Vista Group likes Donovan, but hates Wellywood
It was a tension-racked Vista Group lunch today, as a vital question was discussed. Would the prestigious group of Wellington business bloggers allow Jim Donovan to remain a member, after he announced his intention to write his final blog post on 28 March? There were conflicting accounts of the decision. One account reported that Donovan’s continuing membership was agreed only by the narrowest of majorities, just one vote. Another said that Donovan had received 100% of the votes. In reality, only one Vista Group member - Wellington mayoral candidate Jack Yan - was there to vote; the other members having pressing business elsewhere. However, Yan said that he had consulted online with the wider membership and was confident his vote had their full backing.
The Vista Group then returned to its more usual fare of business and branding matters. The scheduled topic of the month was “Wellywood! Whose bright idea was that?“ The recent proposal - that a Hollywood look-alike sign celebrating the Wellington film industry be permanently erected on a local hillside - has been almost universally panned by the media and by local citizens, not least Jack Yan. He argued out that not only would the Wellywood sign infringe Hollywood’s registered trademark, it would also be a poor me-too image for Wellington - a weak joke for a fortnight’s film festival, maybe; a permanent sign promoting the city, most definitely not. Branding is about being distinctive. However, Jack’s argument that city identities are becoming more powerful than national ones was rejected by yours truly, who came dressed head-to-toe in black, New Zealand’s national colour. It was a silent, but powerful refutation.
March 18th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Oh, is that what you were getting at? I just thought you were cold and wrapped up with extra layers. The colour never crossed my mind.
March 19th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
PHEW!
My 2 cents (seeing I wasn’t there to give them in person). The Wellywood sign would have been a hilarious joke if someone had just gone and put it up one day.
All this pre planning and conversation makes it seem a little weird….