Bouffant is excited to announce that they are Ranked Number 1 Production Company in South Africa. Executive Producer duo Melina McDonald and Lorraine Smit would like to thank all clients and agencies who have partnered with us to help us reach this coveted spot.

Bouffant is a relatively young company, however Melina and Lorraine are extremely well respected in the industry and have a reputation for a hands on approach that ensures that production is always of the highest calibre. The pair have this to say, “We owe our recent success to our great group of commercial directors, that we always say yes when others say no and the fearless way that the team approaches each job – Bouffant has always gone ahead and just done it.” Creativity has and will always remain paramount to the whole team at Bouffant, “It’s our whole reason for existing, and it’s all about the ideas; one could say that ideas are our dogma. That being said, we won’t do it if we don’t believe we can find a clever, creative solution to the job at hand.”

Which is also why the Executive Producer pair launched Fringe @ Bouffant. Fringe is a division of the company dedicated to nurturing young directing talent in the country, while producing high-end, and often unusual content that pushes the boundaries of content for advertising having recently completed virals and experiential projects for McDonalds and Coca Cola. More testament to the fact that if there was some elusive formula for success, Bouffant has certainly come close to nailing it.

When Shakes Palmz was ready to tell his story to the world, there was only one director he wanted for the task – and that was Jono Hall. Crafting the story of the greatest handshaker the world has ever seen, took the team from Fringe on a explosive once-in-a-lifetime journey inside the fame, the fortune and the fingers. The documentary of Shakes Palmz is a series of webisodes made for Coca Cola through Draft FCB.

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Congratulations to Dean Blumberg who directed Santam “ Sir Sneaky “ for King James, which won a Bronze Cannes Lion in the Television category.  Santam “ Sir Sneaky “ was the only Cannes Lions in the television category won by South Africa. Dean Blumberg also directed Nandos “ The Last Dictator Standing “ for Black River FC which won a Cannes Bronze Lion in the Integrated category. Bouffant is proud to be associated with these commercials and applauds both King James and Black River FC.

Jono Hall of Fringe directs the Cannes shortlisted campaign for SAPA. The ads, titled “GPS” and “Spanish” highlight the fact that kids who eat eggs are considerably smarter than their parents ever bargained for. Just
what the world needs, more smart ass kids!

Bouffant has won Creative Circle’s Ad of the Year for the third time in its four years of being in business. Dean Blumberg’s Nandos “ The Last Dictator Standing” for agency Black River Football Club won Ad of the Year. This is Dean’s second Ad of the Year win. Erik Van Wyk’s KFC “ So Good” for Ogilvy Johannesburg is also featured in this year’s top three. According to Melina McDonald and Lorraine Smit, “ In the beginning we thought it was just luck. But the more we shoot, the luckier we get! Thanks to our clients and directors that make us look good.”

Chloe of Fringe directs this piece for Capsule Projects’ Rock Me Again, a project focusing on sustainable fashion featuring designs by Clive Rundle, Suzaan Heyns and Lara Klawikowski.
And featuring Bouffant director lady of many talents, Jeana Theron.

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Bouffant Dines with Dictators for Nando’s

They say you should keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but South African agency Black River FC has taken the idea to a new extreme with a controversial but comical new campaign for chicken chain Nando’s.

The TV ad, which broke on Friday and has since gone viral, features some of the world’s most renowned dictators including Robert Mugabi, who reminisces about bygone days frolicking with Saddam Hussein and Gaddafi. The leaders light heartedly fool around to a fun soundtrack before Mugabi sits at his dinner table with a message that suggests no one should have to eat alone at this time of year. The commercial was intended to be an equal mix of comedy and controversy:

“This is always a difficult balance to strike,” says Bouffant director Dean Blumberg. “But we were blessed with scenarios that had scandalous innuendo. The tricky bit was to fine tune a tone for the sense of humour as well as the performances, which wouldn’t water down the impact but retain the irreverent comedy.”

The director praises the client for its bravery and willingness to take a risk and he seized the chance to let his creativity shine on the job.

“The treatment for the commercial was obviously to deliver on the humour but I saw an opportunity to really affect people and my approach centred on bringing as much politically relevant satire to each scene while humanising the bookend dinner moments so that the commercial created mixed emotions.”

He says the client’s request for ‘smart humour’ went in hand with his careful vision and they got to work on creating the unique take on the dictators.

“We were hell bent on not spoofing the individuals and had to constantly manage the level of parody for not only the scenes but also the montage’s film language,” says Blumberg. “Where appropriate we added relevant nuances to each performance while the production team at Bouffant worked a miracle in six days. Together with art department and wardrobe we worked tirelessly to create iconic specifics that reinforced the scenarios with comedic touches that not only added entertainment but significant idiosyncrasies.”

Apparently the ideas just kept flowing with the production team completing the job in a ridiculously short time frame. Now it’s out there, though, Blumberg adds that the reactions the commercial has sparked have been exactly as intended with “laughter, debate, anger and praise” all featuring. He adds: “There has been an incredible viral response beyond the television flighting and the commercial has exploded beyond South African borders in less than two days.”

Bouffant/Fringe is ranked 17 in the Palme d’Or rankings. The Palme d’Or is an honour that recognises the twenty most awarded production companies worldwide at Cannes Lions. According to Lorraine Smit and Melina McDonald joint Executive Producers of Bouffant, “ Its been a whirlwind three years, we are so proud of our directors and look forward to “Bouffanting” many more scripts that come our way.”

Bouffant is thrilled to announce that in their third year of business they are third on the Top Production company rankings in South Africa after winning seven Loeries including a Craft gold, two silvers and four bronzes. This is after having the most South African Shortlists (nine in total) and securing a Bronze at Cannes this year. The list of wins incorporates their new division Fringe.

“I would definitely rank Bouffant among the top leading production companies in the world. They are top notch, and have a very high A-list standard of working. They know their stuff and they do it well. Besides this, they are also very creatively driven which is very important to us at Wieden + Kennedy.”

Erik-Jan Verheijen
Senior Agency Producer, Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam

Oscar winner Sir Ben Kingsley features in the new commercial for Santam directed by Dean Blumberg of Bouffant. Dean has delivered a sophisticated and intellectual concept in his inimitable way with precise, simple storytelling, a subtle but commanding performance, and his trademark visual appeal, resulting in an ad that draws the viewer in and through careful nuance offers repeat watchability. According to the director, “As a team we stuck to a precise translation of the ideas, no extraneous bells and whistles. I wanted beauty, simplicity and a gravity led by our star.” Dean describes Sir Ben as: “The most consummate professional,deeply committed to the process” – an approach much like the young director’s, which is probably why Dean and Sir Ben struck up an immediate rapport whilst filming the ad.

Commercials Director Dean Blumberg of Bouffant was recently one of a handful of directors from around the world selected to showcase their work at the Boards Summit in New York.

The showcase was part of the BBDO Directors Lounge, which has gained a reputation for showcasing innovative and contemporary work from young directors. Only five directors were selected globally for what is considered a “Directors to watch” showcase. Chosen for his cinematic storytelling and subtle comedy, Blumberg had been on their radar after his work was featured at international awards shows such as Cannes and Clios.

Bouffant’s new division Fringe is racking up awards faster than you can say five months which is about the time that Fringe has been in existence.

Fringe has won a gold and bronze at the Loerie awards. Fringe director Chloe Coetsee directed the award winning Apartheid Museum campaign for TBWA Hunt Lascaris that won a bronze and John Trengove won a gold craft for direction for Absa L’Atelier with The Jupiter Drawing Room in the Experiential category. Trengove’s mini series “Hopeville” has also been awarded the Rose D’Or for best drama and mini series and also has an Emmy nominee. The Rose D’or Awards are based in Lucerne, Switzerland.

According to Lorraine and Melina,“John winning a gold for direction in the Experiential category is exactly the point of Fringe, alternative creative people with a different production approach, having fun in the Playroom of Bouffant!”