There's Hope

Someone sent it to me- thought I'd pass it along.

2008-10-14T12:10:00.001-07:00

Flashbacks anyone?

2008-06-13T08:34:00.001-07:00

I think that the Monkey who filmed this was drunk- or at least drinking a good bit. The quality isn't very good- and by that I mean that the camera flashes out of focus- for well, a while. It's odd the things we trip across when we least expect them. I thought I was opening a file full of stuff from Donna's media class- and there it was, just staring at me- begging to be shared with the world.

It has been a year

2008-06-07T03:54:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll. It has been a while since we all got together, let's plan for some kinda a reunion this summer. Any suggestions for the place?

Sixty

2008-06-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

Just flipped through the new Sixty. You should too. Now.

I really enjoyed reading it. There's something about bright colors and "I'm cooler than you so I'm going to make this font one size too small and laterally inverted" copy that brings me back to the day.

Oh well... back to reading the input doc I just received. At least, just like Sixty, it has "one size too small" fonts.

Oh and bullet points. They love bullet points.

And charts.

ROI?

One of Martinenza's Special Talents

2008-05-19T14:17:00.000-07:00

As long as we're reminiscing....

Here’s a little diddy
About Zack and Diane
Two ‘Merican Kids
Oh, how this show began…

PBS and green screens
A body bag or two
A room full of planners
And Don Just’s debut

Sure, Episode One
Was not without trial
But to stay close to schedule
Was to cramp temple’s style

So into the wee
morning hours we’d shoot
Then it was off to the chapel
For a confederate salute

Which brings me quite nicely
To Lesson: The First
The War of Northern Aggression
Would leave all Yankees Cursed.

So thank you Meranne
For making that a reality
Just don’t wonder why Shannon
Had such loose morality

Onto Episode Two
Cancelled Orders - it’s name
The Episode that would bring
Tai Jung Lee instant fame

So, a Kung Fu death soldier
And Johnnie Liew dressed in drag
Everyone thought from the start
We’ve got this in the bag

But then shooting began
With Dave Kuch calling cuts
Which inevitably led to
Bad things for Cliff’s nuts

Which brings me quite nicely
To Hope lesson two:
A kuch kick to the nuts
Has been long overdue

And it was off to the beach
Our most ambitious endeavor
Which turned out to be
The most senseless trip ever

We road tripped to Cliff’s House
Overlooking the Sound
For what turned out to be
An exciting third round

Matt Mullen spooned Aaron
But that didn’t last
He jumped out of bed
And called Tarra real fast.

Then Olga showed up
Having just seen a site
Her bottlenosed friend
Had just lost the good fight

What a poor little dolphin
She said as she sat
We’re just glad that it wasn’t
A poor sweet kitty cat

And who could forget
Kat’s famous white Russians
Well it seems that I did
Along with that nights’ discussions

It was real late to bed
And real early to rise
Which didn’t suit Alice
Wiping tears from her eyes

She just wanted to sleep
with Meranne for a bit
Who said “On the floor!”
and was NOT having it

The best part was when
Tim said “Hey, no drinking.”
Which left some to ponder
What the hell were you thinking?

Dalynn and Elizabeth
Headed back to school Friday
Perhaps those two found
Our close quarters untidy

Which brings me quite nicely
To Hope Lesson Three
A small house stinks up fast
You have My guarantee

But before we rolled out
We shot episode 4
A concept the writers
Had failed to explore

We caught Manoj’s true feelings
About his distaste for Oli
While Cliff ranted and raved
About Dave’s stupid dolly

Mansi - through tears - cried
I can’t take anymore
She wanted her India
Where she’d lived once before

But when shooting was through
Ayasha and Kristen were thrilled
Their wish for a one-cut
episode was fulfilled

Classmates trickled out
Once the job had been done
But that’s when we started
to have all the fun

George made the mistake of
Leaving his treasure
A priceless mistake
That gave all of us pleasure

Oh George, why’d you leave me
The sad French press sighed
And before long it sought you
On websites worldwide

Though we wouldn’t dare keep you
From your pretentious press
It wouldn’t come easily
Nor without some distress

As I reach the dear end
of this light hearted story
I hope that you realize
we’ve written a story

A tale that goes down
in school history
The greatest project
that this ad school may see

But how could I end
Without Hope Lesson Four
My most profound conclusion
I can’t hide anymore

It’s probably something
I don’t need to say
But we all saw that kiss
And yeah, Aaron? He’s gay.

It's our Anniversary

2008-05-19T14:15:00.001-07:00

Apple Desktop Again and Again

2008-05-16T11:42:00.001-07:00

2008-03-23T20:05:00.000-07:00

shall we post? do we post? would it hurt to post? sometimes it feels that way. i never blog anymore but there is something in me that longs to post...more. let's post, please. i think i need it. we are 8 weeks away from our year anniversary. the moment we all left. unreal but beautiful. let us post to remain friends. :)

The Definition of Douchebag

2008-02-04T12:12:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Don't know if anyone still checks back here, but thought I'd post a link to Bob Garfield's analysis of last night's Super Bowl ads.

I've never seen such a smarmy, self-righteous analysis in my life. He's like the focus group participant from hell, someone so convinced of his own superiority and intelligence that he fails to realize that he's not actually doing his job or contributing anything resembling an idea. He doesn't so much critique the ads as critique the idea of advertising. It's disgraceful that this guy even has a job doing this. I know that we heard a lot from Boyko about his "Chaos Scenario" piece (which was kind of garbage as well), so I thought this might be of interest, or at least good for a judgey laugh or two.

My personal favorites from last night were Tide's "Talking Stain" and Coke's "Balloons" while my least favorites were Dell's "Let's Further Trivialize the Red Campaign" and GMC's "Let's Try To Convince People That 21 MPG Is Really Awesome and Environmentally Friendly."

Thoughts and opinions?

Adcen... I mean Brandcenter pics.

2007-12-13T23:55:00.000-08:00

Nien Liu (CS 08) has just told me that they toured the inside of the new building and he took pictures .

Just thought Y'all might wanna see the new ad, I mean brandcen.... ummmm let's just say VCU?

Happy Holidays.

December a bad month?

2007-12-05T12:25:00.000-08:00

Or is there some kind of numerical data out there that shows that blogging by and large is down in the month of December? Though one would think it'd be up because folks are frantically making online purchases and are actively participating in our consumerist society- for the holiday 'season' and then blogging about their experiences so that others might not have dreadful experiences or make crappy gift purchases. Or perhaps they are more below the boards and make recommendations about stores that rip you off being great because they were ripped off and nobody warned them- or because their in cahoots with those operating the shitty store, their ex-con brother in law- or ya know maybe something like that.

Just wondering cause the last entry was back in November.

Cheers.

Hi

2007-11-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

So, how about an update on everyone?

Say What?!!!!!!!

2007-10-25T03:33:00.000-07:00

Arnold creatives, Roger Baldacci & Lawson Clarke with their take on focus groups. Pretty interesting.

For the love of ad placement

2007-10-19T16:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we need to get a clue.

2007-10-10T12:55:00.000-07:00

"Celebrity" experience

2007-10-05T15:42:00.000-07:00

Hi friends,

I hope you're all doing well. The other day Becca was sitting in the leasing office of our apartment complex in L.A. getting a few things ironed out when in walks everyone's favorite goofy-haired pseudo-celeb, Sanjaya! He wanted to put in an application to live there. But they turned him down because his dog is too big.

Some of you will appreciate this more than others, I'm sure.

Onslaught

2007-10-01T15:09:00.000-07:00

From Evolution to Onslaught

OMG, WTF BBDO!

2007-09-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

From the New York Times:

Brooklyn has given the advertising industry prominent executives like Jerry Della Femina, Philip B. Dusenberry of BBDO, Michael I. Roth of the Interpublic Group of Companies and John D. Wren of the Omnicom Group. Now, the industry is hoping to return the favor.

At a news conference this morning at Borough Hall, representatives of the industry who included Mr. Roth joined with Marty Markowitz, the Brooklyn borough president, to announce plans for a high school in Brooklyn that would be dedicated to advertising and media studies.

The goal is for the school, if approved by the Department of Education, to open to an estimated 400 students in September 2008.

The proposal for the school was previously disclosed in articles in The Daily News. The plans are being described as the advertising industry begins today a weeklong series of events, panels and seminars in New York known as Advertising Week 2007.

High School Drama + Adcenter Drama = HOLY CRAP!!

Sure it looks good...

2007-09-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

... but I really don't think it gets you to your destination much faster in NY traffic.

Senator Chambers Sues God

2007-09-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

No joke!
Think He will show up on his court day?

Dubai Dubai Doo

2007-09-13T16:13:00.000-07:00

From Breitbart: The Burj Dubai tower is now the world's tallest free-standing structure.

Yay, Ayasha!!

MySpace TV

2007-09-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

Quarterlife is coming.

A show about a group of twentysomethings coming of age in the digital generation. And a social network about what it means to be creative, to pursue a passion, to make a difference in the world -- or just to find a place in it.

From Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, creators of "My So-Called Life," quarterlife is the first Internet series that could just as easily be a film or a television show - it's smart, funny, emotional...real.

It premieres on MySpace November 11th, and on quarterlife.com November 12th.

www.quarterlife.com

Brand Gap

2007-09-13T01:52:00.001-07:00

The Brand Gap

From: coolstuff, 6 months ago

How to bridge the distance between business strategy and design

Genius or nonsense?

2007-09-10T21:37:00.000-07:00

Theories...

2007-09-07T09:19:00.001-07:00

Our favorite North Korean friends Jenny and Mike created this for a film festival.

Is it wrong that I feel like we should be in school? I miss everyone.

ROCK OUT...

2007-09-04T21:08:00.000-07:00

I was out at Fisherman's Wharf this weekend and ran into some interesting characters. This being the greatest I've seen in some time. If a dog will wear glasses - who knows what is next. So cute! Maybe next on the roster is a GoDaddy tattoo.

Window shopping

2007-09-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

Ralph Lauren debuts 'window shopping' touch screen

Hmmm...

2007-08-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

I spyed something... thought y'all might wanna see it.

I don't think it's final but it's probably a possibility.

photo update

2007-08-05T22:28:00.000-07:00

Hey, hope everyones doin great. I've been keepin up with my photography during the past month and I created a new photoblog/website. I' ve been dying to this since a long time, and it is finally here. Keep a tab on my photographs here, I promise to update this regularly. And yea, feel free to drop a line if you like, it has a comments section too :) Bear with me as I build this from scratch, you might see a few old photographs too.

A Visual Document -

http://www.avisualdocument.com/

Cheers!

Damn-the-man

All-Bran deals with dropping a load

2007-08-02T16:59:00.000-07:00

You have to commend them for having a sense of humor.

I first thought, don't share this, but then realized the strategy was downright dirty. haha

Intel is feeling sorry

2007-08-02T12:33:00.000-07:00

In a recent out cry, Intel had this to say about the controversy over the ad I posted a couple days ago:

Intel's intent of our ad titled "Multiply Computing Performance and Maximize the Power of Your Employees" was to convey the performance capabilities of our processors through the visual metaphor of a sprinter. We have used the visual of sprinters in the past successfully.

Unfortunately, our execution did not deliver our intended message and in fact proved to be insensitive and insulting. Upon recognizing this, we attempted to pull the ad from all publications but, unfortunately, we failed on one last media placement.

We are sorry and are working hard to make sure this doesn't happen again.

Nancy Bhagat Vice President, Director of Integrated Marketing

I hope that last media placement wasn't in Vibe Magazine...

StumbleUpon

2007-08-01T21:59:00.000-07:00

Has anyone checked out StumbleUpon? It's channel surfing the net. A bit of a visual del.icio.us but not quite as organized yet. You install a toolbar into your browser and surf away....

Racist!

2007-07-30T15:10:00.000-07:00

Did you guys see this ad from Intel?

Jesus. Which agency has Intel? For their sake, I hope this was done in-house.
I mean this is just as bad as those Black vs. White Sony PSP billboards.
Remember those?

here's a link to the full size ad in case you need to explain to your creatives what NOT to do...

Mighty distasteful.

Comments?

Miss. Harley Davidson

2007-07-25T10:52:00.000-07:00

Women bikers

Jealous Computers

2007-07-25T09:10:00.001-07:00

Check out this new micro site from Nokia, www.jealouscomputers.com

As part of the launch of their new flag ship smartphone model, the N95, computers everywhere are feeling left out and as a result are lashing out at their owners. Cool concept - makes me think of that speaker- what was it...the fighting chefs, taking back cooking - what was that product? I forget.

Anyways, check out the link

They call me mellow yellow...

2007-06-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

This is my Simpsons avatar. Ha!

Create your own and do a lot of other cool but pointless stuff here.

How would you promote the Simpsons movie? Best answer gets to make out with Aaron. Trust me, it's worth it.

UPDATE: Sorry, I'm an idiot, link is fixed now.

Say Hello!

2007-06-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

oh how that title reminds me of last years' well-meaning first year introduction turned inbox invasion!

Just wanted to say hello to my favorite people:) I hope that everyone is doing well, enjoying some breathing time between now and the next great adventure - cheers to that!

I miss you all so much, but am very glad that we have this to keep tabs of each other - what a splendid idea!

Have a fantastic Sunday everyone :)

Pressure

2007-06-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

I love this commercial. The song says/does it all.

Read this book

2007-06-20T05:41:00.001-07:00

It's called Then We Came To The End by Joshua Ferris.

It's about an advertising agency, but it's not about advertising. It's about the relationships we form with the people we spend the majority of our day with. It's also about uselessness, sex, money, storytelling, redemption, cancer, adolescence, haircuts, homeless people, Chicago, charity, and totem poles. And a lot of other stuff too.

The author does some really interesting things with the way he narrates the book. The narrative voice is first person plural, so it's always "We did this" and "We think that." It creates this sense that the people in this office don't exist as individuals in the same way they do outside the office, and they like it that way. There's comfort in it.

If you read this book, you'll be able to see me in it. And Wigganga, and Aquino, and Red Fury, and Georgie, and DG, and Weeness, and Mansi, and Ayasha, and Olga, and Z, and Hollywood, and Kat, and Kristin, and Ollie, and Temple, and Mullen, and Steven, and Jonnie, and Tai, and Kuch, and Dalynn, and Alice, and Elizabeth, and Manoj, and Courtney. Oh, and Claudio and Erin Swarbrick too.

As much criticism as there is in this book about the way we live our lives in our offices, there is also a whole lot of humanity, wit, and grace in this book. The author doesn't allow it to become a one-dimensional portrait at any point, which would have been a very easy thing to do.

It's a great summer read, wherever you are. Hope everyone's doing great.

North Cakalacky...

2007-06-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

I strongly recommend playing miniature golf at your earliest convenience. Also, please disregard all signs that ask you not to ride the dinosaurs, pirate ships, giant alligators or other large figures that the course offers. There really isn't anything funnier or more fulfilling than a 25 year-old man riding a triceratop after a 10 year-old kid gets lectured by his mother for not obeying the rules.

Hope everyone is having fun.

Fast Company Article

2007-06-18T19:59:00.000-07:00

Hello! I hope this post finds everyone doing well. If you haven't already read this months Fast Company, you may want to grab a copy. There is an article about The Martin Agency, and our very own Katherine Wintsch is captured with the Wal-Mart team. If you can't pick up the magazine to see the pics, you can read the article here. Clan of the Caveman

Cleveland-Kwitchen

2007-06-11T06:59:00.000-07:00

Our little Elizabeth got married this weekend.
Cutting the cake.

View from the outdoor reception.

Gettin' jiggy with it...

Detroit says hi

2007-06-05T22:57:00.000-07:00

So far, I have eaten in 4 different Indian restaurants, 2 mediterranian restaurants, watched six movies, driven a couple hundred miles and been here since six days.

Detroit still doesn't feel like home.

Miss Richmond and all you guys a lot.

I start work this 18th.

How's everyone else doing?

D5: Gates & Jobs

2007-06-03T21:46:00.000-07:00

Bill Gates and Steve Jobs interviewed together at the all things digital conference by Wall Street Journal columnists Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg. Really interesting.

You can download the podcast"Steve Jobs and Bill Gates at D5 conference"

2007-05-31T16:06:00.000-07:00

Scientists,

Today, in the most sincere way possible, I speak for all the hides of real cows, which have been mounted on paper mache bodies of robotic cows:
keep it real, assholes.
Moo.

Hi

2007-05-30T13:26:00.000-07:00

Awesome. I love the layout.

Hi guys. I'm in Montreal, catching up with friends and family.
I'll be over in Chicago by the 7th of June and starting on the 11th.
If you're in the neighborhood or know that you will, let me know. You're all more then welcome to stay at my place if you need to.

Best,

Olivier

Ayasha rock

2007-05-30T13:08:00.000-07:00

As always, Ayasha is a tech goddess. Blog away!

And I guess I need the obligatory Youtube clip:

You said it man...

Yes I know we are not just in advertising...

2007-05-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

... but here's an ad. It's for life insurance.

It's in Thai and there are no subtitles. It's simple enough though... just watch the damn thing you Yankee doodle.

Have a great summer y'all.

2007-05-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

Hi all. Exciting times, let's stay in touch. Post away

2007-05-29T06:46:00.000-07:00

There is always hope! Wow, I really miss everyone.