March 2013
3 posts
2 tags
A motherbooking great spot.
Before you read on, watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LusjsQGkKWA
I actually first saw this commersh at the movie theater, laughed my booking butt off, and took some notes to look up the credits later. I just looked it up. Wieden + Kennedy. Go figure. Those booking bastards.
I booking love this spot. It’s straight-up booking genius. The script...
2 tags
Truth in advertising.
Looks like crocs’ copywriter could use a little help.
Here are my rewrites:
Ugly as hell — with the crocs terrible color combinations that give kids headaches.
Weirder, nerdier, more fashion faux pas.
So hideous, they make you blow chunks.
Crap material, with appalling design girls hate!
If you’re gonna recycle your headline, no – never recycle your...
2 tags
Turning a new (orange) leaf.
In the summer of 2011, I created “The Good Part of New York Mornings” with my former art director partner, Manuel Aleman. Tropicana is all about making mornings better. We were charged with establishing Tropicana as New York’s orange juice. The problem was a bunch of other orange juice brands were attempting to make inroads with New Yorkers, so we decided to do something that really...
November 2012
2 posts
3 tags
An Essay On Radio Ads You Just Can’t Ignore.
Yesterday I shared a cab with a young couple who was heading to Crown Heights, just a few blocks from where I was going.
I hopped shotgun. They took the backseat.
We made some small talk, but mostly they spoke amongst themselves. Our cabbie had the radio on. When the songs ended this commercial began.
Everyone in the car laughed, and as the commercial played on, the dude in the backseat said,...
What Just Happened?
Open on Shloimy reviewing the script he’s just written in a coffee shop in Brooklyn. He reads aloud. A couple in their 60s approach him.
MAN: Is it alright if we have a seat here? SHLOIMY: Yes, of course. MAN: Did this place get hit bad by Sandy? SHLOIMY: Not sure. My first time in this area. MAN: Where you from? SHLOIMY: Crown Heights. But my brother lost two cars in Far Rockaway. MAN:...
October 2012
2 posts
An Apple Product You've Probably Never Thought...
Around the world, people young and old know how sleek and sexy Apple’s products are. They know about their great user-experience design – they even talk about Apple’s great advertising. But no one ever specifically calls out their writing. Which is precisely the point I’d like to shed some light on.
From the very first time I visited apple.com, I’ve appreciated their...
Facebook: The Things That Connect Us
On Thursday, Faceboook announced that it had reached its billion-user milestone.
To celebrate, and to remind people of what they’re all about, they launched this poetic film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7SjvLceXgU
It was written by a girl by the name of Erin Swanson.
She works at Weiden+Kennedy in Portland, Ore. Facebook’s agency of record (go figure).
I specifically appreciate...
September 2012
2 posts
Writing a great headline takes sweat.
Sometime around 1902, our pal Thomas Edison coined the expression “Genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration.” To be fair, it’s reported others had said similar things before 1902. Take that, Edison. Is your light bulb still on? It’s true though. The Comte de Buffon (also known as George-Louis Leclerc) was attributed with saying “Genius is only a greater aptitude for...
Great Writing
Agency: Earle Palmer Brown Bethesda
I’d love to know who wrote this line. If they were still around, I’d fly to wherever to take them for lunch and pick their brain. Why? Because, this is a simply brilliant way to handle such an assignment.
The client, a local flower company I presume, probably came to the agency and said:
“Well Jim, we’re not like them other floral shops....
July 2012
1 post
Mr. Sucky Ad
Took the Long Island Railroad to the city this morning. This little gem was on the train. The art direction was the first thing that caught my eye. Good work, art director. You did your job. The use of alternating with “Spoleto” and an all caps sans serif is nothing novel, but the type was arranged nicely, the opacity taken down slightly over a calming image. So good job art director....
May 2012
1 post
March 2012
1 post
Why’s this Shloimy guy so gosh-darn passionate...
Being a writer is part of my intrinsic identity. Someday, I’d like to write a book. But until then, my job as an advertising writer affords me the opportunity to create on a daily basis and making a living at it. Sure, advertising isn’t the highest level of creativity. Heck, it’s far from it.
This business is filled with ongoing disappointments. Like pouring your heart and soul into an idea that...
December 2011
1 post
A brave shave.
Community is supposed to be about like-minded people coming together for the greater and individual good. It’s supposed to be about not being alone. But sometimes in communities where people see your beard - or lack thereof - before they see your character, you can be judged for the wrong things, and feel very alone. The fact is, the Lubavitcher Rebbe had a very strong stance on beards, but would...
November 2011
1 post
October 2011
3 posts
We’ll miss you, Steve.
Barack Obama said “There may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.”
Well said, Mr. President.
I went to Apple.com last night and saw the tribute. I also watched as people on Twitter and Facebook put a lowercase “i” in front of their tweets and statuses. But the gravity of Steve’s passing didn’t really sink in...
Jumping for ___.
Really? It does? Well are you going to show me what that joy is or just tell me and expect me to believe you? Honestly now, you say “Joy finally has meaning” but it looks more like “Art director finally has something to do in Photoshop.” I can just imagine how this went down.
Art director: Our deadline’s in a day, bro. Think of something! Copywriter: Ucchhh. Art...
August 2011
1 post
Humbled by NYOJ.
I can still remember the feeling in my stomach when my interning peers, some senior creatives and I sat down with the account people to get briefed on the Tropicana assignment. We knew it would be big. “Station Domination” is just as huge as it sounds. Literally turning Grand Central and Penn Station into an advertising gallery, open to the public. The assignment was simple enough,...
July 2011
2 posts
I don't work for my new boss
I mean it, I really don’t. And it’s not because I don’t like working for him. It’s more that he hasn’t hired me yet. Or met me, for that matter. His name is Forrest Healy and even though he’s not on Facebook (if you are, please friend me), he’s on the other sites I spend lots of time on. Ad sites, of course. Then I kicked my shoes off and got comfy on his...
May 2011
1 post
April 2011
2 posts
"Create and make stuff"
Today, Mike Perry came to DDB° and spoke to us about his art, process and how he has this “need to create and make stuff.” He brought in some of his printed works and showed us an animated spot he did for Kate Spade. I was so inspired by Mike. Dude has passion and talent. He said he welcomes visitors to his workspace in Brooklyn. I plan to reach out and take him up on his invite.
...
Making your argument powerful
DDB Seattle
The creative director on this is named Eric Gutierrez. A few years back, when I was still living in Seattle, he agreed to meet with me so I could pick his brain. The thing about Eric is he’s not just a brilliant (and awarded) problem solver, he’s also also a tremendously nice guy. I won’t say why I like this work so much. I think it speaks for itself and will leave...
