He is my god. If I had to have an altar in my house to someone holy, this guy would be it. Quentin makes my kind of movies, period. But... to place them in order has been extremely tough. So much to choose from... how do you take awesome and put it below incredible? Maybe your order changes, but here's my list of Five Amazing Tarantino Movies... until now. Enjoy.
1) Pulp Fiction.
How much do I love this movie? let's just say that if it's a girl, I'm naming her after the greatest female character of all time... Mrs. Mia Wallace.
2) Reservoir Dogs.
Blood, sweat and ear. I love this movie so much it hurts.
3) Kill Bill Volume 1.
I liked this one better - yes, both are incredible - because of the epic fighting scenes.
4) Inglorious Basterds.
I saw this movie months ago and I'm still in shock. I just hope it gets nominated.
5) True Romance.
My kind of romance flick. Period. You just gotta love the corkscrew scene.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Agencies vs. In-House Departments
The other day I got into a heated argument with a friend of mine – let’s call him Eddie. We started discussing the joys of eating red meat, and somehow ended up talking about how all brands should do their advertising in-house. Eddie foresees a near future in which traditional advertising agencies will cease to exist, an industry in which brands will take matters into their own hands. Clients already have their own lawyers, accountants, public relations, and HR people, so why not advertising/marketing? Sure, they may hire outside consultants to evaluate a few things along they way, but ultimately, the brand handles its own business.
Eddie believes that a perfect storm has been brewing in the industry and once it hits, it’ll change the game in a big way: An economic climate that has brought on a less-is-more attitude; the democratic powers of the Internet; savvy consumers; a highly globalized market; etc. Eddie feels that these ingredients will force major brands to centralize their operations in order to achieve greater efficiency, reduced costs, more control of their business, and – what everybody wants – more profits.
He cited examples of big clients that have made this move and have never gone back to doing business the old-fashioned way with ad agencies. Plus, he couldn’t stop with his laundry list of the quality, excellent work born from in-house shops. With their own departments, clients don’t pay ridiculous commissions or agency fees; they have greater negotiating muscle with media placement; they don’t waste nearly as much money on travel expenses and other goodies; they save themselves from the hassle (and costs) of switching agencies every four years; they craft and control a consistent message over a long period of time.
In short, according the Eddie, the people responsible for the brand’s message have time and room to become experts in their particular field. In his logic, agency people have to be all things to all people: you must work simultaneously, and be knowledgeable, in the beer market, cars, banking, cell phone, etc. Sooner or later, your expertise is gonna falter somewhere. Whereas an in-house department is an expert at one thing and one thing only: their business. He likened it to specialty doctors versus general practitioners, or the many types of lawyers (corporate, tax, trail, human rights, environmental, etc.)
What made this conversation even more interesting is the fact that Eddie owns his very own ad agency! And he’s been very successful for over 10 years. So why would Eddie bash his own business model? Because he himself has adopted an in-house approach to ad agencies. You see, Eddie’s agency specializes in only one industry – travel and tourism. ALL of his clients are in the travel and tourism industry, and some are even competing brands. But that doesn’t matter because, according to Eddie, clients want an expert who delivers results, not a one-trick pony who sort of gets your business.
So in essence, Eddie’s agency is actually an in-house department for the Travel & Tourism industry. He’s developed a reputation as an expert in the business and clients are flocking from all over the world to do business with him, without regard to “conflicts” with other brands. It’s business. He claims that the same is happening with the automotive, banking, healthcare, and real estate industries – people are setting up their versions of “industry-specific in-house departments” that deliver results, without the cost of keeping ad agencies CEOs in designer suits and ties.
Now I ask this: Is this the future of the ad business? Does Eddie have a point? Are ad agencies an endangered species?
Eddie believes that a perfect storm has been brewing in the industry and once it hits, it’ll change the game in a big way: An economic climate that has brought on a less-is-more attitude; the democratic powers of the Internet; savvy consumers; a highly globalized market; etc. Eddie feels that these ingredients will force major brands to centralize their operations in order to achieve greater efficiency, reduced costs, more control of their business, and – what everybody wants – more profits.
He cited examples of big clients that have made this move and have never gone back to doing business the old-fashioned way with ad agencies. Plus, he couldn’t stop with his laundry list of the quality, excellent work born from in-house shops. With their own departments, clients don’t pay ridiculous commissions or agency fees; they have greater negotiating muscle with media placement; they don’t waste nearly as much money on travel expenses and other goodies; they save themselves from the hassle (and costs) of switching agencies every four years; they craft and control a consistent message over a long period of time.
In short, according the Eddie, the people responsible for the brand’s message have time and room to become experts in their particular field. In his logic, agency people have to be all things to all people: you must work simultaneously, and be knowledgeable, in the beer market, cars, banking, cell phone, etc. Sooner or later, your expertise is gonna falter somewhere. Whereas an in-house department is an expert at one thing and one thing only: their business. He likened it to specialty doctors versus general practitioners, or the many types of lawyers (corporate, tax, trail, human rights, environmental, etc.)
What made this conversation even more interesting is the fact that Eddie owns his very own ad agency! And he’s been very successful for over 10 years. So why would Eddie bash his own business model? Because he himself has adopted an in-house approach to ad agencies. You see, Eddie’s agency specializes in only one industry – travel and tourism. ALL of his clients are in the travel and tourism industry, and some are even competing brands. But that doesn’t matter because, according to Eddie, clients want an expert who delivers results, not a one-trick pony who sort of gets your business.
So in essence, Eddie’s agency is actually an in-house department for the Travel & Tourism industry. He’s developed a reputation as an expert in the business and clients are flocking from all over the world to do business with him, without regard to “conflicts” with other brands. It’s business. He claims that the same is happening with the automotive, banking, healthcare, and real estate industries – people are setting up their versions of “industry-specific in-house departments” that deliver results, without the cost of keeping ad agencies CEOs in designer suits and ties.
Now I ask this: Is this the future of the ad business? Does Eddie have a point? Are ad agencies an endangered species?
Thursday, November 19, 2009
When I get pregnant... I want this sonogram pic!
PS: Today is my last day of taking any type of pills, injections, patches... over! Scared shitless! Yey!
via digg.com
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Beyond the PPV: A night at the Cotto vs. Pacquiao Fight at Las Vegas
Where do I start? What could possibly be so interesting about going to a fight down in Sin City that deserves a post, mid flight, thank you very much? Lots. I don't even know where to begin, actually.
How many people were there? 16,500 according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. We walked into the MGM Grand with, guessing, around one billion people. Ok, so I'm exaggerating a bit. Truckloads of boxing maniacs would be a good number. It was a little intimidating. I thought, with all this testosterone, there is no question that some dudes here will end up getting punched out tonight. There was something in the air the moment I opened up the doors at the entrance, and trust me, I am not kidding. It was a mix of nerves and energy that I will definitively never forget.
So you walk, get your mandatory drinks in hand and you get to your seat. First of all, I didn't see a lot of women there. Dude soup all around me. Fine, I didn't get that surprised with that fact. Let's represent the ladies, then. Power to the chicks!
What happened next... now this is when the story turns interesting. The night had many twists and I need to write about this because, well, for me going to this event was a bucket list thing. I needed to do this before I die a very interesting death. Going to a boxing match has been one of my dreams and trust me, it turned out to be more than I could ever imagine in many ways.
So the first thing I noticed was: the anxiety. Everybody is acting cool and composed but, deep inside, they are scared S**tless about their chosen fighter. (I'm trying to be decent at my flight, hence no bad words, ok?) You have to understand, this is a two sided fight. In one we have the boxers. In the other, there's the public. Yup, all 16 thousand of us are in a fight. And the worst part is, we're sitting right next to each other. Interesting, right? Yup. You see faces full of worry, national pride, drunkenness, crazy nuts... just walking by your seat. Glasses full of alcohol pass your way every 10 seconds. This, of course, is Las Vegas. People are drunk at all times, even when they paid an average of $500 bucks or more to see the fight. I can bet my you know what that many of the dudes last night don't remember the fight so well.
The next part is sort of... weird. We're sitting there, as I already mentioned, in a mixed crowd. Both Pacquiao and Cotto fans are there for the kill. Hundreds, thousands of both Filipino and Puerto Ricans have filled the arena to scream their lungs out at their heroes. And somewhere mixed in there there are three guys. Three guys that I will never, ever forget. The racist, prejudiced idiots sitting two rows above me, with a little too much alcohol in their blood and a lot of nothing in their brain. Three pathetic guys which for 20 minutes made me entertain the idea of having a shouting match. What could I possibly have witnessed?
We are all claiming that we all should love one another, the world is a melting pot, we need to embrace our differences... right? Well, not according to Moe, Curly and Larry. They sat there, J&B in hand, and proceeded to insult both Filipino, Jewish and Latinos. I heard some amazing sh*t like "I'll bet on the Puerto Rican because I cannot lose 20 bucks to a Jew"; "That brown latino sure hits" and other award winner, classy lines. You know, those that I will tell my kids as a warning story soon. I even loved when people talked spanish right next to them and they mocked it, trying themselves to talk it with lines like "como se dice this guy is going down?" or "Como se dice that latina has a huge rack?" Whoa.
At some point I did get angry, I guess for human kind and because I have a very short temper when it comes to amazingly moronic human beings but I had two choices. I turn around and give them a nice rant about how the world needs for them to disappear and end up with me having a bloody nose and my boyfriend in jail (thank you Lord that he, for some strange reason, didn't hear them because if not, they would have ended up dead anyways)... or I just ignore them like I do everything else that doesn't deserve any more attention and watch the fight. I chose the latter. These three idiots didn't ruin my night, I didn't let them. Let me tell you, when the fight started and all the rest of the people sat down, the Stooges suddenly got very quiet. I guess you shut up when you are surrounded and scared shitless, right?
In comes the other thing that surprised me about the whole night. You cannot imagine how intense it gets. Yes, it can get intense at your house. Multiply that by a thousand and then you'll know how you would feel if you're actually inside the arena. I cannot say why this happens. Maybe it's the people around you, who knows. When the fight starts and you love boxing as much as Joker and I do, you think you are about to have a heart attack. My heart was pounding like I was going to go up in a roller coaster. Shitload afraid.
What happened next was maybe an hour of us screaming our lungs out, jumping out of our seats, applauding, getting worried sick, not moving or going to the bar to get a drink... It got so intense I even forgot to take pictures. I think I only took one picture of the actual fight. The people scream, say really, really offensive shit directed at the ring, give obvious pointers to the boxers even when we know they can't hear us... it was simply amazing.
This, my friends, is not for the faint of heart. No roller coaster in the world compares to what I felt that night - and I am so very glad that I did it. I will tell my kids about this and I will make sure that I get to do it just one more time with my future son and Uncle Joker. All the hard earned money that we spent on those tickets were enjoyed to the max.
And yes, I did sort of turn at the last moment my bet on Cotto, but it was just the side of me of wanting the underdog to win. There was no question that my first instinct was right: Manny was and is the better fighter. Period. So at the end, I did win the Usual. Yey for that!
Oh and by the way... If you think Pacquiao seems fast on tv. TRUST ME. He's faster, live. He is holy fuck (this part I am writing in land, no curious neighbor reading my post) fast. I mean. FAST. Cotto didn't have a chance. ANY CHANCE. This was a boxing lesson in all its glory. I for one am damn glad I paid to see that. I am worried for my man Floyd, bit time. Manny will eat and spit him out for breakfast. Lord have mercy.
Well, hope you enjoyed the fight as well and if you didn't, watch it next Saturday on HBO. I will, for sure. Oh and before I forget... can't we all just get along?
Much love... Me.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Fight Night. Cotto VS Pacquiao
The build up has been built, the hype has been hyped, the mind games have been played and the pieces have been set. Tonight we get to see a great fight. By fight I feel no need to establish that it is a boxing match for I've written more than enough to show that I'm not just a casual fan. But that doesn't matter tonight, because tonight's match is not only for boxing aficionados. Tonight's fight is an event for anyone who has ever been mildly interested in boxing.
That this fight will help determine matchups for 2010, help define pretty much the most competitive division right now in boxing and shape two stellar careers is besides the point. You have two guys who like to fight, who like to throw punches and who aren't big fans of letting judges decide who wins a fight.
For his part, Manny Pacquiao has looked invincible in his last three outings. He's taken the opportunity to redefine the word dominance in fights against David Diaz, Oscar De la Hoya and Ricky Hatton. True, you can make a case for any of those three fights being touted as harder than they were, but that Manny made all three fighters look like a joke speaks volumes.
On the counter side, Miguel Cotto is still trying to shake off the ghost of Margarito Past. Illegal handwraps or not, the only thing we know for sure is that Cotto took a beating against Margarito and though I wasn't happy, I accepted the outcome, and much to my surprise, so did Cotto. He's all business and knows he's in for the biggest night of his career fighting what is simply a phenom.
If you want a more in depth breakdown of this fight, click here.
All I know is that somehow, national pride and my arguments might have steered Me from siding with Manny to bet on Cotto. For my part, I think Cotto can pull out a decision based on what I wrote in that long ass post.
The reality is that any outcome is possible in this fight. Either fighter can win by KO, either fighter can win by decision, there could be a headbutt and the fight is stopped before or after the 4th round, and they can even draw. Rarely does this happen in this sport and I'm just glad I'm alive to see it, and you should too.
If you want to have a story to tell your grand kids of a boxing match you once watched, then by all means, see this fight.
A detailed report of the fight will be offered once the dust settles. So for now, cheers my friends. It's going to be one hell of a fight.
That this fight will help determine matchups for 2010, help define pretty much the most competitive division right now in boxing and shape two stellar careers is besides the point. You have two guys who like to fight, who like to throw punches and who aren't big fans of letting judges decide who wins a fight.
For his part, Manny Pacquiao has looked invincible in his last three outings. He's taken the opportunity to redefine the word dominance in fights against David Diaz, Oscar De la Hoya and Ricky Hatton. True, you can make a case for any of those three fights being touted as harder than they were, but that Manny made all three fighters look like a joke speaks volumes.
On the counter side, Miguel Cotto is still trying to shake off the ghost of Margarito Past. Illegal handwraps or not, the only thing we know for sure is that Cotto took a beating against Margarito and though I wasn't happy, I accepted the outcome, and much to my surprise, so did Cotto. He's all business and knows he's in for the biggest night of his career fighting what is simply a phenom.
If you want a more in depth breakdown of this fight, click here.
All I know is that somehow, national pride and my arguments might have steered Me from siding with Manny to bet on Cotto. For my part, I think Cotto can pull out a decision based on what I wrote in that long ass post.
The reality is that any outcome is possible in this fight. Either fighter can win by KO, either fighter can win by decision, there could be a headbutt and the fight is stopped before or after the 4th round, and they can even draw. Rarely does this happen in this sport and I'm just glad I'm alive to see it, and you should too.
If you want to have a story to tell your grand kids of a boxing match you once watched, then by all means, see this fight.
A detailed report of the fight will be offered once the dust settles. So for now, cheers my friends. It's going to be one hell of a fight.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Five Most Amazing Cookies in the world that Define: Me
Eating healthy is not easy. Staying on shape and maintaining your weight is a full time commitment. The ugliest and nastiest things, which usually taste like heaven are the first thing that you have to leave behind.
McDonald's. Burger King. Ice Cream. Candy. You get tempted every which way you look.
I cannot remember the last time I had a cookie, and I was talking about how I miss them yesterday... when I thought... they deserve a post. I miss them so much - and feel so guilty when I do endulge, that this is the only way to honor them besides eating them.
So here we go. The five most incredible cookies on earth, in order of preference, by yours truly. Enjoy.
1) Oreos
Lord have mercy. These HAVE to be the THE standard. Chocolate madness with cream. Yes. Yes! If there was one item of food that I was allowed to eat without getting fat or sick, Oreos would definitively would be it.
2) Chips Ahoy
I have tales of me waking up at 2am in the morning so I could sneak two cookies while Mom was sleeping. They are like crack cocaine tasty.
3) Barnum's Animal Crackers
Incredible package - which by the way has not changed ever since I was a kid - and just a fucking incredible cookie. All other animal crackers deserve to be nuked and discarded because they are a true offense to this particular brand. Enough said.
4) Cameo
The one thing that I love about commercial shootings where I live is that you can bet your sweet ass that the production will have shitloads of Cameos available at any hour of the shoot. Love, love, love them.
5) Vanilla Wafers
Although I seldom eat them, trust me, this is my absolute last choice for a cookie. Mostly late at night at some creepy hospital or weird building. Give me a glass of milk and I am happy.
Ah. Cookies. How I miss you.
McDonald's. Burger King. Ice Cream. Candy. You get tempted every which way you look.
I cannot remember the last time I had a cookie, and I was talking about how I miss them yesterday... when I thought... they deserve a post. I miss them so much - and feel so guilty when I do endulge, that this is the only way to honor them besides eating them.
So here we go. The five most incredible cookies on earth, in order of preference, by yours truly. Enjoy.
Lord have mercy. These HAVE to be the THE standard. Chocolate madness with cream. Yes. Yes! If there was one item of food that I was allowed to eat without getting fat or sick, Oreos would definitively would be it.
2) Chips Ahoy
I have tales of me waking up at 2am in the morning so I could sneak two cookies while Mom was sleeping. They are like crack cocaine tasty.
3) Barnum's Animal Crackers
Incredible package - which by the way has not changed ever since I was a kid - and just a fucking incredible cookie. All other animal crackers deserve to be nuked and discarded because they are a true offense to this particular brand. Enough said.
4) Cameo
The one thing that I love about commercial shootings where I live is that you can bet your sweet ass that the production will have shitloads of Cameos available at any hour of the shoot. Love, love, love them.
5) Vanilla Wafers
Although I seldom eat them, trust me, this is my absolute last choice for a cookie. Mostly late at night at some creepy hospital or weird building. Give me a glass of milk and I am happy.
Ah. Cookies. How I miss you.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 09, 2009
I'm betting "The usual" on Manny. Damn it!
So... Why am I writing about this? Two reasons. First, since I'm trying to do the bucket list thing this year, this Saturday I get to check another item off my list: go to a boxing match.
Yes my friends, I cashed in (painful and extremely expensive, but what fun and amazing stuff in life comes free or cheap?) and bought tickets to Cotto Vs Paquiao. Since my boyfriend also loves boxing - and loves to see me screaming my guts off while I watch it - it was easy to convince him when I surprised him with the news that I had access to what now seems to be the fight of the year.
Now... ever since I got my hands on those tickets, there has been one thing going around in my mind: who will win? And this, my friends, is giving little old Me heart palpitations. Oh, the anxiety!
Oh and yes, this post has a reason. Evidence. You see, I always bet with Travis when fights come around. Kind of... a tradition of some sorts. So this post serves as evidence.
First of all, fact: both Cotto or Pacquiao can win the fight. The thing is, which one will we choose to make our bets on... Hard shit to do.
I was dead set on Pacquiao. You see, I know for a fact that Cotto, while he's a great fighter, he seems to be a little bit assholish. Hence, I usually always bet on the other fighter whenever he gets on the ring. You see, I can only back up one asshole boxer and the position is already full: I love Mayweather.
Ok, my original bet was this: Pacquiao by desicion. While I do believe that Cotto will be able to knock him down (See Joker, down?) around the 7-9th rounds, I truly think that a TKO is unlikely. This, sadly, has to be my final bet. And I say sadly because I am worried.
I have been watching 24/7 ever since it started. And there are some things that worry me. Big time. Changing my bet big time. These are the facts that are making me feel ill:
1) There are huge problems with the Pacquiao camp. Everyone is fighting over there. Manny needs team work, not attitudes and egos. I've seen this before. Extra curricular drama have made many good fighters go down. Tyson. Bowe. I can go on and on. Fuck.
2) Wapakman. Yes. A mother effin super hero movie. While you might think this is not a huge deal, I wonder how many other times Manny has lost concentration while attempting to sing My Endless Love on some moronic program, explore in the wonderful world of scrapbooking or whatever else he wants to do EXCEPT train. Barf time.
3) Cotto's Focused and United camp. I have never, ever... EVER seen this kind of unity in a camp. They have a goal, they are all working for the same thing... this seems like a well oiled machine. And it sounds like a train coming, hard. Yikes.
4) Cotto is looking like he would kill someone with just one punch. Yep. I don't know what the Holy Jesus item they gave him or what Kung Fu master they have hidden somewhere, but this man is looking tough and strong.
As you can see, makes sense that I am confused. While I did go against Cotto because of a whim, now I am actually wondering who will actually win - while a couple of months ago I was dead sure of Manny. But... I am a woman of my word and I will keep to the Filipino winning by decision.
Oh by the way: My boyfriend's bet is Cotto by KO. (Thank you Joker, by the way, for settling the TKO vs KO argument, you rule)
Now, don't worry about me. I have never bet money. And If I lose, I win anyways. Right babe?
Sunday, November 08, 2009
To NBC and Lorne Michaels
To: NBC/Lorne Michaels
From: Me @ WAS
Regarding: Taylor Swift SNL November 7 2009 Episode
Message: Don't. You. EVER. Do. That. Again. Thank you.
From: Me @ WAS
Regarding: Taylor Swift SNL November 7 2009 Episode
Message: Don't. You. EVER. Do. That. Again. Thank you.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Friday, November 06, 2009
File under “Things that Keep on Happening”
She’s 44, the single mom of a 13 year-old boy.
The only job she’s had in her life is at this company – She’s been here for 20 years.
She’s always been pro corporate.
She’s put in her share of “over time” – nights, weekends, cancelled vacations, etc.
She even “went the extra mile” during her arduous chemo sessions.
She’s the epitome of team player and all that crap.
Yesterday, she was laid off.
The only job she’s had in her life is at this company – She’s been here for 20 years.
She’s always been pro corporate.
She’s put in her share of “over time” – nights, weekends, cancelled vacations, etc.
She even “went the extra mile” during her arduous chemo sessions.
She’s the epitome of team player and all that crap.
Yesterday, she was laid off.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Holy Jesus... I got my Prenatals.
Just a quick update. So... I bought my Prenatal pills today. We both went to the pharmacy and stood in the supplement section together. I took that bottle and I swear to you, my eyes got teary eyed. We were all smiles, gave each other a kiss and went on our way.
This is actually happening!!! I'm still choked up. Whoa. What an experience this is turning out to be.
This is actually happening!!! I'm still choked up. Whoa. What an experience this is turning out to be.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Just because you're called a copy doesn't mean you have to
As time passes by and I'm two weeks away from having been a full year away from advertising, something becomes abundantly clear, people will continue to shove out knockoff ideas without one hint of remorse. If anything I'm proud of my 5 year stint and all the freelance work I did is that I never copied from anyone and was actually fortunate enough to have people copy some of the work I produced with my creative significant others.
I occassionally browsed creative magazines, but normally ideas came from analysis of the brief, brain storming, and pretty much shooting the shit. The only rules were that it needed to be different enough to break the clutter, it needed to comply with everything established in the brief and it had to be defendable even in the eyes of the douchiest asshole client I could concoct. I change agencies, adapt to the nuances of every bullshit place, but for the most part that was the formula, and it worked pretty well except I didn't win an award, probably to do with my choice of agencies, but I won't bitch since to me, it really didn't make a difference since I saw the ads that did win, and along with variuos other people barfed in my mouth a little or whispered the words bullshit over and over.
That slice of life out of the way, I have to admit that instead of seeing less unoriginal ideas, I see more and more knockoffs and have actually passed by the experience of seeing an idea from 4 years ago, rehashed, refreshed and resold to clients demanding out of the box ideas and only approving inside the box executions.
To make things worse, there are actually entire categories that have the same exact concept rebottled for different clients. Don't believe me? Then instead of ogling on car and candy ads, look towards the junior college category and see if a few things don't look a bit similar. Base premise is the person interacting with themselves in some way or form after they graduate. You can have a person visualizing themselves doing that awesome nurse job, you can have that person seeing themselves in the mirror already graduated, or you can have that person meeting two future versions of themselves, the one that studied and the one that decided to down Roofies and Schnapps and fuck the college mascot.
Simply put, it's the same shit, over and over and over. And that comes in part from the occassional axiom people dare speak that there is no such thing as an original idea, that everything's been done, that you should only modify the dog's old tricks. Well to that thought I say suck it. It's conformity at its most pathetic and though it might be a bitch to come up with something new and fresh, working with the mentality that such a feat is impossible is just asking to be a hack.
That's why I enjoyed working shitty categories like banking and having to deal with difficult clients because when I finally got a good idea approved, it was a huge success on all fronts. From conception to convincing the square thinkers to give the circle a go, it was satisfying even if it wasn't elite because at the very least, it was solid and it worked at least marginally well.
But instead of people embracing their own flavor or style, they opt for the cop out, look for the archive, change a couple of elements and good to go. I dunno, somehow having a person do that and still insist on being called a creative is a bit douchy if you ask me. Any thoughts?
I occassionally browsed creative magazines, but normally ideas came from analysis of the brief, brain storming, and pretty much shooting the shit. The only rules were that it needed to be different enough to break the clutter, it needed to comply with everything established in the brief and it had to be defendable even in the eyes of the douchiest asshole client I could concoct. I change agencies, adapt to the nuances of every bullshit place, but for the most part that was the formula, and it worked pretty well except I didn't win an award, probably to do with my choice of agencies, but I won't bitch since to me, it really didn't make a difference since I saw the ads that did win, and along with variuos other people barfed in my mouth a little or whispered the words bullshit over and over.
That slice of life out of the way, I have to admit that instead of seeing less unoriginal ideas, I see more and more knockoffs and have actually passed by the experience of seeing an idea from 4 years ago, rehashed, refreshed and resold to clients demanding out of the box ideas and only approving inside the box executions.
To make things worse, there are actually entire categories that have the same exact concept rebottled for different clients. Don't believe me? Then instead of ogling on car and candy ads, look towards the junior college category and see if a few things don't look a bit similar. Base premise is the person interacting with themselves in some way or form after they graduate. You can have a person visualizing themselves doing that awesome nurse job, you can have that person seeing themselves in the mirror already graduated, or you can have that person meeting two future versions of themselves, the one that studied and the one that decided to down Roofies and Schnapps and fuck the college mascot.
Simply put, it's the same shit, over and over and over. And that comes in part from the occassional axiom people dare speak that there is no such thing as an original idea, that everything's been done, that you should only modify the dog's old tricks. Well to that thought I say suck it. It's conformity at its most pathetic and though it might be a bitch to come up with something new and fresh, working with the mentality that such a feat is impossible is just asking to be a hack.
That's why I enjoyed working shitty categories like banking and having to deal with difficult clients because when I finally got a good idea approved, it was a huge success on all fronts. From conception to convincing the square thinkers to give the circle a go, it was satisfying even if it wasn't elite because at the very least, it was solid and it worked at least marginally well.
But instead of people embracing their own flavor or style, they opt for the cop out, look for the archive, change a couple of elements and good to go. I dunno, somehow having a person do that and still insist on being called a creative is a bit douchy if you ask me. Any thoughts?
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