Sorry again for the long break between posts. It's been a busy couple of weeks but there are many posts in the works.
As far as I'm concerned this video is perfect, all jokes in the headline aside. It's a collaborative effort between the 4A's and VCU Brandcenter to get more diversity into advertising. The interviews, the music, the insight and the filming techniques are exactly what I would have used if I was making a film enticing people to get into advertising. The entire film kept me captive, and I loved it.
And the movie does a very good job of stressing a very important fact; advertising needs diversity. Both diversity in the classic sense, the majority of what is discussed in the video, and diversity of ideas. I'm going to write about the latter point because I feel the former does not need expanding upon if you watched the film. (which I'm quite sure you have.)Be interesting. That piece of advice has been told to me by almost every person in the industry I have talked to or read. The way that you do it may vary but creating great work is only part of the story behind why people should hire you.Just going through the motions and getting your degree is not enough. If that's scary that's fine because a little fear never hurt anyone. Just know that a piece of paper from wherever comes second or even third to what you produce and who you are.Erik Proulx, current filmmaker/ activist and former copywriter, wrote something along these lines last year. His advice to student seeking jobs, or I guess anyone seeking a job, was "Don't be the person looking for a job. Be the person out there doing something interesting." There are tons of crazy talented people out there looking for a job but what have you done that makes you interesting? Maybe it's something obscure like moonlighting as an EMT while you study or you took a crazy semester off and couch surfed. Whatever it was there is something that makes you interesting, something that makes you diverse. And that is what you should be showing off. Because at the end of the day you're getting hired based on your story and ability to tell it. So let it be interesting.(Also Erik is doing a cool thing to fund his new movie by having people sponsor it at a dollar a frame. Consider giving and starting a successful career as a film producer. Hit this link for deets.)