FYI…
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(Thanks, D.)
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ITIAPTWC Episode 8 – Emer Stamp
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Emer Stamp…
She invented (alongside Ben Tollett) the minute-long-tear-jerker-Christmas-retail-ad genre that has spawned so many substandard pretenders.
But before that she did unspeakable things to Alan Whicker, made Millets cool and left a fine chapter in the great tome of ridiculously good Harvey Nichols advertising.
And after that she wrote a much-read and much loved series of kids books that involved a lot of farting.
She’s also a very nice person.
If you’d like to join our little chat you’ll learn all about the above, along with…
How and why Emer got into advertising in the first place.
Which Guinness ad (not Surfer) was responsible for getting her into the industry.
What it’s like waiting for a Tim Delaney review at 4am.
Why you should move when you feel like you’ve stopped learning.
The part Liz Harold (headhunter) played in her job moves.
Why she had to unpick some of the Leagas Delaney lessons.
Why the best bit of winning an award is waiting for your name to be called.
Why you should sometimes put off a great job for a year.
What to do when your star doesn’t want to appear out of a cow’s arse.
Why it’s hard to know if you’ve done an award winner.
Why getting out of your comfort zone can be the best thing for your career.
How that stupid 2008 fashion for spotting ads that were a bit like other ads made some people quite annoyed.
How John Lewis became ‘John Lewis’.
What it was like when Adam and Eve merged with DDB.
And how Emer managed the transition from CD to author.
Here’s the chat, the iTunes link and the Soundcloud link.
And here’s the work…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZAMYWDgkUg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jmw6z95qk0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSLOnR1s74o
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We’ve had no rain in several days. (Hasa Diga Eebowai) And eighty percent of us have AIDS (Hasa Diga Eebowai). Many young girls here get the weekend.
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Seven hidden meanings in works of art.
The world’s combines wealth is $241tn. What could you buy with that? (Thanks, G.)
Cool shadow artist (thanks, T):
I whistled for a cab and when it came near the license plate said ‘Fresh’ and it had dice in the mirror… (thanks, K).
Excellent high school text book doodles (thanks, G).
The best Joe Biden memes (thanks, G).
Funniest signs at Trump rallies (thanks, D).
Extreme Lego building dude:
Interview with Taxi Driver writer, Paul Schrader (thanks, T).
Best of luck with the wall, Donald (thanks, C):
Tortoise Owen Wilson (thanks, R):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=rhgg5Lx7y5U
ITIAPTWC Episode 7 – Dave Dye Part Deux
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Those of you who have listened to the Dave Dye Podcast (Episode 1) will be fully aware that we didn’t get that far into Dave’s career.
So I set up another call, fully intending to at least make it into this century.
Reader, I failed.
This podcast only covers Dave’s time at Leagas Delaney.
Fortunately that means we were able to go into detail on some of his best work, hear some fascinating stories and even analyse the merits of TV vs print, along with the following…
A very interesting first week.
The virtues of well-used stock shots.
How many briefs and minimum resources can lead to great art direction.
How to make great use of your rejected ads.
How a personal observation can lead to one of the most awarded print ads of all time.
A really interesting approach to getting an agency full of excellent original photography.
How doing lots and lots of art direction makes you better at art direction.
Why you should absorb as much as you can.
What to do when your boss is away and you’re approving your own work.
Then what to do when he comes back and isn’t 100% into the work you approved while he was away.
The vagaries of typography and the idea behind the art direction.
How referring to the Queen in the wrong way can get your agency fired from an account.
How you can write a TV ad, forget about it and have someone go away and make it, then come back and show you the finished article (that’s entirely wrong).
Why cracking the poster can be the key to a big campaign.
The differences between working on TV and working on print.
And how to track down an advertising legend for a podcast.
So here is the Soundcloud link to our chat, the iTunes link, and Dave’s most iconic Leagas ads, many of which we discuss (more info on Dave’s blog).
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It ain’t hard to tell, I excel, then prevail, the mic is contacted, I attract clientele. My mic check is life or death, breathing a sniper’s death. I exhale the yellow smoke of buddha through the weekend.
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250 introductions:
Guy photoshops himself into Kendall Jenner’s Instagram (thanks, A).
Goths with chickens (thanks, T).
There are two kinds of people in this world:
Insults:
ITIAPTWC Episode 6 – Paul Burke
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Hi there,
The other day I had the pleasure of chatting to Paul Burke, the King of Radio© who is also many other things, all of which can be found on his excellent website.
He started in despatch at AMV via an awkward chat with David Abbott.
From there he embarked on an advertising career that… Hang on, I’m pre-empting this fascinating podcast.
For the ‘King of Radio’ he’s also been very good at TV (this contains one of my favourite lines: ‘Take over for a Bough will you moment?’):
He’s also written four novels, but we’re going to chat about that in a future podcast.
Just have a listen and you’ll find out about the following:
How Despatch can be better than the Creative Department (excellent article from Paul about that time here).
The real difference between creating radio and TV.
The consequences of advertising agencies failing to reward loyalty.
The pros and cons of working with John Webster.
What Frank Budgen was like as a CD.
How boredom can help you to keep your job.
Why happiness is gratitude.
Why radio is brilliant, and still very much alive.
Why radio ads are all about characters.
How to get a really good performance from an actor.
Two weird tips for making great radio (how’s that for clickbait?).
How to cast celebs.
Whether or not creatives are better than they used to be.
How to get past writer’s block and what it can teach you about life.
Why, as David Abbott said, there’s no output without input.
Here’s the chat, the Soundcloud link and a reminder that you can subscribe on iTunes (search ‘If This Is A Blog Then What’s Christmas’). I’d also like to offer a small apology in advance for a couple of small technical hitches. It’s 98% perfect, but I’m just going to cop to the other 2% now…
I’ve never seen the inside of a bar room or listened to a jukebox all night long, but I see these are the things that bring you pleasure, so I’m gonna make some changes in the weekend.
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Film meets art (thanks, L):
Tammy Wynette slowed down sounds as good as Dolly Parton (thanks, T):
A fucking insane plane journey.
The five stages of inebriation.
Camera takes picture whenever dog’s heart rate goes up (thanks, G).
Famous album covers recreated with Star Wars characters (thanks, A).
Easy photography tips (thanks, G).
John Stewart on his twitter spat with Donald Trump (thanks, T):
Louis CK on the election:
ITIAPTWC Episode 5 – Jeff Labbe
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Hi there,
For episode five I’ve left the UK to chat to a goshdarn, rootin’ tootin’ American.
Jeff Labbe actually started as a fine artist, hay deliveryman and rodeo rider. From there he became a graphic designer and sort of fell into a job at one of the best agencies in the world, working on Nike at W&K Portland. After that he ended up doing even better work at Chiat/Day in San Francisco, joining Leo Burnett Chicago for a short spell, and finally becoming a highly-awarded director.
During our chat we discuss…
How to get a job from a guy by telling him his business cards are shit.
How Jeff became a bullrider then nearly died, but not from riding bulls.
The best way to negotiate a salary increase with Dan Wieden.
What it was like to work on Nike at W&K Portland in its prime.
Why you should sometime paper your walls with old ads, work 20-hour days and go two years without a holiday.
How your home movies can almost become a Superbowl ad.
Why being a stallion is better than being a quarter horse.
How to create a catchphrase that lasts 17 years (and counting).
How proactivity can beat briefs.
How you can still get a lot out of a job that’s not right for you.
Which Def Leppard song to dance to if you want to meet your wife.
Whether or not you should have a directing style.
The pros and cons of treatments.
How advertising has become more dynamic.
And why he’s committed to the UK.
So check out the Soundcloud link, subscribe on iTunes (If This Is A Blog Then What’s Christmas) or click on this link and enjoy:
Here’s the early footage Jeff filmed at home before taking it to Dan Weiden years later and having him suggest it as Nike’s Superbowl spot:
That first spot that became a Superbowl spot:
https://vimeopro.com/labbe/jeff-labbe/video/189206045
Chicks Dig The Long Ball:
https://vimeopro.com/labbe/jeff-labbe/video/189208294
Nike Beautiful:
Spike Jonze/Levi’s:
https://vimeopro.com/labbe/jeff-labbe/video/189211096
Levi’s Badger:
https://vimeopro.com/labbe/jeff-labbe/video/189219840
Levi’s Crazylegs:
https://vimeopro.com/labbe/jeff-labbe/video/189217922
Beware Of Things Made In October:
https://vimeopro.com/labbe/jeff-labbe/video/189239631
Another ‘Beware’:
https://vimeopro.com/labbe/jeff-labbe/video/189239402
Nintendo ‘School’s Out’:
https://vimeopro.com/labbe/jeff-labbe/video/189240789
Jeff’s Levi’s ad, which I would describe as ‘cool’:
Barnado’s Break The Cycle:
KFC Rodeo:
Oh shit, mutherf***as step to the rear and cheer ’cause Tim Dog is here. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty and talk about the weekend.
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Kanye West becomes Tracy Morgan (thanks, C).
Donald Trump/Halloween message stickers (thanks, J).
A whole bunch of goddamn amazing photos (thanks, G).
Business advice from Vanilla Ice (thanks, N).
Recreating classic reggae album sleeves (thanks, P).
The world in data (thanks, K).
Better names for animals (thanks, T).
Tom Cruise runs backwards for 30 seconds (thanks, A).
Blade Runner recreated on MS paint (thanks, G).
Make your own ambient music (thanks, G).
Sadness in film (thanks, A):
ITIAPTWC Episode 4 – Mark Denton
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This week’s podcast is a chat with my good friend, Mr Mark Denton Esq.
He’s been (or still is) an art director, creative director, designer, director, owner of an agency, owner of a design company, owner of a couple of production companies, wrestling promoter, public speaker, President of the Creative Circle and a whole bunch of other stuff.
But really, he’s a creative – in every sense of the word. He designs his clothes, his home, magazines, books, his moustache and anything else in his life. And so many incredibly talented and successful people owe him their start that his industry footprint is like that of a Giganotosaurus.
So we could only scratch the surface. But at least that meant we could cover…
Art direction vs idea.
The merits of expensive, puerile visuals.
The significance of warm reds and cold blues.
The benefits of seeing a clairvoyant.
Becoming your own personal brand.
Why most people prefer unsubtle to subtle.
Why humour is often the difference between art direction and design.
How being ‘bloody awkward’ can help and hinder your career.
Why older people should surround themselves with younger people.
What creatives want from directors.
The pros and cons of treatments.
Why it’s OK for directors to ignore your ideas (if they’re geniuses).
Why a great account person is essential.
And why now is the best of times and the worst of times.
I hope you enjoy it. We’ll probably go a little deeper in a future chat…
You can subscribe on iTunes (‘If This Is A Blog Then What’s Christmas’), listen on Soundcloud or click on this link:
Here’s some of the work we discussed, and some other great stuff, including a small plug for the privates (sic) view of his exhibition:
https://vimeo.com/123434405
