PlaymoFriends

General => News => Topic started by: playmofire on February 16, 2010, 12:55:39

Title: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: playmofire on February 16, 2010, 12:55:39
This link was mentioned on another board:

http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-GB-Site/en_GB/Link-Page?cid=NextEpisode

I don't know when it first appeared on the Playmobil website, but it was only mentioned on the other board on 14th February and the closing date is pretty  close.
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: reylocann on February 16, 2010, 15:05:13
 :'( >:( and it's only open to UK residents  >:( :'(
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Rasputin on February 16, 2010, 15:27:26
Hi Gordon

Thanks for the link. I like the prizes " £500 + Prize winner will receive a full Playmobil range every three months and a smaller product offering every month "

I also found it interesting that in their example movie it was with stecks and the old chrome knights. The editing or film style was a shaky camera man  ::)

I did not read the terms and conditions so if it is only open to the UK, good luck and I think all who can should enter

Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Martin Milner on February 16, 2010, 16:10:21
The prize offer is confusing, exactly how many time do you receive the full Playmobil range?

As a UK Citizen I could enter the competition, but having never tried to do a Playmobil video before I don't think I could find the time or resources to try in the next couple of weeks. I wonder how many entires they will get? There are many good videos already on YouTube, which could be entered by their creators if they are UK Citizens.

I get the feeling they've thrown this together very quickly and haven't thought it through, but it's good to see a competition at last, and I hope this won't be the last.

Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: skypurr on February 16, 2010, 16:34:36
Quote from: Martin Milner on February 16, 2010, 16:10:21
The prize offer is confusing, exactly how many time do you receive the full Playmobil range?

It does say in smaller print:
"*Prize winner will receive a full Playmobil range every three months and a smaller product offering every month"

Junior at the moment is making a Playmobil video for school so we'll have to see how that turns out
 - videos are beyond my capabilities! :-[  ;D
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Martin Milner on February 16, 2010, 17:34:51
Quote from: skypurr on February 16, 2010, 16:34:36
It does say in smaller print:
"*Prize winner will receive a full Playmobil range every three months and a smaller product offering every month"
 

That's what I find confusing. If I win, how many times can I expect to receive a full Playmobil range? I know how frequently, but not how many times this is repeated.

Also, is the smaller product a repeat of something the winner has already received (i.e. part of the full range) of a bonus item that isn't in the official catalogue?

14.Winners.....

This is the first suggestion that there could be more than one winner. I suspect that they intend this competition to repeat every three months, and that each 3-monthly winner will get the 500GBP, full Playmobil range, and a couple of smaller follow up gifts, and then the baton passes to the next winner. However this is not what the competition rules state.
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Richard on February 17, 2010, 12:16:37


Quote from: playmofire on February 16, 2010, 12:55:39

This link was mentioned on another board:

http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-GB-Site/en_GB/Link-Page?cid=NextEpisode

I don't know when it first appeared on the Playmobil website, but it was only mentioned on the other board on 14th February and the closing date is pretty  close.



Very interesting, Gordon!

Looks like Geobra has hired a UK marketing firm. Maybe Geobra has decided to "attack" the UK as Lego has "attacked" the US ...  ::)

The marketing firm is Chocolate Communications (http://www.chocolatecom.co.uk/).

Click HERE (http://www.chocolatecom.co.uk/clients.php) for a PDF explaining their Playmobil "strategy"

also see attachment for first page
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Martin Milner on February 17, 2010, 17:05:28
Very interesting pdf Richard!

I had never heard of Chocolate Communications when I was working at my old company (a big London Advertising Agency), but often the smaller agencies can do marvellous work.

They state that Playmobil had done NO PR in the last 5 years. No wonder it wasn't selling as well as they'd like! Playmobil do seem to have that smug attitude that the product will sell itself; sadly not so in today's market, there are too many other products out there grabbing attention.

They appear to be working on a low budget, and going mainly for what I would call a Viral campaign, i.e. getting the word out in papers and magazines, and relying on word-of-mouth to spread the message.

13% increase in sales is very encouraging in a recession, but you wonder how much of that is Chocolate's  particular strategy and how much is just the fact that any advertising will increase sales after a five year lapse.


Now I'd like to see a similar effort in the USA, but is the country too big for viral marketing?
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Richard on February 17, 2010, 18:03:30


Quote from: Martin Milner on February 17, 2010, 17:05:28

Very interesting pdf Richard!

I had never heard of Chocolate Communications when I was working at my old company (a big London Advertising Agency), but often the smaller agencies can do marvellous work.



I thought of you immediately, Martin, when I saw that Geobra had hired a UK advertising agency. I wondered why they hadn't hired you ... ???

Seems like that would have made a lot of sense. You were in the UK. You know the UK market. And, you know Playmobil.

Wonder what Geobra was thinking? ...  :doh:


Quote from: Martin Milner on February 17, 2010, 17:05:28

... Playmobil do seem to have that smug attitude that the product will sell itself ...



When we first visited Germany in the mid-1980s, we were surprised by the absence of "yellow pages" in the phone book. We were politely told, "If a product is good, and if a service is good, people will know ... we don't have to tell them."

Interesting that they didn't learn from the VW debacle.
Great ads equaled great sales in the US for VW until VW stopped advertising.
And, when VW stopped advertising, the Japs came along and "ate VW's lunch!"

To this day, VW hasn't fully recovered in the US from their "dropped" advertising campaign.

All the best,
Richard
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: wonderland5 on February 17, 2010, 21:54:58
Quote from: Martin Milner on February 17, 2010, 17:05:28

Now I'd like to see a similar effort in the USA, but is the country too big for viral marketing?

I honestly don't think so Martin--on the contrary, my teen aged nieces and preschool aged children seem to find out about things they would like to have mostly through viral means--playing at other kids houses and seeing what goodies they have ( we are doing our part to turn kids on to Klickies!) Then there are moms talking to other moms, parenting blogs (a lot of which talk about good toys) and other means.  I think it would work well here!
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Emma.J on February 27, 2010, 22:41:19
Hi Gorden,
thanks for the link. I wished I had seen this sooner, I've just spent the last couple of days taking pictures for my new video but as it's full of customised stuff I don't think even a cut down version would work.
I don't know how you found it every ones talking about Playmo's advertising being bad but I cant even find the competition page from their website only by following Gorden's link.
As to the prizes I think when they say full range they mean all the Egyptions then a small prize say of add ons or Easter eggs maybe?
Who cares what ever any one gets is still going to be great!
I'm off to think up a story....
Emma.
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Emma.J on March 05, 2010, 14:39:20
Hello all  :wave:

well having seen Gorden's informative thread about the competition I decided to give it a go! A lot of my PM is discontinued now so I had a choice of Pirates or Jungle hmm what a choice! I spent several hours unpacking and setting up a a small table in my bedroom to film on and covered it in.... Jungle - oh what fun I had  8}

It's taken 3 days of filming around work, diy and my cat but I finally finished last night and sent in my entry. So fingers are crossed!

I cant say it came out as I'd hoped my original story was too long, my camera keeps moving all over the place ( I've lost my tripod clip) and the colour is a bit odd to say the least. It's a good job PM says it's the thought that counts not how well it was filmed.

So if you'd like a laugh here's the address.
Emma.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO_VMJ694jc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO_VMJ694jc)
 ???
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Richard on March 05, 2010, 16:39:55



Quote from: Emma.J on March 05, 2010, 14:39:20

So if you'd like a laugh here's the address.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO_VMJ694jc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO_VMJ694jc)



I'm not laughing, Emma! ... I'm applauding ...  :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

I wish that I had known you when I did DINOS ON LOCATION (http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=2430.0)!

We could have had such great fun ...  :klickygrin:

That was a WONDERFUL presentation, Emma!

Thank you for sharing and (unless the judges are incompetent) you will win!

All the best,
Richard
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Indianna on March 05, 2010, 17:06:33
I love your film, Emma!  Obviously your scene-setting talents transcend the Victorian theme to include the whole Playmo world!  Good luck to you in the competition!   :)9
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Martin Milner on March 05, 2010, 17:17:16
Lovely film EmmaJ, well told story and good layout. I hope one day to have the skills to match yours!
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Justindo on March 06, 2010, 02:23:33
That's a beautiful video, Emma! :wow:
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: WarriorOfToys on March 06, 2010, 02:39:29
Hiya Emma!
I am a subscriber to your YouTube accout, and I got to see it the day before I read this! ;D
I had wondered about the name... Now I can understand!
I thought it was a sequal! :lol:
Very nice job!!! Very nice job!!!
(Im glad I can comment here because I was unable to comment on youtube!)
Always look forward to your videos...

-Warrior of Toys
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Gepetto on March 06, 2010, 04:38:46
Wonderful job Emma! Thanks for sharing and good luck!  :wow:
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Emma.J on March 07, 2010, 23:25:07
Thanks everyone. :wave:
 I've got my fingers crossed. Glad you liked my layouts Martin. That was my complete collection of jungle stuff. One Aztec Temple, large Dino bones, painted cave, 3 landscapes and about 12 trees! That's all I had to do the 4 layouts with so I had to shoot the gang coming and going together before dismantling to do the next scene.

Hi Warrior :wave:
glad to hear from you sorry I've not been in touch lost my internet and phones for a month but as you can see I'm back again! The competition rules say no comments allowed on you tube. I did have a much longer story thought out so if I get time I'll redo this story in a month or so when I've caught up again. 8}

Hey Richard,
just read your Dino's on location  :wow: :wow: Brillant I loved it. I wonder how many of us take the PM on holiday?
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Richard on March 08, 2010, 00:34:33


Quote from: Emma.J on March 07, 2010, 23:25:07

Hey Richard,
just read your Dino's on location  :wow: :wow: Brilliant I loved it. I wonder how many of us take the PM on holiday?



Thank you very much for your extremely nice compliment, Emma!

I usually take "Fred and Maisie" with me when we travel. However, we live in the Virgin Islands, so there aren't too many places that we would want to go to for a holiday ...  :klickygrin:

Thanks again and all the best,
Richard
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: WarriorOfToys on March 08, 2010, 15:13:47
Can't wait to see a longer story! It will be really cool!
Are you going to continue the story?
Or are you going to expand on what you have,
and just take more pictures to fit in spaces you think should have more detail?

I loved the song btw!
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Emma.J on March 10, 2010, 18:52:40
Hi W.O.T,
I hope nobody minds I seem to be taking over this thread  :-[

My original idea had the heroes around a camp / huts when a old man staggers out of jungle with the map. Then trekking through the jungle seeing wildlife and the river crossing with crocodiles then the dinosaurs and finally meeting the Aztecs. maybe trading or stealing their gold then taking the egg and running back. This was a rough idea I tend to make up the story as I'm taking pictures but I ran out of time before the original competition deadline. I've about 600 pics taken - Yes I'm snap happy!!

Having seen other peoples stop motion films I can see where I've gone wrong I could do with improving the colour / lighting and keeping the camera in a fixed location. So when I get around to reshooting this I will start again from scratch oh and find a bigger table away from my cat :lol:
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: WarriorOfToys on March 10, 2010, 19:14:57
Wow!
A great idea!!! :D
Are you going to get into stop motion?

Ever seen my stop motion vids?
It will be easy to know if you have, I have the same name on Youtube as I do here! :lol:

I agree about the cat...
My cat is actually afraid of my little people after they attacked him with spears and arrows...  :toot:
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Emma.J on March 10, 2010, 20:19:07
erm I don't know about the stop motion ???
It took me 3 days to do this video if I did proper SM I think I'd need a month and a new back :lol:
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: WarriorOfToys on March 11, 2010, 16:52:34
Quote from: Emma.J on March 10, 2010, 20:19:07
erm I don't know about the stop motion ???
It took me 3 days to do this video if I did proper SM I think I'd need a month and a new back :lol:

Ug! I know what you mean!
Whenever I do a stopmotion film I always sleep through the next day and hope my back fixes itself! :P
Luckly I got a tripod since my first stopmotion so animations are getting better and less painful...
It takes me about a week to take the pictures and then another one to add sound and stuff.
Usually I take a week off before the 2nd week, just to get a clear mind before I go at it again.

I can't wait to see your next video!
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Emma.J on March 23, 2010, 22:17:16
Hello  :wave:

Well the competion closes Wednesday and I think I've got a lot of competion from a couple of fairytales so I've wipped out and done another. this one is a bit more stop motion than the last but still not perfect.

So anyone interested in seeing the first part of Cinderella follow this link thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCsVjmJTjig (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCsVjmJTjig)

Yes that is my Tudor Mansion being used as the background  8}

emma
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: el jefe on March 23, 2010, 23:49:01
Nice work on the video emma! The scene when the carriage transforms is really cool.  I look forward to part two. 
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: WarriorOfToys on March 24, 2010, 01:15:35
:clap: :clap: :clap:
:wow: :wow: :wow:
:woohoo:
That was amazing Emma! I think it was one of your greatest videos ever!
It is my new favorite!
The stopmotion was really good! :yup: :(o):
Great, great job!
I love your ballroom, the carpets are so nice and colorful.
Are you going to make the rest of the movie? :prays:
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Indianna on March 24, 2010, 13:39:37
Utterly and completely charming!  Well done, Emma!   :love:
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Emma.J on March 25, 2010, 19:19:08
 :wave: Hi all,
thanks every one for your support, glad you liked the new video, but I've been beaten at the last minute without a doubt. :lol:
I knew I had serious competion from Alice in Wonderland and the Flower Garden video by the same person - hey cute kid doing voice over against an adult! Who am I kidding - the kiddies are gonna win 'cos it's just good PR but the latest entry is from a teacher and her class. Hands down has got to be the winner Playmobil just can't go wrong with that.  :wow: :wow:

But the good news is I've had a lot of fun doing it ;D which is the main thing and I've learnt a bit more about film making so just wait till next years competion -  :camera:
I'll be ready  ;)
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: Gepetto on April 03, 2010, 17:22:33
Great job Emma! I really enjoyed that carriage transformation scene (now I wish I hadn't thrown away those pumpkin cases). Look forward to your next installment.  :wow:


Gepetto
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: AndrewL on April 05, 2010, 13:03:38
Hi Emma,

Really nice video -- very well done. Being a long-time fan of Errol Flynn, I particularly loved the music! Will you use some Max Steiner in your next video?

Cheers,

AndrewL
Title: Re: Official Playmobil video competition
Post by: playmovictorian on July 31, 2010, 20:35:06
And the Winner is  :clap: :cheerlead: :cloud9: :*) :cham:...

Mia lands Playmobil prize !

(http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/4540/mia2.jpg) (http://img837.imageshack.us/i/mia2.jpg/)

Mia Jones - 8yo from Cheshire

(http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/4901/aliceinplaymobilland.jpg) (http://img808.imageshack.us/i/aliceinplaymobilland.jpg/)

Mia Jones from Cheshire has been named the winner of Playmobil’s The Next Episode competition.

Eight-year-old Mia, who has been a fan of Playmobil since she was three, created a four-minute recreation of Alice in Wonderland using Playmobil figures to scoop the prize – £500 and a year’s supply of Playmobil  :cloud9:.

Alice in Playmobil Land can be viewed on Playmobil’s YouTube channel and will also appear on the main Playmobil website.

“Mia’s love of Playmobil seems to have grown and developed with her as she’s got older,” said Mia’s mum, Sara. “She now plays with the toys in completely different ways. From the days of simple role-playing she has now developed an elaborate and sophisticated land of Playmobilia.

 “It has its own town, language, media (Mia makes Playmobil comics and newspapers on the computer) and now of course a film industry! The Next Episode competition has been a fantastic family project for us and has allowed Mia to develop her imagination and creativity and she’s over the moon to have won.”

Playmobil’s Jamie Dickinson, who judged the competition, said: “We received some truly creative and inspirational entries and such a wide variety. We took a lot of time to decide which entries really brought the world of Playmobil to life and this is where Mia’s stood above the rest.”

(http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/9026/aliceinplaymobilland2.jpg) (http://img801.imageshack.us/i/aliceinplaymobilland2.jpg/)

Here is Mia's video on the Alice in Wonderland Theme :

http://thetoydetectives.com/2010/05/02/alice-in-playmobil-land-wins-competition/

Enjoy  :munch:

Karim :)