(That's Heather Locklear. A favorite. Met her. Gorgeous and short. Continue...)
Still sorting through boxes at "Teachín Ircink". Found this from my copywriting days (1995-97) at the in-house ad agency for the now defunct Parsons Technology in Hiawatha, IA (Cedar Rapids). Bob Parsons, who sold PT to Inuit (I believe) now runs GoDaddy.com (the domain name place).
This was a concept that never got used. I think I wrote it. I liked it then...still like it (though that last line is corny). Some of it actually came true (move to Hollywood, bumping elbows, getting published, short film). Did I write this?
Walt Whitman endorsing Levi's? Say it ain't so, Walt? I'm sure you've seen these ads. I won't comment on them - read this article from Slate.com.
Whether it's Michael Jordan's Nike's or Elizabeth Taylor perfume, celebrities moonlighting as Madison Avenue hawkers is as common as...well, as poop. The public's affinity for coveting products touted by a favored actor or athlete says, I think, more about people's desperation to live their lives through someone else's than it does about the celebrity making a buck.
I'm a big fan of Whitman's - my favorite poet. Being a writer and having worked as an advertising agency copywriter, I understand the creative nudge for wanting to marry Whitman's poetry with a product like Lev's - a product engrained in Americana as much as Whitman is engrained in America's literary history. But I'm also leery of making Walt a spokesperson for a product without his permission. I get the public domain thing. Still...well, you be the judge. Levi's began this campaign this past summer; the commercial above contains a snippet of "Pioneers! O Pioneers!". The commercial in the Slate.com article uses portion of Whitman's, "America". It's thought that the voiceover in the "America" spot is an actual recording of Whitman's voice.
Levi's were around when Whitman was alive. It's likely he may have even worn a pair or two.
Whatdaya know. Tiger Woods is NOT a god. 3 things we learned from Tiger's "indiscretions":
1. He's human. And perhaps athletes shouldn't be referred to as "role models".
2. How sincere were these women regarding their affections for Woods? I mean, if it were Joe Blow, would these women be airing their dirty laundry on national television?
3. Tiger may be a smart golfer. But he's a dumb guy. Given his persona and public image, to even flirt with the idea of having an affair proves he's as dumb as the rest of us.
4. The media sucks. I've stated this numerous times on my blog. It's become a mantra, of sorts. As if there were no other news to report - sports or otherwise. This'll be pummeled into our heads until Woods' popularity ratings drop to zero. Personally, a person's private life is his/her private life, regardless if you're a public figure (elected government officials are my one exception). Those who think otherwise are losers.
5. People are pathetic. If you watch TV or spend any time on the Internet, I'll admit it's hard to escape, but this entire affair reinforces how strong celebrity obsession is. Personally, I haven't paid any attention to it. 'Cause I DON'T suck. I'm too busy obsessing over Brett Favre and Mel Gibson to care.
6. Corporate America sucks. The reliance on celebrity testimonials should serve to teach Madison Avenue a lesson: pay millions to have Tiger Woods hawk Nike and Gatorade products and you pay for his baggage as well.
I found this on a FB friend's website - she's an writer, photographer - an artist who I don't know much about but am learning a bit here and a bit there. What you're about to watch in this video probably isn't a revelation to you, but it's interesting to see how it's done.
One of AA's models. Photos are right off their website. I love their advertising philosophy approach, don't you? Take a look at my previous post on AA - American Apparel, Reverse Cowgirl and Sasha Grey.
My brother emailed me a few "questionable" advertisements from the 1930's and I had to chuckle, especially as I have an advertising creative background. Though I never wrote copy encouraging teens to smoke because you'll get laid, I appreciate the task that lay before these ad men from 70+ years ago. Click on READ MORE! to see the rest.
On a related note, I've watched the first three episodes of the new TNT series, Trust Me, starring Thomas Cavanagh and Eric McCormack. I was drawn to the show because it's set at an advertising agency in Chicago (the ad agency part, not the Chicago part), much like I was drawn to Thirtysomething or Mad Men (John Hamm still doesn't know how to smoke a ciggie like a real smoker = my one beef).
The only issue I have is with Cavanagh's character. He's a fast-talking copywriter who most certainly is dripping with ADHD, and is guilt of creating a page of dialogue for a simple "yes" or "no" comment because he won't shut the fuck UP! I thought, 'maybe it's me'.
Check out these reviews from the New York Times, Hollywood Reporter, Washington Post, New York Magazine and Variety. It's not "me".
The nipple debate rears its ugly head - or nipple - yet again.
If you're not a vodka connoisseur, your tastes may change after seeing Belvedere Vodka's latest marketing campaign.
The ad below for Belvedere appeared on the front cover of a recent Hollywood Reporter and my office was in a titter (look it up). I was surprised because: 1) our firm is based in Los Angeles, California, 2) a few of those commenting on the "suggestiveness" of the ad weren't necessarily the most prudish people I've known - I wouldn't compare them to Jenna Jameson but they weren't Mother Theresa's either, and 3) those who made the comments acted like "sex sells" and subliminal/suggestive advertising were novel concepts only recently devised for use on Mad Men, AMC's 2007 television series set in the 1960's New York City advertising world.
Does the ad appear suggestive to you? Duh. For shits and giggles, check the link below for more titillating (sorry) ad examples: http://25cents.wordpress.com/2006/07/10/sex-sells-suggestive-advertising/
Meanwhile, for those of you contemplating moving to the "Great White North", all signs point to a hot job market in Saskatchewan, according to reports released Tuesday by Statistics Canada.
PS - Women's Wear Daily is reporting that “the ad is the most expensive in Belvedere history — $20 million, more than triple the cost of the 2006 campaign.”
A few months ago my friend Tatjana approached me about helping a friend of hers with this film he's shooting. Legendary producer Bob Evans was going to be featured in an ad/short movie for Oliver Peoples' eyeware. During Bob's tenure at Paramount, the studio turned out landmark films such as Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, True Grit, Love Story, Harold and Maude, Serpico, The Conversation, Save the Tiger, The Great Gatsby, Rosemary's Baby, and The Godfather. He went out to produce such film as Chinatown, Marathon Man, Black Sunday, Popeye, Urban Cowboy, The Cotton Club, The Two Jakes, Sliver, Jade, The Phantom, and The Saint.
Back to the film. So, I outlined some ideas for what I thought the film should look like and emailed them to the director and left it at that. If he took any of my suggestions - great. Mind you, there was no compensation - just the possibility of working for him again (he's a photographer and owns his own company).
Here are some of my notes:
OLIVER PEOPLES/Robert Evans commercial/film
The current Oliver Peoples web campaign features a series of vignettes with men and women at play – lifestyle, slice-of-life, artsy. No dialogue. Just music.
I believe the focus of the Robert Evans film for Oliver Peoples should parallel the above – similar to the American Express ads. No dialogue. Just Robert’s VO. Music = piano, scattered notes and chords strung together pell-mell. The VO’s have nothing to do with sunglasses. However, Robert IS wearing them. The woman’s wearing them. So, in one manner of speaking, we can ALL be like Robert – and wear the sunglasses.
The VO’s would be, in effect, Robert talking to himself – sharing with the audience his philosophies on life, reflecting, asking questions, pondering. As the VO continues, the camera catches Robert in various emotional states: reflective, contemplative, joy, doubt and exhilaration. Interspersed with the VO’s and shots of Robert are shots of the Woman. She goes about her own business, perhaps glancing Robert’s way. Remember, we’re refraining from shedding any light on their relationship. Robert ponders, looks at her and ponders some more.
The entire film is shot in color – except Robert. He’s in black & white. He remains in b&w until the very end when the woman takes her foot and splashes him with a few drops of water. The water “colorizes” Robert and he delivers his final VO. The color change represents Robert contemplative state – signifying is reflective mood – b&w, and then the splash of water signifying the here and now.
At the very end, perhaps we see Robert’s signature scroll near the bottom – as if he himself is writing it out – if, in fact, Oliver Peoples wants to call attention to who he is.
OK. So that's a snippet of what I suggested to the director. Now go to the link below and watch the film: http://oliverpeoples.com/
It's a cool ad - he did a great job with it. And, he used some of my ideas - or were they his? We'll never know.
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