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paul suggett

Copywriter. Creative Director. Problem Solver. Advertising junkie. A Ghostbuster living in Denver.
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Ash 4 President: Integrated Campaign

What chance does a head-chopping, beer-swilling man of the 80’s have to be president? Well, if Trump can do it, why not Ash Williams?

I concepted and created a complete campaign in 2015-16 to promote Ash Vs Evil Dead. The fans ate it up, and so did the press:

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From scripts for ads (performed masterfully by Bruce Campbell) to a complete website, Twitter and Facebook campaign, posters, buttons, and a bulging stimulus package giveaway, it parodied traditional presidential campaigns on every level.

It even became a comic book!

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Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO): Key Art Campaign

As a British fella who's fluent in sarcasm, this one really appealed to me. Announce the return of LWT with John Oliver in a way befitting his unique brand of humor.

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Virgin Money: PRINT

Virgin is the upstart. The challenger. And in the dry world of banking, they wanted something that took a fresh approach, matching their new and improved way of handling money - virginmoney.com.

For the launch, we created a newspaper that had just one story printed in it. Every other square inch of the paper was left blank, which led to a successful website launch and hundreds of complaints about wasting resources (we anticipated this, and trained the call center reps to convert these calls to customers).

The ads that followed touted the benefits of the “unbank,” and targeted people who hate the way traditional banks fleece customers. The tone was cheeky and playful, but had a serious message - Virgin Money is a bank that won’t take advantage of you.

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Black Sails: Integrated Campaign

The first (and to date only) series that portrayed real pirates in their gritty environment. A dark, smart show that required an equally powerful multimedia marketing campaign.

For the launch in the UK, we created an experience. What could be more jarring than seeing a bunch of pirates in cages on your morning stroll? Great press pick-up.

Stateside, we really turned the screws on with a campaign aimed at revealing the true nature of pirates. These are working, brutal, and smart thieves. The #BloodyTruths social posts peeled back the skin to show the real and deadly world of pirate life. We encouraged fans to join the crew with #PiratesWanted and #RaiseTheBlack, sending out flags and asking them to swear allegiance to the cause.

As we got in season, we lightened things up a tad with the cast and crew on social, and instigated a treasure hunt on both coasts, with $5,000 up for grabs.

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Sony Playstation: Outdoor

A joint campaign with Sony and software manufacturers to make the iconic Playstation controller symbols become synonymous with the latest games.

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Colorado State Patrol: Outdoor

A breakthrough campaign for the Colorado State Patrol, I wanted to do something big to warn drivers of the dangers of tailgating. 23% of roadway fatalities are caused by tailgating, and a large portion of those are collisions with trucks.

Along with traditional media including outdoor, print, and radio, I sold in special billboards that simulated the devastation of the crash. It worked. Local news stations picked up the story, and the ROI was huge - over 1200% on the cost of the stunts, with hundreds of thousands of dollars in earned media.

The campaign won a Gold OBIE, best in show at the Denver Fifty, and several other awards. But best of all, it saved lives.

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Dexter (Showtime): Key Art

When Dexter returns in 2019...there will be blood.

Fans have been ravenous for a new series of Dexter since the end of the 8th season. The posters had to bring back that feeling of awe that they felt from the very beginning, but reference his role as a lumberjack in the series finale.

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Boss: Social, ON-Air, PR

This powerful series about corrupt Chicago politics needed an equally jarring promotion campaign to create buzz on Facebook and with the press.

The “Price For Power” experience gave Facebook users a look at the seedy side of the political world. After connecting, the experience took the user’s FB data and showed them what could happen to them if they crossed Kane, the mayor of Chicago (Kelsey Grammar) and a cutthroat player. Friends turn on you. Threats are made. Your life is over. The experience could then be shared.

With the trailer, I had several conversations with series creator Farhad Safinia, because striking the right tone was essential. The script I wrote, turning the usual cliche about making sacrifices on its head, made a strong statement about the mayor.

The press kit also brought journalists inside Kane’s head, with rambling post-it notes showing his inner thoughts.

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Vodafone: Outdoor, Print, DM

Free global roaming is a big deal. It can be expensive to make calls from other countries, so telling customers (current and prospective) that they have this option was important to Vodafone.

We decided the best way to execute it was a combination of direct mail, in-store messaging, and then tactics at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Catching people before they leave, or as they’re returning, plants it firmly in their heads. Luggage tags, in-flight magazines, and tray tables carried the message beyond the airport.

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Who's Your Daddy?: Social Video

When Ash Williams finds out he's a dad, he gives his own unique brand of parental pointers. I created and scripted a series of 10 videos each offering the kind of advice you’d expect from a man like Ash. The pickup was great, with a bunch of online outlets writing about the crazy series. Here are just a few:

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As an additional stunt, I thought it would be good to arm the citizens with more than just tips in a world of Deadites. Custom made emergency chainsaw stations were installed in subways.

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Great-West Financial: Print

Great West Retirement Services approached us with an issue. They wanted to feel fresh, and attract a new audience. In a landscape filled with stock shots of seniors, they wanted something that would get noticed, and get read. As Tom Cruise once said in The Firm, "it's not sexy but it's got teeth."

The ads stood out and performed beyond expectations. Proof that smart copy and a brave client can do work that does not have to follow the same old same old.

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Da Vinci's Demons: Outdoor, Digital

David S. Goyer, the screenwriter who recreated Superman in Man Of Steel, wanted to do the same with Da Vinci. The campaign needed to introduce Leonardo as a young, energetic genius.

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Red Bull: Outdoor

A reinvention of the Red Bull campaign, replacing "gives you wings" with a much more edgy approach that would connect to college students.

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CDOT: Outdoor, Print

A series of campaigns aimed at improving safety on Colorado's roadways. From encouraging bikers to wear helmets and get training, to warning new drivers about the dangers they face in, an impactful way.

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Original Series: PR

The press kit is an essential part of the promotion for a TV series. Journalists get dozens of these every week. How do you stand out, and make something so intriguing that it garners free coverage? That’s the challenge, and it’s always a pleasure to rise to it.

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War Stars: Custom Toys

A bizarre but fun side hustle - making custom action figures for collectors. Known as "kit modding," it was a hobby that became something way bigger.

Now I have people contacting me for commission pieces (I just mashed up a Wookiee and a Dalmatian), and it’s another great creative outlet for my downtime.

If you came here to check out my advertising work but find yourself wanting your very own “War Star,” send me an email and I’ll see what I can do for you.

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prev / next
Back to Suggett - Copy & Creative Direction
AshPoster.jpg
7
Ash 4 President: Integrated Campaign
LWTJO-Accent.jpg
5
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO): Key Art Campaign
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4
Virgin Money: PRINT
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Black Sails: Integrated Campaign
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Sony Playstation: Outdoor
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Colorado State Patrol: Outdoor
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2
Dexter (Showtime): Key Art
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Boss: Social, ON-Air, PR
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5
Vodafone: Outdoor, Print, DM
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Who's Your Daddy?: Social Video
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Great-West Financial: Print
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Da Vinci's Demons: Outdoor, Digital
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Red Bull: Outdoor
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CDOT: Outdoor, Print
Spart.jpg
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Original Series: PR
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War Stars: Custom Toys