We are a kick ass crew

So one year of ad school has past. 4 quarters at the circus and my brain is about to explode from all the information that has been crammed into it. Quarter 1 was all about getting into the flow of the work load and thinking about the what all goes into making an ad. Quarter 2 was the laying of the ground work for the future, working in teams. Quarter 3 was about pushing the boundaries (at least for me), going beyond the safe zone. To stop mimicking what I had seen and start to make something new. Quarter 4 was about the simplification of ideas, introducing products and simple benefits.

Panel went as expected. Some of the pieces I took in were a joke and others were filler. I know I might get knocked for that, but I wanted to show them that I worked hard, even though I might have spread myself thin.

The website I designed was a bust. Mainly because due to the lack of framing and clear navigation. That and it really didn't sell a product, one of the basic rules of advertising.

TV spot was a stretch. It didn't demonstrate how Rockports were "Tough shoes for Tough times".

Artex ELT was a toss up. They liked the basic concept behind the tag "Change how the story ends" but the body copy read different.

Nutella was a panel bust, but I knew it was wrong. We were coming at it from the angle that we were introducing what the product was to the people and not the experience of it, per our professor's suggestion. Should of gone with the experience. What I envisioned was a Ferrer Roche "Gods" ad. The experience of food is greater than the benefit of food.

Comodynes tanning was beautifully art directed, but they didn't love the line. The line wasn't perfect, I agree.

Sumo had one win out of three. They didn't like the concept of preparation, but they wanted to see how life would change when it was already in your possession.

Puma was the hit of the evening. No surprise. The line was rockin' and so was the art direction.

I think that covers the main points. Already, I can tell that my writing has gone on break. My mind isn't forming sentences clearly and I feel that anyone who reads this will be stumbling over my words, as they hardly flow.

Note to future ad students: Never, I repeat, never take a professor's concept. Especially one that has been in the field for 10+ years. It's our job to come with something new and exciting. They are there to guide us. Not direct us. Listen to what they have to say about copy and art direction. Listen to their suggestions and weigh them. Eventually you'll get to the point where you know in your heart, gut, or head what makes a good ad and what should be burned.

I am kind of hard on myself for this quarter. I had two weeks prior to the last week where I was just completely out of the loop and didn't really write. I should always write. Write and refine. I came down to the last week and spent hours firing off lines to my ADs and they came out crap because I didn't take the time to refine them.

There is a part of me that claims that it was a social experiment. I had spent prior quarters working, refining endlessly and felt that I was talking in a snooty, over educated tone. This quarter I tried not to overthink and just write.I guess that's all well and good, as long as that "under"thinking also has time to be refined. Even the common man has an appreciation for clear communication.

After panel, a group of us copywriters hit Taco Mac and reviewed the past quarter and the past year. Topics ranged from haircuts to favorite memories to the random gossip of the school. And even though I don't drink, it was nice to get out with a small group. So here's to you Adam (Action) J, Adam (AE) Elijah, Erin C, and Ash C. It was walking through the parking garage, en mass and then breaking off, that I realized that we're a kick ass crew.

Sometimes, if not most of the time, failure is the best teacher

One of good friends didn't have an absolute rocking panel and that was part of the discussion at Taco Mac. When we questioned why we didn't help him out when we saw it coming, there were a couple of answers we came up with. First, we didn't know how to flag it down. After all, the professors loved the idea and the writer believed in it. Second, sometimes it's good to fail.

We didn't say the second part out of smite, but rather knowing it's better to fail in a teaching environment before getting out into his career. It'll make the writer a stronger creative in the long run and that's what we want for him.

Never be afraid to admit wrong

It's pretty late and I should get to bed, but I keep looking over my writing and spotting typos and grammatical errors. I'm sure there's even a couple in here, but they'll have to be save for a later time.

"Write while your on fire. Edit when you have cooled off." - Tru'Zen (I'm sure I'm stealing this from someone else)

I speek good engrish

First of all, no, I am not making a stereotypical joke but rather acknowledging that it's out there and applying it to my circumstance.

------ Real post ------

I am full America. 100%, born in SoCal, lived in Michigan, studied in TN and GA. Granted my mom is Filipino, but all that was ever spoken at home was English, except when she was on the phone to her relatives. So what's wrong with my English? I am sure I am one of many people who often times write "their" when what they really mean is "they're". And it happens with other similar sounding words. It's no fault of the education system, it's just that my brain wants to communicate faster than the rest of me. My girlfriend made me aware of this fact when she pointed out that sometimes I stutter. I'm not self conscience about it, but rather more self aware now. It's a little frustrating when you have a lot to say with hardly the capacity to say it all with the meaning and emotion that you want to convey.

I will not become an advertising god

I recognize that there is a vast amount of talent all around me and I can see people going far here at the Circus and farther in their careers, but honestly, I'm not going to be one of them. Not that I don't want to work hard and get far in the business, but I doubt that I will become a career god. I will not be a Bernbach, Burnett, Ogilvy, Saatchi, or Chiat and that's not negative thinking folks. It's just not what I want out of this life. So many people think that their careers are their lives, but that's not how I want to live mine. I want to be a good husband first, a loving father second and an upstanding citizen third. It's may seem like idealistic 1950's crap and maybe that's why often times I feel like I've been born in the wrong century. We've gone from a society of men who carry pictures of their kids to ones that check their stock every 5 minutes. I'm making the choice to be the former.

"“Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant” - PT Barnum

"Become a shameless self promoter"

Two of the greatest men in the entertainment business knew this: PT Barnum and Harry Houdini. The quote also goes well in hand with "The greatest power on earth is that of gossip."

Applying these two quotes to my life, I'm doing a social experiment, using myself as the guinea pig. Though a combination of actions and stories (all real, but all decidedly chosen), I am seeing if I can create a mostly positive, almost mystical, reputation. The reason for this documentation is to show that a reputation can be custom built.

Ground work
1. Work hard
2. Rarely party
3. Keep mostly quiet
4. Being helpful both in general and with technical work

Intermediate
1. Personal stories
a. Suspension from school for a weapon
b. Almost getting sent to juvie for computer hacking
c. Personal injuries ranging from the chivalrous to the inquisitive
2. Eventually creating a unique style of dress (probably won't happen before I leave the circus, but the groundwork will hopefully be put in)

Advanced
1. Falling asleep in the trunk space of a suburban driven by a New York Marine in full "let's go" fashion
2. Reading alot (particularly reading the graphic novel Watchmen in two days)

Note the ground work wouldn't change as that is who I really am, but those are listed there to show what sets me apart initially. The rest of my actions are handpicked with the social experiment in mind.

Speak when spoken to

I am not sure if this is noticeable to my fellow creatives, but rarely do I offer critiques in front of the class. Reasons for this are: 1. It takes me a while to convey my precise thoughts and 2. By the time I have formulated what I've wanted to say, it's most likely been pieced together by the class and the presenter. Granted, there have been times where I have not agreed with what has been said in class, by either the class or the professor, but I do recognize that this is a subjective field and that I am still rather inexperienced at knowing what a good ad is.

I believe that it was at the end of my 3rd quarter here at the Circus that Bob Morrison told me that I had a combative spirit and that I should give way to at least hear what has to be said and then take it for what it's worth. I wonder if I haven't taken it too far and become a door mat of ideas, taking sh*t, but not really giving any of it out.

If anyone wants my honest opinion, I'll be around.

"A slap in the face is better in the long run than a pat on the back" - Whatever You Think, Think Opposite

Baddies 2007-Present

Ah, the Baddies. For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, it's the after party to the Creative Circus' student show held at Famous Pub. It's not officially associated with the school, so don't and call the accreditation committee. It's just a student tradition.

But for all the glory of the ads, basked in beer and comradery, I doubt I will ever experience it. Part by choice, the rest in fear. Though I haven't been diagnosed, I am 99% sure that I am an agoraphobic. Not so severe that I can't leave my house, but enough to the point where I hardly go to new places. And it's not new places alone, but places with alot of people in a small space. I guess it's a combination of agoraphobic and claustrophobia. And for someone who doesn't drink and doesn't party, the Baddies isn't a place for me unless I'm going to be a designated driver (for your information, I can't drive stick, so those people are out of luck) and/or a wallflower.

Come find me if you want someone to talk to, who'll actually listen, or if you want to have a friendly discussion or debate.

"Listening is becoming quite a lost art form"

I bow before good food ads (Good applying to the ads)

I really have to applaud people who can sell food products. And not just any food products, but more in the junk food vain. This appreciation comes from working on Nutella this quarter.

Angelle and myself love the product and have experienced the nuances of velvety chocolate-hazelnut spread. But trying to sell the product to the "caveman" was an absolute pain. "Boil it down, boil it. Simplify." That has been the message of the quarter and especially for Cohen. I appreciate this because I know that my college essay bullsh*ting doesn't speaking to the masses, but it an absolute pain for food. The basic benefit of food is that is tastes good and fills your stomach.

I will say that my favorite food ads have been 5 gum and Skittles. 5 because of their ability to convey the sensation of the gum in a fun and imaginative way. Skittles because of the absolute absurdity of the ads. My favorite being the "Touch of Skittles", where the guy can't touch anything without it turning into Skittles.

On the flip side, the ones I hate are Burger King's "King" mascot and Starburst's "Berries and cream lad". I know I'm going to get flack for this, but everyone is entitled to an opinion in a subjective industry.

The BK King scares the sh*t out of me. Why? Because the face can't show any other emotion than a plastic smile. Comparing BK to their competitor, McDonalds, at least Ronald can show emotion. BK seems like a me-too mascot that isn't really needed, unless he's gear towards the kids, in which case I'm not the target audience and therefore "I don't get it".

Maybe the same holds true for the "Berries and Cream lad", but I just can help but wonder why you would make someone make dress up like that and make them sing an idiotic song. Going through the song/verse once was fine, but repeating it with more gusto just made it more grating and sad to me.