Ad Caulk

Last October I took the price of a couple day's coffee and decided to become a film producer. That film (or part of it at least) was released a few days ago. It's directed by Erik Proulx whose film Lemonade, and comments on multiple blogs, lit a fire under my ass when I was a sophomore so it felt good to give back. I also recieved 48 frames (a full two seconds of film!) from relatives last Hanukkah, an awesome gift.

The thing I like about this series, and most of Erik's work, is the optimism in it. There's a lot of things that can/do go wrong in life, but there's always an upside. If you're a fan of this then you should strongly consider picking up a few frames for yourself. They're still on sale.

Hope you enjoy it.

Danny Burstein was cast in a local production of Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along."
During his first year at Queens College.
At just 18.
In fact, he was given the lead role of Franklin Shepard.
A deeply flawed character, who everyone has an opinion about how he should be played.
Burstein, not wanting to muck up the play, decided to ask the one man whose opinion mattered most.
Stephen Sondheim.
Who was once described as, "the greatest, and perhaps best-known artist working in musical theatre."
So Burstien wrote a letter to Sondheim.
A very long letter.
Asking question after question about how best to approach the role.
The something strange happened.
Sondheim responded.
The greatest artist in musical theatre wrote back to an 18 year old in a local production.
He said to answer all of Burstein's questions he would have to write a letter the size of War and Peace.
And, being tremendously busy, Sondheim simply didn't have time for that.
Instead he gave Burstein his phone number, and told him to arrange a time to drop by.
And in two weeks later Burstein found himself sitting in Sondheim's living room.
For three hours they sat, talked and drank from a carafe of white wine.
While Burstien learned how Sondheim felt the character should be played.
But he learned more than that.
He learned the importance of giving back to those passionate about your craft.
Rewarding people with curiosity.
It's also a good story about not being scared to reach out.
Not knowing what is and isn't acceptable.
Having the guts to write a heartfelt message.
And that by showing passion, you might end up with a legend's phone number in your mailbox.
Though it would probably be electric now.
Sometimes it's better to not know better.

Hello reader(s),

Could you spare a moment and let me know who you are? I'd really love to know who's* getting something out of this thing, and know if you enjoy what you read. So leave some feedback, maybe even your name, and help make things better around here.

I'm happy with the direction that the blog is headed in. But a wee bit of critisim never hurt anything but ego.

Thanks,
Jeff

*and if you don't want to post in the comments there's a handy link to my email over on the right side of the page.

Or craftspeople, if you prefer.

No fancy tools, no fancy techniques. Working from a blueprint that was lost hundreds of years ago. It's people like this who do awe-inspiring things. Even when the path they choose to take is unwise, or unpopular.

Korehira Watanabe has worked for 40 years to try to make his dream, and it's only in the past 5 that he's gotten close. That's dedication.

There's also something to be said for the sense of tradition Master Watanabe is trying to instill through his craft. Enriching society by eschewing trends or modern technique.

Watch and learn. There's tons of lessons in here for everyone.

All of my family members opposed the idea because they didn't think I could make a living. They told me, 'don't ever come back home if you want to be a sword maker.'

(via)

This is a great old TED Talk. I may have posted this before but it's definitely worth watching again. The title and the two quotes below are few of my favorites (thought there's loads of good avice in the entire thing). Take a break today and watch this.

The goal is not just to sell to people who need what you have. The goal is to sell to people who believe what you believe.The goal is not just to hire people who need a job, it's to hire people who believe what you believe.

The goal is not to just hire people who need a job.If you hire people just because they can do a job they'll work for your money. But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they work for you with blood, sweat, and tears.

It's been a while, but Weekly Linkly back. If anything it's a nice break from Christmas music.

• 
  In case you don't have a Jewish family to spend thanksgiving with. Here's "Old Jews Telling Jokes." From the Sell! Sell! Blog.
• Good News Everyone!* "Good Ideas Win, No Matter What Form" from the Division of Labor Blog.
• You can own the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness. Or buy it for the Parks and Rec fan in your life.
• 
  Movie Magic!
• "Anyone can knock down ideas. You don't have to be clever to do that." - Dave Trott

• 
  from Canalside View.

• 
  The best commentary on SOPA. That piece of legislation that wants to break the internet.

*Bonus points if you recognize this reference to Futurama. Too bad bonus points are relatively worthless here.

Ours is an industry consumed with awards. We have show after show after show devoted to them. But there has to be something more than that. This is something I wrestle with as I work on producing something for the One Show student awards. Which makes me a bit of a hypocrite.

Pretty much like everyone else.

Although awards can be out path to fame and fortune that's not what drives me to do what I do. An award is a recognition by your peers that you have done something great creatively. But those are peers, that is mere congratulations on a job well done.

For me it's about having an impact on culture. A lofty goal, yes. But a goal that matters so much more than shelves full of metal. It's a recognition that your work is soemthing that makes a real difference. I want to have something I write, or produce get noticed. Noticed on a scale that no one can ignore it.

Sitting in a bar, or a cafe, or on a train and hearing your work mentioned as "that funny ad" or that "awesome ad" has to be the greatest accomplishment anyone can wish for. Because you've done it. You've touched people in a way that millions of messages didn't.

When you make pleasing the people your goal—not your peers, not your agency, not your client—the thinking changes fundamentally. The work becomes something that is going to resonate with people, make them buy product.

And that's the real reason we spend all day slaving to find The Idea.

So is the end goal the award? Or can it be something so much more? And who knows. Maybe when you start pleasing people the awards will start rolling in. Wouldn't that be nice?

It's often easy to forget how much we've done. To look at others for our barometers of our own success. To see the things we haven't done as opposed to what we have done. While it's important to look forward, it can be a big help to look back at what you once were. And what you've become.

My old high school friend Ben Levin posted this as a note on Facebook. It is something I think all people in creative fields should read. Some of it might not apply directly to you. But more does than doesn't. Enjoy:

I think I understand how to succeed as an artist or musician.  There seems to be only one way that works in the absence of being independently connected or wealthy.  I believe that the only way to succeed is to truly feel as if you are in the process of succeeding.  In other words, the way to succeed is to be successful.  I know that sounds like bullshit, but humor me for a minute.

Being a creative person has a cyclical quality to it.  First you want to learn, then you feel like you know something, then you realize you don’t and you want to learn again.   The same goes for the business end of a career as an artist.  First you try something, then you get attention, and then it’s not enough to last so you try something else.  I have found this cycle to be comfortable with the music part but unbearable when it comes to the business.  I am sick of it and it is making me feel weak.  There is so much excitement that leads to nothing, so many empty promises, so many people coming and going, and it really sucks (not to mention I’m just getting started.)  But you know what?  Tonight right before I wrote this, I realized something that could possibly change the game for me.  I think it will help you too.   

Try looking at your life in five-year blocks.  Whenever you are feeling discouraged about your progress in the arts or in business, think about five years at a time.  Think back to how good you were in your field five years ago and compare it to now.  Have you improved?  You are probably a lot better at some things, a little better at others, and possibly worse at a few.  Overall however, I think most people will see a distinct and objective growth between five years ago and now.  Now, look back 10 years… holy shit right?  You’ve done well my friend.  When you note the clear difference between where you were ten years ago and now, I think you will see things move in a nice subtle upward curve.  So try and guess at where you’ll be in ten years.  Just kidding, you can’t.  Ben Levin Group just formed five years ago, Bent Knee didn’t exist, and I wasn’t yet a member of Black Trip.   My best piece of music was clever at best and I hadn’t written any of the music I play now.  In terms of business, I didn’t have a website, I didn’t have a band Facebook page, no one in the east coast new any of my music, and I had never gone on tour.  Everything I have now is so distant from five years ago and it makes me feel amazing!  If five years isn’t enough, just go a little farther back to see how far you’ve come.

When I do this exercise, I feel successful.  When I feel successful, I am happier.  When I am happier, I enjoy my work more.  When I enjoy my work more, I do more of it.  When I do more, I get more results.  I know this idea is similar to what I wrote about meeting Steve Vai in a previous article.  But man, I need a reminder about this stuff sometimes.  You’ve got to stick it out and remember who you are and how much you can do in five years.  I want to have a long and extremely successful career as a performing musician.  I have big dreams and lofty goals, but I should not rate my success based on how much further I have to go.  Instead, I should focus on how far I’ve come.  Let yourself feel good about what you have.

By the way Ben made this video, and got to meet his idol Steve Vai. Pretty fucking rad.

• Check out the "Lemonade: Detroit" 17 minute short. It'll make you happy inside.
• "What No One Else Wants" from Dave Trott
• Why The Fuck You Should Choose Oberlin. (via)
• How To Last In A Tough Business Filled With Rejection by Luke Sullivan.

I have often professed my love for books here. Literature, business books, short stories, and the like. But advertising books (including annuals) hold a special place in my heart.

So it came as a great surprise when I read this post by George Tannenbaum. The place I worked this summer (post forthcoming) everyone read books. When we weren't pouring our brains out onto paper we would grab any book sitting around and read it. That's one of the reasons I loved working there so much.

But apparently this is not the norm. Most people are not reading books about advertising on a regular basis. Sad. Because there are little nuggets of truth locked into those pages just waiting to inspire people.

The book I go back to time and time again is D&AD's "The Copy Book." I think it is tremendous and, as a writer, the best resource when I'm in need of a mentor. The people who provided their insights to that book are legends. Their campaigns make me drool in a mixture of awe, excitement, and. Maybe one day I'll be able to come up with something as brilliant as that*.

So for the past few weeks it has been my mission to introduce people in my advertising classes (and friends within shouting distance) to books and annuals. And when I open those pages and let people see the awe-inspiring work I see something beautiful.

Genuine excitment.

That twinkle in someone's eyes when you have opened up their world to something wonderful. I hear people ask the same questions I asked when I first starting reading these things. I see people get that feverish look on their faces like they need more.

The awesome thing about books is that insatiable thirst for knowledge they unlock. People think, "if this is out there, what else could be out there." And all it takes is something giving enough of a fuck to introduce people to these texts. So if you haven't been reading books like The Copy Book, Bill Bernbach's Book, Ally &Gagarno, Communication Arts Annuals, One Sow Annuals, pick one up and start exploring.

And if you own one share it with someone. The Book Bug is about the only virus you can feel good about sharing.

*then again, maybe not.
(image via the fantastic Sell! Sell! Blog, which you should also be reading)