Jalopnik: modernista

Cadillac Dumps Modernista! As Ad Agency Of Record

Ray Wert — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:05:00 EDT

Cadillac's dumping Modernista! as ad agency of record. Did someone confuse Cadillac and Buick? [GM]

Kate Walsh Enjoys Steak After Being Turned On By Her 2008 Cadillac CTS

Ray Wert — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:30:00 EDT

The attempted sexy-ing up of the Caddy brand with Kate Walsh's deep n' sultry voice continues with this second Modernista! ad for the new 2008 Cadillac CTS. Apparently, when the Grey's Anatomy star's done being turned on by her new CTS, she enjoys a steak and chocolate while she reads gossip mags dressed only in Italian shoes in clubs for men only. Hmm, sounds like the type of gals we met at a bachelor party for a buddy of mine. Except we had to pay money for them. But whatever, we're just happy there weren't any dragons involved.

Does The New 2008 Cadillac CTS Turn You On?

Ray Wert — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 15:41:44 EDT

It looks like the new Cadillac CTS is the linchpin of a campaign by Boston advertising mavens Modernista! to sex-up the brand. Which is why they've got Grey's Anatomy star Kate Walsh speaking to us in her sultry voice, telling us the real question she asks when she gets into a car — "When you turn your car on, does it return the favor?" Our question we ask when hearing that particular question is "Which box do we check to get that particular vehicular option?"

Ad Watch: Ed Welburn Loves Cadillac, New 2008 Cadillac CTS

Ray Wert — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:45:00 EDT

We managed to liberate the following new commercial from the ~~leaky sieve~~ ~~Death Star~~ fortress that is the marketing side of the General. The spot's for Cadillac and features Ed "Jay Leno Is My BFF" Welburn, chief o' design for General Motors. Although Ed's usually the important guy in the room as he helps manage the design all the new product coming out of the RenCen...err...the design studios. But Ed's not the important thing in this ad for the luxe brand from GM by the Boston-based Modernista!. Actually, the important thing for those of lovers of the car-love is it's the first time we get a gander at the new-for-2008 Cadillac CTS in a piece made for public. So take a look above and tell us what you think below. We'd also like to remind you that yes, many ~~Bothans~~ marketers died to bring you this video. – Ray Wert

Ad Watch: Cadillac CTS Bose Edition Is For People Who Like Bleeding Ears

Ray Wert — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 14:30:00 EDT

The latest ad out of Modernista! ad house is pushing Caddy's new "Bose edition" of the 2007 Cadillac CTS. From what we can tell it's a CTS with a Bose stereo and a sunroof — and it'll give you "everything you need now to play at ~~fukk~~ full volume." Although we've got to tell you, if you drive around with a Bose stereo at full volume, you really should wear earplugs, because your ears will probably start to bleed after oh...I dunno...45 seconds, maybe? We kid you not, Bose makes loud-ass stereos — even if you are a "Punk Rocker." Just sayin'... – Ray Wert

Cadillac Seeks Street Cred, Creates YouTube Channel

Ray Wert — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 10:12:00 EST

Looks like the luxe brand at the General's looking to gain some street cred by enlisting help from the wonderful world of web 2.0. They've enlisted the marketing mavens at Modernista! to create some kind of pseudo-YouTube channel and custom website to highlight their attempt to use the new CTS (photo gallery below) to bring Caddy to the masses. Will it work? Despite hiring Joan Jett (in front of CBGB, even!), Tiki Barber, Travis Barker and Fat Joe, we're going to have to go with "probably not." But bully for Caddy on the attempt! – Ray Wert

My Cadillac Story [via YouTube]

Ad Watch: Leo Burnett "Drops" A New Pontiac G6 Commercial

Ray Wert — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 13:54:55 EST

Well, after Modernista! dropped that little piece of Cadillac action onto the airwaves this past weekend, it looks like the former holders of the account weren't going to let it go unanswered. The folks at Leo Burnett decided to drop us a copy of their ad which dropped this evening for the Pontiac G6. If you haven't yet guessed, it's called "Drop" — check out the shattering results yourself above. – Ray Wert

Ad Watch: Modernista! Makes A "Great Escape" With A Hummer H3

Ray Wert — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 12:02:46 EDT

Modernista! sure knows how to do it right an' tight for the Hummer girls n' boys — and makes another great commercial letting the off-roader for those who like to be big strut its stuff. They've been pretty much right-on as they've taken the Hummer from a brand for the Ah-nohlds of the world, to the MILF's of the world and now — to the office spaces of the world. This one's just as fun as what we've seen before — blending the modern desire of escaping the drudgery of work with a certain cinematic and musical "Great Escape" we've always held near and dear. [Hat tip to Autoblog!]

Ad Watch EXCLUSIVE: Daniel Chesterfield Hummer H3 Ads

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 15:44:42 EDT

Those hipster advertigeeks at Modernista!, whose new work with Hummer we've considered somewhat awkwardly gender-political (e.g., Get Your Girl On, ~~Restore your manhood~~ Restore the Balance), swear these new less-controversial ads (which we're premiering here on Jalopnik) are in no way a reaction to criticism. What's more, because we're dopey goofballs, we think this series — featuring Belgian comedian Chris Van den Durple, whose fictional "Daniel Chesterfield" character is a hiliarious, pitch-perfect rip on The Magic of David Copperfield — hit the mark. Click through for two more, and a clip of Mr. Van den Durple at work for real.

Get Manly or Get Your Girl On? New Hummer Ads Don't Restore the Balance [internal]

Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely, Lonely Time: Cadillac Dumps "Rock and Roll" from Ad Campaigns

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 11:09:57 EDT

With Cadillac shedding Leo Burnett as its ad agency of record, so goes Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" from its media spots. The brand's got a new agency in the hipsters at Modernista!, and their mission (yes, they've chosen to accept it) is to lure even younger (younger than 65, that is), affluent buyers from their Euro sedans and into new Caddys. That doesn't mean Pearl Jam's agent's gotten the call: As AutoWeek reports, the new spots and print ads — coming later this summer — will have no theme song to speak of, but will be "story oriented." Considering these are the guys who penned the bizarre "baby" Hummer story line — where a robot mates with Godzilla — they may be worth the wait.

No More "Rock and Roll" [AutoWeek]

Cadillac Dumps Leo Burnett for Modernista!

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 08:46:36 EDT

After marketing director Liz "The Crusher" Vanzura had moved across GM from Hummer to Cadillac earlier this year, she came off the top rope and did a figure-four leg lock on Leo Burnett Detroit. Slicing the bux-ous Cadillac account in half, she gave a portion to Boston's Modernista!, an indie upstart agency that had done the impossible on Hummer's brand — refiguring it to attract urban women. Now, GM reports Modernista! will take over the entire account, with an eye toward expanding Cadillac's appeal from its current base (old white guys and young black guys) outward to encompass new demos, presumably more women, young white guys named "Jeff" and black marathon runners who volunteer at health-food co-ops. GM also wants us to know that Burnett will still be handling Pontiac and several other divisional accounts. So be it.

Related:
Cadillac Marketing Director Out to "Get You" [internal]