LONDON BOARDFLOW

An increased number of scripts for commercials big and small have put at least a partial damper on the rampant pessimism that has been bubbling under the London production scene in recent months.

"The board flow from English agencies has been phenomenal, especially with scripts for the leisure industry; drinks, clothing, mobile phones, publications, and TV stations," says an exec producer at one major London house. "Dialog and comedy boards are still dominant while huge visual extravaganzas are not."

Also reported were automotive projects from British and European agencies (Italian, German and Swedish scripts were reported), as were scripts for everything from fast food to insurance. As per usual, the most creative of these projects were far from being the most financially rewarding.

"Poor creatives want to do something good but the budgets are never enough," says one MD. "That leaves a lot of people scrabbling after every and any job which is any fun. There are bigger and bigger names punting for stuff they wouldn't normally get out of bed for."

Award-friendly low budget jobs abound indeed, perhaps from creatives fresh back from the south of France and hungry for some statuary to bring home to show mum and creative director alike? But after a couple of slow months, most agree that any chance to do good work in London's competitive market is worth taking.

"It's such a pyramid with directors in London; there are obviously the guys on top and as it goes down, it gets more competitive with more people trying to big for those jobs," says one producer. Another adds:

"There is good work out there if you have a good director to sell. But for middle tier companies, established companies with big rosters of directors that aren't necessarily the leading lights of the industry, well, it's very difficult."

Rating 7/10

TEXAS BOARDFLOW

Texas captures the feelings muttered by many creatives across Americana at the moment - mundane boards and mediocre business. Agency layoffs lead the malaise of an economic slowdown affecting the ad valleys of Texas. "I've never seen so many producers not working," says one exec producer in Dallas. "I think everybody has had lunch with more people socially of late than they have in years."

Slim pickings of food and beverage, Texas Tourism and telecom boards are happening, albeit in spurts. The general consensus is that advertising in general is slowing down in the region. "The boards are not as cool as usual and they are definitely low budget," admits another producer, although he believes that the slow summer period may have something to do with the economic downturn.

With business slowing to a trickle, one producer worries about morale. "A downturn in work is not so good because morale goes down, as does the drive," she admits. "We all get jazzed by tight deadlines and hard work - I mean it's how we survive."

5/10

NEW YORK BOARDFLOW