Chris Kyme’s Postcard from Hong Kong: Back to the future

Chris Kyme (pictured above left) continues his ‘Postcard from Hong Kong’ series following last night’s Kam Fan awards.

As I have more than once eluded to, I’ve been involved in the Hong Kong Kam Fan awards show in one way or another for longer than I can remember (actually that’s a lie..I can remember..it was so long ago that the first awards trophy was made out of stone and the Gold for Art Direction was given out for some cave paintings). And so it was I found myself on the evening of March 17th decked out in ‘creative black tie’ among the good and the glamorous at the swanky Hopewell Hotel in Wanchai, meeting and greeting some old faces and new (nice to see some of my students from Hong Kong Poly U there..well done people) and I have to say this was felt like a return to the days when agencies made a real go of it. Dressing up a bit for the occasion (instead of the boring, obligatory short sleeved shirt with hipster jeans as if you’ve just rolled up to work that’s been de rigour these days). So well done Hong Kong industry for making it feel a bit special.

What’s more – the venue. We’re back to sit down dinners where you can enjoy a few glasses and a natter while waiting expectantly to see who’s going to be blasted all over these big screens. Honestly speaking I’m not a fan of the Cannes and Spikes format of sitting in a theatre, watching the ceremony, then going off to party. It’s like “Okay let’s get going and get it over with”. There’s something deliciously festive about glugging on some red or white while munching on bread rolls and wandering the tables while the show unfolds with a few selfies for good measure.

And with 4As director Onie (pictured above right) in charge of the proceedings, it’s quite a show. Onie brings her own brand of exuberance, passion and infectious fun to it all. Better than just wheeling in a couple of MC-for-hire robots to read from carefully prepared scripts who have zero relationship with anyone out there on the floor. Onie is the Kam Fans. And it’s still an efficiently run show that insists on bringing in top notch, accomplished and tough judges to dish out the gongs with an obsessively judicious quest for doing justice.

I’m not going to delve too much in who the big winners were on the night as that’s already been well covered in this publication, suffice to say that nostalgia was most notably a theme on the night with the Leo’s ‘Back to Kai Tak’ campaign for Cathay Pacific and BBDO ‘Back to the Beginning’ work for McDonalds. But as I’ve commented on in the past, there were several aspects of it all that I found especially encouraging.

One, as I’ve mentioned in the past, big awards are being won for big campaigns done for big clients. I love it. Good for the industry. Two, nice to see some of the independent agencies getting in there, like Omelette Digital and NoTwoHK. Competing with the big boys and girls. And three, I love the encouragement and support being shown by for the budding talents. How exciting for them to be dressed up and climbing the stage and getting applauded and rewarded. They are, after all, the future.

Also notable, and I’m not going to ramble on about it too much as it’s a common theme across the industry in most markets – whatever happened to advertising? Not a print ad in sight. A few OOH entries. And TV? Forget it.

I know this is the nature of the world we now live in but ain’t it a shame? I mean, clients are still spending money in these channels. Outdoor ads have not suddenly vanished. Print ads do still exist. And last time I switched on local TV, there were commercials. It’s just that they are always rubbish. So why? Baffles me, but that’s a rant for a different occasion.

Hong Kong is still buzzing. Long may it continue.

The youth of Hong Kong (and some students).

With the legendary editor Nelson Ng, co-founder and owner of Touches.

Read Chris Kyme’s most recent Postcard’s from Hong Kong below:
Are you up for the Kam Funs?
Over qualified or over the hill?
Mind the (creative) gap
With a Sydney visitor
Christopher Lee, an inspiration to young Hong Kong hopefuls
From Tan Khiang to Tea Khiang