Toronto-based motion graphics, design, animation, F/X house Crush just emailed me to let me know that they have a new web site. Check it out here.

I know Cannes is over and most of us have already recovered, but Shots is calling for pictures of people partying in Cannes for their next issue. Submit your pics to shotsincannes@googlemail.com.

Need another diversion and source for pop-culture? I've just gotten hooked on Dazed Digital the ideas sharing network from UK magazine Dazed & Confused. It features art, fashion, music, film and much more.

The next issue of Russian-based KAK, out summer 2007, is devoted to promotional items. They are now accepting submissions so if you have a cool, bizarre or interesting promotional item send it their way. Thanks to Olga for getting me hooked on KAK.

Now with my head out of Cannes, I can look for other cool creative happenings like this feature on Nagi Noda from Motionographer. I've loved Nagi's work since I first saw her spot "Cup of Love" in 2003.

I'm back in Toronto after a week in Cannes. The big highlight of the week for me was Ogilvy's win of the Grand Prix for Dove "Evolution". This win is close to my heart as I was Reginald Pike's publicist for almost 3 years (Reginald Pike was the pro co for Evolution & was recently merged into its sister company UNTITLED). Again congratulations to Ogilvy Toronto, director Yael Staav (now with Soft Citizen & Furlined), Soho post & Vapor music. View all the Cannes Lions winners here.

I had a blast in Cannes on Friday night. It started off with dinner with Toronto-based production companies OPC, Radke, Steam and Vapor Music. We then went to the Japan Production Company party, hosted by nine Japanese production companies. They flew in Japanese DJs Hifana for the event & they spun killer tunes all night long. Here are some pictures from the party. Included in them is me with Ai Yamamoto from Aoi Advertising Promotion and me with Blacklist's No-Domain. Later I went to the DDB party. A great night all & all.

I had a wonderful night in Cannes last night. It started off with a great dinner with Psyop & friends at the intimate Simplicite. We all headed to the shots party after (pictures here of me & shot's Stephen Whelan, Swantje from Stink, Berlin & with Harland from OPC), and then, against better judgment, I went to the gutter for one drink with Ihaveanidea.org's Ignacio & Brett.

Yesterday, Ogilvy Toronto nabbed a Cyber Grand Prix for Dove “Evolution". I just came back from the Canada party & I was pleased to see said Lion was proudly on display. "Evolution" is also shortlisted in the film category. Congratulations to everyone at Ogilvy, director Yael Staav, Soho Post and Vapor Music.

Yep, last night was a spiral of doom. Started off at the Massive Music party which was amazing. Great music, loads of dancing. I then thought it would be a good idea to drink at the gutter bar until 4:20am. I'm on my way to the Canada party now & to the Shots party later.

I just came back from the CFP-E SHOTS young directors awards. I really enjoyed the two-hour show and saw some really great work. I was really impressed by some of the European student work. Shots has posted a list of winners here. I'm hoping they post a reel of the winning work sometime soon.

Thank you to Bruce, Eva & Benjamin from The Barbarian Group for letting a drunken jet-lagged glossy tag along with them to dinner last night. I've attached some pictures, please note that in my drunken jet-lagged state they aren't framed all that well & some are a bit out of focus. In the pictures, in order of appearance, are a blurry Hermann Vaske, director Nicole McDonald (Paranoid), Eva McClosky, Bruce Winterton, Nicole Sciarrillo of Speakeasy & a blurry Benjamin Palmer.

I'm off to Cannes today for the Cannes Lions. It will be my first time there for the advertising awards (was there in 2003 for the film fest when I worked for Moving Pictures magazine) & I'm very excited. The pic for this post is the view from the patio of the apartment I'm staying in. I'll be sure to update my site daily with Cannes photos & happenings. À bientôt.

Here's the latest from Blacklist directorial collective No-Domain and Lowe, New York for MTV Switch. Watch Pet Penguin here. No Domain is a five-person collective combining backgounds in illustration, graphic design, 2D and 3D animation, film, music and sound design. Want more No-Domain? Check out their site here.

Along with Pet Penguin above, here's another new spot for MTV Switch, this time via Blacklist directorial collective Pistachios (agency is Lowe, New York). Watch Breathing Trees here. You may be familiar with Pistachios' work on Crowntown for Budweiser. If you aren't, check out that campaign here - Elevator is my favourite.

Here is "Patty Melts", the latest Hardees spot via Mendelsohn Zien and Argyle Brothers director John Mastromonaco. Yep, it's cheesy but if sex can sell beer, why not a burger? (Carl's Jr did something similar with Paris Hilton last year).

Here are three new spots for Burger King's new Western Whopper. Directed by Biscuit's Aaron Ruell for Crispin Porter + Bogusky. Giddy-up.

NYC-based Trollbäck + Company has just launched bloke, a small specialized production company, started by and featuring director Joe Wright. Watch Joe Wright's current reel here. Read the full bloke press release here.

Here's the latest for Sony from Fallon, London & directed by Pleix via Blink Ink, London. I'm not a fan of Iron Maiden, but Mr. Glossy just told me that that song rocks. Anyway, the spot is beautiful, as with all Pleix work. Thanks to Jacqui at Soft Citizen for sending. Question: is 80s metal bands going to be a trend in TV commercials? This Volvo spot was originally created for the web in the UK/Europe, but was made into this spot for Canadian TV.

If you are going to Cannes next week, be sure to mark Wednesday, June 20th at noon (Debussy Theatre) in your calendar. Diary of a Creative Director allows you to eavesdrop on a conversation between Tony Granger (CCO Saatchi & Saatchi, NY), Marcello Serpa (CEO/CD ALMAP BBDO) and Erik Vervroegen (President/ECD TBWA,Paris), as they reveal the goals they've set for themselves, the choices they've made, the triumphs, the disappointments, and the surprises they've encountered along their road to greatness. The event is put on, and hosted, by Heidi Ehlers of Black Bag.

This is the first time I've actually posted radio spots. These two are for Desjardins General Insurance and were created by Youthography, Toronto. If you are like me & enjoy pictures, please check out the website geared4u.ca to put images to the words.

From now until July 1st, the Edward Day Gallery on Queen Street West in Toronto is the home of Local 416 - a "space of free will from the Volvo C30". Local 416 is a bit of an extension of the "what do you think?" used in the TV and interactive for the Volvo C30 launch, but it's been taken a step further. Toronto creative agency Sharpe Blackmore Euro RSCG went to some of Canada's best artists, DJs and fashion designers and asked them to show how the Volvo C30 inspired them -- positive or negative. The results are this unique space, part gallery and part showroom. New DJs, artists and fashion designers are being featured each week. Artist bios and an event calendar are here. Some pics from last night's launch are here.

Picasso Pictures directing team ubik have shot this piece for MTV to raise awareness of the effects of global warming.

There is absolutely nothing special about this commercial for Maynards -- other than the music. The song is amazing and completely makes the spot. I actually get excited when I see it on TV and I really need to get it on my iPod. There is some info on the music here (I can't believe the Toronto Star charges $12 for an article).

This web film called Theft was created by Youthography, Toronto for Desjardins General Insurance to direct traffic to the geared4u.ca website. This web film, as well is the site, target a youth market (what Youthography does so well). Creative team is Sean Claessen & Jeremy Bailey; directed by UNTITLED's Chris Sargent; editorial & f/x by Panic & Bob, Toronto.

Miami-based artist duo Friends With You has launched a new website promoting their message of Magic Love and Friendship. The new site has examples of their work in animation, toy design and art installation, plus games, never-before-seen animations and press pieces like their recent spread in Wired. Friends with you are repped by Blacklist, a Psyop company.

Umbra's concept store officially opens today in Toronto (the launch party was last night, see pics here). The bright pink building exterior is the perfect contrast to the minimal white interior which creates the perfect canvas to feature Umbra's products (I love this table). It's located at 165 John Street and the 7,000 square foot, two-level space showcases the largest assortment of Umbra & U+Studio Collection products, Umbra licensed products, as well as limited-edition, customized clothing, and made-to-order furniture.