Retrospectively Britton

The Griffins are like a family to me.   They welcomed me into their home and allowed me to drink their coffee, annoy their art directors and tag along with their copywriter like I was a lost puppy.  They didn’t even act annoyed when would suggest outlandish things, like a life-size cheetah replica, or demanded that everyone speak pig latin on Wednesdays.

It has to be at least three times this big.

Okay, so those things never really happened.  But, the people at Grady Britton were some of the more entertaining and kind souls I have met in a while.   GB really let me go with projects and write whatever I felt and included me on many brainstorming sessions.  It was really inspiring to see people doing the same things that I do….but better.
Observations:

1)    Never, ever feel like your idea isn’t good enough.

2)    “Gumballing” is where you let ideas drop out of your brain and directly out of your mouth (Thanks Julie)

3)    Don’t eat the entirety of your thai food on your lunch.

4)    M & Ms make any meeting seem livelier.

5)    I never had to get coffee for somebody (not even once!)

6)    When pitching clients, remember to talk about how awesome they are.

7)    Im uh bayd spelur. (Why don’t they make an Idiot’s guide to not making an ass out of yourself by misspelling words when you’re a copywriter.  Damn you spell check and learning foreign languages!)

8)    Great work does not come easy.

And so, Griffins, this is my thank you.  My sad farewell.  You may never be the same without me.  I offered cheeky banter, mediocre writing and endless questions for people who know more than I do.  What are you going to do with all your fee time now that I’m gone?  Alas, now I have to go be awkward somewhere else.  Thanks for your support, your encouragement and blowing my brain apart with your crazy ideas.

“]

cred: [phill h

Go Griffs.

PAF: CoLaboratory

I guess you can say I am excited ecstatic. The intense application and the rush to print my work at the last minute was worth it. I was accepted today for the Portland Advertising Federation’s CoLaboratory internship. I thought the work I put forth was thoughtful and maybe just a little awesome, and for some crazy reason…they agreed. I will be working as a copywriter at 3 different Portland agencies all while working on my pitch to the “mystery client”. If this sounds ambiguous to you, you are not mistaken. The details will work themselves out, as they usually do.

This is a great chance. A chance to see what the magic little element that takes rough, tired ideas and makes them new…hip even. I’m sure it will be different for every agency. Some may have giant foam bats and trampolines (or something similar) and others will probably be a bit more straight laced. Nothing matters but what comes out of the other end of the magic black box of the agency. Which black box furniture and culture is the most effective at producing unexpected and effective client solutions. Of course we can’t forget that the ideas coming out have to be brilliant and “get-behind-able”. I mean, when I get done with work, and I see my non-advertising friends, I have to be able to tell them what I did that day without having to feel embarrassed or like a politician.

In other words: No “Head-On” spots…no matter what they pay me. (Which isn’t much right now)

The Next Level

Ah, my friends at 72andSunny have produced another gem. This is my opinion, but I think it is brilliant. The idea is beautifully executed. I guess when Guy Ritchie is not having breakfast in bed with Madonna or otherwise making me jealous, he is busy directing beautiful spots for Nike.

The spot follows a young football player through his carreer. (Football=soccer for us yanks) The general theme of the narrative is perseverance and dedication. Nothing new, but Nike really gets you to imagine that it is you in those boots, kicking game winning PK’s. I think this aligns with Nike’s brand quite nicely. Nike has been having a hard time displacing Puma and Adidas as the premiere brands for football apparel and equipment. This won’t magically change this situation, but it is a positive step in the right direction.

The first person perspective give the whole piece a certain urgency and intensity that cannot be ignored. The first time I saw the piece (which I haven’t seen on TV yet) I was entranced by the visuals. The images of the player vomiting and losing teeth are especially jarring. However, these images just seem to work with this gritty, dirty filming style.

Where this ad really hits the mark is how it depicts the life of a football superstar. Throughout the game-sequences, there is not a focus on the audience, only on the other players and field personnel. I get the sense of actually being on the field, as is if maybe…for just a second…I had made it. I wasn’t the lanky keeper that was never going to be tall enough. This piece connects with my mental space because of my predisposition to football. I see what could have been, and this is where it is genius. This ad is for every guy like me, who had their little pipe dream when they were young. Nike may not yet be synonymous with football, but the next time I have a PK with the game on the line (which is oh so uncommon), that commercial will snap into my consciousness.

This ad doesn’t look like an ad and doesn’t feel like an ad. That is where brands must be willing to go. The only logos were on the equipment and at the very end. There was no explicit product or benefit depicted. All of the benefits were implicit, and Nike treated their audience like they were intelligent. Everyone hates being sold at. Bravo 72andSunny for making me entertained, and maybe a bit inspired.