MEDIA COMMENTARY, MUSINGS, & GENERAL CRANKINESS
Posted in Advertising, Commentary on Jan 18th, 2012
This morning I wrote an email to a kid I heard was in the dumps. Thought someone else out there could possibly use the same chuck-on-the-shoulder. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Hello ____, [...]
Posted in Advertising, Commentary, General Crankiness on Jan 8th, 2012
Recently, Canadian ad blogger Heidi Ehlers, founder of Camp Black Bag, told me about a lesson she once learned from her mother. Heidi had just moped into a room to whine to her mother, “Momma, I am so bored.” And her mother responded, sagely if a little coldly, “No my dear, you are boring.” Sue [...]
Posted in Advertising, Education on Dec 19th, 2011
(I just “liked” my own essay to see what would happen. What happened was my name ends up in the list of likers. Made me feel creepy. Please forgive, won’t you?) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • [...]
Posted in Advertising, Commentary, digital on Nov 29th, 2011
Gareth Kay is one of the few certifiable digital experts out there and he proposes that there’s a subtle but important difference between big ideas and what he calls “long ideas.” These are ideas that are rich enough to be extended into digital and other channels for a long time. They are less brand ideas [...]
Posted in Advertising, Commentary, General Crankiness on Nov 6th, 2011
Distilled from a recent interview on blog radio with the delightful Heidi Ehlers, founder of Camp Black Bag – “The Boot Camp for Your Career.” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * [...]
Posted in Advertising, Commentary, General Crankiness on Oct 27th, 2011
As expected, U.S. entries to Cannes were way down this year given the recent Zombie Apocalypse. Observers are surprised ad people continue to even exist given their worthlessness in a economy that now values productive trades like farmers, electricians, and mechanics. In fact, the few agencies still operating attribute their success almost entirely to being [...]
Posted in Advertising, Education on Oct 16th, 2011
This is the cover of the new book from London’s D&AD, The Copy Book. I am crazy proud to be one of the featured writers. That said, I would have trouble looking anyone in the eyes and claiming my work should be featured in this book, and not that of my friend Greg Hahn’s. Or [...]
Posted in Advertising on Oct 9th, 2011
Steve Job intrduces Chiat\\Day\’s new campaign 1.) He didn’t work from notes. Notes suck. Notes say, “What I’m saying is so unmemorable, even I had to memorize it.” Speak from the heart. 2.) It didn’t feel like he was presenting. It felt like he was talking with us. 3.) He stopped 23 agencies from pitching [...]
Posted in Advertising, General Crankiness on Oct 3rd, 2011
Okay, Zen parable time. And I’m gonna update mine a little bit for the modern palate. Okay, so you got this Zen master dude, right? Dude looks totally like Uma Thurman’s teacher from Kill Bill Vol. 2, always brushing that long white mustache to the side and everything. He’s pouring tea for his student, Grasshopper. [...]
Posted in Advertising, General Crankiness on Sep 25th, 2011
The other day in class we were reviewing some work the students had done and an interesting conversation took place. As I looked at the work the students had produced, I asked one of them, “Where were you when you were working on this?” He said he’d been working on concepts while watching a movie. [...]
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