Seen a Rogue on the loose? Get in touch with our Roguemeister: JOHN SCHRAG jschrag@wweek.com (503) 243-2122 FAX: (503) 243-1115 Everything is not coming up roses at the Rosie awards. The annual advertising love-fest on Friday at the downtown Marriott is not going to be a full house. The agency Elvis & Bonaparte is boycotting the awards, claiming that the Portland Advertising Federation is censoring its work. Elvis & Bonaparte, a $15 million downtown Portland agency, was invited to submit a "bumper" to the show. These two- to three-minute films provide agencies with a showcase for their work, giving them a chance to let creative juices flow without having to kowtow to a client. The problem, according to PAF, which organizes the Rosies, is that Elvis & Bonaparte let themselves flow just a little too freely. The E&B movie, "Reach and Frequency," parodies a trailer for a 1970s porn movie set in an advertising agency called Tucker, Swallow and Rockhard. As might be expected, the spoof is sexually suggestive, and there is some male nudity. After viewing the movie, Lori Miller, executive director of the PAF, determined it wasn't suitable for the Rosie audience. For the first time in the Rosie's 40-year history, a bumper was pulled from the program. Elvis & Bonaparte is calling it censorship, charging that the PAF, of all organizations, should not be stifling creativity. We think it's fine for PAF to exercise discretion in what it shows to its 800-member organization. What is roguish is that PAF, which has no guidelines for bumpers, let things go this far without checking in with the agency. E&B Creative Director David Helfrey at says sex, drugs and violence have been shown in past bumpers and he had no reason to think his movie wouldn't be accepted. Tim Findlay, who produces the award show for PAF, says he tried to reach the agency to go over the concept, but he concedes he should have tried harder. We agree. If the PAF was changing the rules this year, everyone should have known in advance. Note: For those who aren't afraid of of sex and bad clothing, the video will soon be available at www.reachfrequency.com. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Willamette Week | originally published November 23, 1999