When BMW needed a media event for the announcement of their sponsorship of Springbok rugby they looked to Mann Made Media for a unique creative concept and world-class execution.

The agency developed a strategy that sought to parallel the thrill of driving a BMW with the adrenalin rush that a Springbok rugby player experiences when running onto the field. This thought was contained in the creative theme, ‘From Tarmac to Turf’. To dramatise this, the agency teamed up its most enthusiastic rugby jocks together with its most gifted technical boffs. The result was a carefully designed and precisely staged audio and visual installation that recreated the visceral experience of walking down a tunnel alive with the sounds of anticipation, and then running into a packed stadium that explodes with a panorama of passionate supporters. Using superb sound design, bespoke technology motion detection, and a four metre tall, 180 degree plasma wall of tens of thousands of CGI fans to achieve the effect, the announcement of this momentous sponsorship scored some excellent reviews with the media.

“Mann Made Media delivered a world-class experience to the media and VIP guests who attended the event,” explains Guy Kilfoil, General Manager: Communications & Public Affairs at BMW South Africa. “BMW is a premium brand which focuses on passion and innovation and both of these characteristics were a visceral part of the creative execution delivered on the day. So believable was the stadium experience that even some of the Springbok players in attendance commented on its authenticity.”

We’re delighted to announce that Mann Made Media is about to enter a new era, as we relocate to a beautiful custom-built office on the corner of Bowling Avenue and South Road. We’re sure you will appreciate, as we do, the change to a larger, more aesthetically pleasing and more productive space.

Of course, moving always brings some temporary inconvenience. From Thursday, 25 November 12 noon, our old office phone number will become unavailable. However, please don’t hesitate to contact us using the cellphone numbers provided on our contacts page.

Plans have already been put into place to ensure that Jobs already in progress are completed on time without undue interruption from the moving process.

While some finishing touches will be ongoing for a little while to come, we will be operating from our new office officially from Monday 29 November.

It’s great to win a Loerie Award, because it reflects the level of creative teamwork that can be achieved by an agency and its client. Pushing the creative and technology boundaries against incredible deadlines is what we do at Mann Made on a regular basis, but when those efforts result in two Loeries Finalists then it becomes doubly worth it.

For helping us get this far we’d like to thank the clients that made it possible – Toyota for our interactive Wonderwall installation, and Standard Bank for our WAP-enabled Connections Game.

Of course we realise that a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush, but in the meantime – before the winners are announced – it’s nice to at least have two birds in the running!