ITIAPTWC Episode 22 – Josh Weltman
Maybe you know who Josh Weltman is; maybe you don’t. But I’ll bet you all the money in my pocket ($67.75) that you’ve enjoyed, possibly even loved, his work.
He was the advertising consultant on Mad Men.
So he wrote ALL the ads – Don’s, Peggy’s, Sal’s… The work from competing agencies. Then he consulted on all the agency stuff to make it all as authentic as possible.
And that was obviously a big part in it becoming one of the greatest TV series of all time.
He started drawing cartoons for the LA Weekly, where his colleagues were Matt Groening and David Lynch.
Then he had a splendid career in advertising in LA and San Francisco.
Then he joined Mad Men.
So here’s what we discussed…
“When you decide to shake your career up that’s the last decision you get to make. After that you’re reacting.”
How Matthew Weiner asked him to join Mad Men.
Michelangelo.
The difference between advising on an advertising show and advising on a cop/medical show.
The difference between a creative department and a writers room.
Writing ads from the minds of different people.
Writing ads that sounded like ‘fuck you’.
Writing ads for a fictional so-so creative agency.
What was behind this scene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5LABKf4PQo
“We’re not going to make history, make art or make a revolution. We’re just going to make a living.”
The secret code of a good partnership.
Fuck advertising awards – what’s it like making something as great as Mad men?
Difficult episode 9.
Men who invent their own identity (why Don is like Trump).
It’s good to be part of anything that succeeds.
Josh’s book (here’s a link to that on Josh’s site).
Here’s an article comparing Don Draper’s ads to the real ads of the time.
So here’s the chat, the iTunes link and the Soundcloud link.
Yes. Odd. Josh is aware.