Wisdom from Victore

James Victore, designer extraordinaire and instructor at the School of Visual Arts has said it all in his email today.

Fock Henry Furd

You are more than your job. You're more than the things you own.  You are good at more than one thing.  You contain multitudes.  And you are not replaceable.  

Lesson to you guys and gals in the game of advertising: Don't get pigeon-holed.  Don't feel like the job you're in is what you are.  Don't feel that it's too late to change the game plan and get yourself closer to where you want to be.  

And once you get there, don't get pegged as just a digital person or just a social person or just a print person or just a TV person (you get the point).  Be a thinker.  An idea person.    

You are bigger than the job.  

Why is this night different from all other nights?

Because tonight is the opening of the SVA Senior Portfolio show at the Art Director's Club.  See you there.  

106 West 29th Street
(between 6th and 7th Aves.)

5:00-8:00

Correction: Shout Out

Sucks being wrong.  But you have to own up.  It's the only way.

In my last post, I stated that Rick Cohen was a junior copywriter at Havas.  Bad Matt.  Bad!

RICK COHEN IS 
AN ART DIRECTOR
AT HAVAS.  

I can go on about how Rick's conceptual abilities are what's often associated with copywriters (and this is simply not cool, having been an AD myself for the last 15 years).  Or that I tend to see many more writers in my class from semester to semester.  

Either way you cut it, I was wrong.  And Rick Cohen is awesome.  And an awesome AD at that.

BTW, Rick, focus on your writing too.  It will only make you awesomer.

Shout Out

Hey y'all!

The new semester is well underway and I've got a lively bunch.  Talented too.  Thank you all for signing up ready to rock.  Psyched on you guys.

Hopefully we'll have some new work to share soon.  Within the first few weeks, I've seen some awesome ideas and people are starting to comp their work.  Talk about dedication.

I have some awesome news to share on former CTW students who are making waves.

First up, Afshin Hatami. Wickedly funny and amazingly talented, Afshin has landed a junior copywriter gig at Ogilvy.

Uber copywriter Mike Lin has just finished an internship with CP+B out in Boulder.  Now that he's back in New York, he's ready to rock.  A writer with a great visual sense is priceless.  Scoop this dude up while you can.

And last, but certainly not least, Rick Cohen is EXPLODING.  Dude took it to the next level and completed Creative Circus' ad program out in Atlanta.  Shortly after his return to New York last fall, he landed at DDB's LaunchPad.  Now he's moved on to Havas as a junior copywriter. and is doing some killer work.

If any of you former CTWers have some news, send it my way.  

Until next time.

September 19th

First day
of the 2012
Fall semester.
Let's rock.

Getting it Done: Shooting Rosetta Stone

In an effort to get off my ass and make this site a little more educational, I thought it would be good to have a little breakdown of producing the ad in the last posting.  Without further adieu...

1. You have to have an amazing idea. Pete Harmelin had an amazing idea. If you don't, honestly, you're wasting your time. Spend it coming up with amazing ideas.

2: It helps to have friends who are talented people too. Photographer Seth Olenick took time out of his busy schedule to help Pete get this ad done. Not only is the dude generous and talented, he's a pleasure to work with.

It also helps to have another talented photographer on hand to set up lighting, fix wardrobe and add an awesome collaborative vibe to the whole set. Hats off to Jessica Leibowitz.

An image is nothing without its subjects. Dave Rotholz committed his time to play the lucky photo journalist. Gumship's own David Rek Lee even braved a brutal hangover to bake in a North Korean soldier's uniform. His wicked sense of humor also came in handy.

left to right: Leibowitz, Olenick, Lee, Rotholz

3. Get your shit together. Pete worked tirelessly to find wardrobe, props, location and talent for this ad to become a reality. He shopped online and off. He looked for the best prices. And when things were crazy expensive, Pete used that big brain of his and rented. The location? Pete's backyard. 

If you want to see your work come to life, you have to put in the time and effort and have some ingenuity.

Harmelin himself

4. Make sure every one is taken care of. When someone dedicates their time and their talents to your passion, thank them. Pete showed his appreciation with a beer fueled barbecue. 

It's also a good idea to return the favor to your buddies when you get the chance. It's how you build and maintain a strong network.

French's® yellow mustard is the shit

Talk your way out of anything.

It must be frightening to be in a jam in a foreign country. Especially when you can't talk your way out of it. However, writer Pete Harmelin has turned the tables in this brilliant ad for Rosetta Stone. 

Writer: Pete Harmelin / Photographer: Seth Olenick / Assistant Photographer: Jessica Leibowitz / Talent: (l to r) David Rek Lee, Dave Rotholz