers” consumer magazine advertising and “New Kind of Luxury” television commercial, both for Kia Motors and its “White” consumer newspaper campaign for Mammoth Mountain.
• Deutsch LA for its “Little Big Planet” integrated campaign, “Little Big Planet – Stencil Print” consumer magazine advertising, “Little Big Planet – Mini Billboards” poster/outdoor campaign and “Little Big Planet – Spread the Fun, Magnify, Prank” online advertising campaign—all for Sony Computer Entertainment America; its “March Madness” consumer magazine advertising and “Sports – March Madness, Lambeau, Stadiums” consumer newspaper campaign, both for DIRECTV and its “2008 Beldings Book Ad” self promotion.  
• Ignited for its “Extravaganza Electronica” microsite/website and “Extravaganza Electronica Videos” complete interactive campaign, both for Barton Brands.
• RPA for its “Honda Musical Road” miscellaneous advertising and its “Mecha-Mosquitoes, Fit World, Defense Mechanism” integrated campaign, both for American Honda Motor Co. and its “Motion” television commercial for Acura.
• Saatchi & Saatchi Los Angeles for its “Seafood Posters” poster/outdoor campaign and “Farmers Market” miscellaneous advertising, both for Surfrider Foundation and its “YourOtherYou” integrated campaign for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.
• TBWA\Chiat\Day for its “Derek Redmond” television commercial for Visa.
• TBWA Media Arts Lab for its “The V Word, Pep Rally and Pizza Box” television campaign; its “Pizza Box and Envelope” television commercials and its “Emergency Refresh, Editorial, Satisfaction Meter, Quote, Newswire and Funnest” single interactive advertising units—all for Apple Inc.
• Team One for its “Depreciation” consumer magazine advertising and “Flexjet Brand Campaign” consumer newspaper campaign, both for Flexjet and its “Speed Limits” point of purchase poster advertising for Lexus.

thinkLA awarded a total of 33 Belding Bowls with 62 finalists including DDB LA, DGWB Advertising & Communications, DraftFCB, Fire Station Agency, M&C Saatchi, Original Film and Secret Weapon Marketing. A full list of winners is also available at www.beldings.com.  

About thinkLA

Formed in 2006 by the merger of the Los Angeles Advertising Agencies Association, Los Angeles Ad Club and the Magazine Representatives Association – thinkLA is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Los Angeles as a world center of creative thinking and innovation in marketing and media.

thinkLA’s membership includes professionals and companies in the media arts industry communicating with consumers and motivating them to purchase via creative messages. Members work at diverse companies including advertisers; print, broadcast and online media; entertainment and production companies; advertising and marketing agencies; and the industry suppliers. Through advocacy, education, networking and outreach, thinkLA aims to be a leader in bringing new business to the region and expanding existing business. More information is available at www.thinkLA.org.

About RPA

RPA, headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif., is a leading independent advertising agency based on the West Coast, with more than $1 billion in billings. RPA builds momentum for brands by offering its clients truly integrated campaigns that resonate throughout its disciplines, which include traditional advertising, interactive, and direct and event marketing. RPA’s client list includes American Honda, both the Honda and Acura brands, La-Z-Boy, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Pharmavite’s SOYJOY and PENTAX Imaging Company, and it is the media planning and buying agency for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Lenox Financial Mortgage and Reily Foods. For more information, visit www.rpa.com.