Taking inspiration from the retired ORCAs, The Radio Bureau has launched the Student Outstanding Radio Creative Awards, challenging advertising students to explore the creative possibilities of radio by creating an outstanding radio commercial for a specific brand.
Students at Media Design School and AUT will go head-to-head in the first round, which involves writing a 15, 30, 45 or 60-second commercial script for radio. Shortlisted scripts will then be made into recorded radio commercials to form the finalists.
The judging panel consists of ex-AUT and Media Design School students, most who have taken away an ORCA themselves and come from a mix of creative agencies including FCB, Colenso BBDO and DDB.
Both winning teams will take home a cash prize and be presented with their award in front of industry professionals at the Ralph van Dijk ‘Radio Scriptwriting’ seminar in Auckland in mid-August.
Peter Richardson, general manager of The Radio Bureau, says, it’s thrilled to be partnering with both AUT and Media Design School to offer students the chance to get their work recognised in front of an industry audience.
For Paul White, programme leader of Advertising Creativity at AUT , the Student ORCAs are a chance for advertising students to really shine creatively.
“There’s no pre-set length of commercial, no geeky technology to cope with; pretty much nothing to get in the way of creating something great for radio.”
Kate Humphries, course leader at Design School, adds radio scripts are a great addition to advertising students’ portfolios.
“Although radio doesn’t always make it into student portfolios because no one has the time to read anything, the restriction of working with just words and voice has always been a great training ground for young creatives.”
Applications for the awards are open and close on 1 August.
