If This Is A Blog Then What's Christmas?

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).

Some cool inventions.

Best of luck with the wall, Donald (thanks, C):

Tortoise Owen Wilson (thanks, R):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=rhgg5Lx7y5U

The day hip-hop died.

250 introductions:

Guy photoshops himself into Kendall Jenner’s Instagram (thanks, A).

Amazing headstones.

Goths with chickens (thanks, T).

There are two kinds of people in this world:

Insults:

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…

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:

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:

ITIAPTWC Episode 5 – Jeff Labbe

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:

Kanye West becomes Tracy Morgan (thanks, C).

Donald Trump/Halloween message stickers (thanks, J).

Tarantino masterclasses.

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):

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:

ITIAPTWC Episode 4 – Mark Denton

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

REVOLUTIONARY piece of exercise equipment (thanks, F):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jby0I-zLj9c

A tour of the same LA streets 70 years ago and now (thanks, T).

Weather map goes crazy (thanks, G):

462 photos of communism (thanks, G).

Funny animal tumblrs (thanks, L).

Disproportionately common American names in certain professions (thanks, K).

Video game characters in traditional Japanese style (thanks, G).

Absorbing animated gifs:

Jolene is better at 33rpm: