Interview With Brian Clark of Copyblogger from Michael A. Stelzner on Vimeo.
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Sophie Lancaster Foundation.
This short animation was produced by agency Propaganda as a tribute to Sophie Lancaster, the young Goth who was brutally beaten to death by a mob in August 2007 in her selfless attempt to save her boyfriend's life. Just because she was dressed 'differently'.
Sometimes being in communication and media, we should be doing more of these kind of work. Giving voice to those who have none, to change what we can in this world, no matter how minute the effort may seem. It is after all, an effort.
Stop praying for change. Be the change.
Sometimes being in communication and media, we should be doing more of these kind of work. Giving voice to those who have none, to change what we can in this world, no matter how minute the effort may seem. It is after all, an effort.
Stop praying for change. Be the change.
Bye bye Windows, hello Google Chrome OS.
What about security? And malware? And the rampant online virus?
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Anthropology: How PSAs have changed.
Compare what we see now (if there are any PSAs (public service announcement) at all) with what was produced in the 50s.
It's really interesting to see how the film was 'composed'. The usage of animation to target children. In the event of a nuclear blast, just 'duck and cover'. It's strange. The first usage of the atomic bomb was in 1945 wiping out civilization in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The extend of its horrendous consequences must have been noted, studied and tracked for half a decade before the production of this film. Do you think by ducking and covering, the Japanese kids could have gotten away from the atrocities of an A bomb?
This is a pure example of advertising and propaganda which technique is known as card stacking. A method of presenting information that is positive (or best positive) to an idea and conveniently omitting the 'rest of the information'. According to the Institute of Propaganda Analysis which was founded in the 1930s, the best way for people to overcome such intentional propaganda is to search and secure more information - to see both sides of the story, all sides to a coin. The 'card stacking' method is less and less effective in today's age because of the advent of the internet. The influx of information, both accurate or otherwise, allows the mass to 'think and decide' for themselves and not be malleable to whatever advertising says.
If you've been advertising using this method, shame on you.
It's really interesting to see how the film was 'composed'. The usage of animation to target children. In the event of a nuclear blast, just 'duck and cover'. It's strange. The first usage of the atomic bomb was in 1945 wiping out civilization in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The extend of its horrendous consequences must have been noted, studied and tracked for half a decade before the production of this film. Do you think by ducking and covering, the Japanese kids could have gotten away from the atrocities of an A bomb?
This is a pure example of advertising and propaganda which technique is known as card stacking. A method of presenting information that is positive (or best positive) to an idea and conveniently omitting the 'rest of the information'. According to the Institute of Propaganda Analysis which was founded in the 1930s, the best way for people to overcome such intentional propaganda is to search and secure more information - to see both sides of the story, all sides to a coin. The 'card stacking' method is less and less effective in today's age because of the advent of the internet. The influx of information, both accurate or otherwise, allows the mass to 'think and decide' for themselves and not be malleable to whatever advertising says.
If you've been advertising using this method, shame on you.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Will work for Optimism.
Job recruitment for Comms Planner by Wieden+Kennedy, London:
Job Description: Communications Planner, W+K London
November 2009
Summary:
Comms planning genius required to create the best work of their life.
Background:
Wieden + Kennedy London is a creative communications agency.
In fact, our ambition is to be the most admired creative business in the world. This goes way beyond just advertising. Sure, we make ads for our clients (which include Nike, Honda, Nokia, Lurpak and The COI, amongst others), but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. We’re constantly thinking about, talking about, and making stuff for both ourselves and for our clients (both in the real and digital spaces) that challenges convention and gets people thinking, or behaving, differently.
The Planning Department (or, possibly more appropriately, the Planning Collective) at W+K London plays a central role in this. Made up of a motley bunch of people that, in a former life, have variously been digital planners, content planners, partnership experts, media planners, clients and even good old account planners, we’re all bound by a few things that, regardless of background, remain sacred: strategic nous, curiosity and passion. On top of that, as the source of inspiration for the agency, it’s vital that we’re both interesting and have a point of view.
The Role:
Communications Planning at W+K London is quite different to Communications Planning in, say, a big Media Agency. For a start, there are none of those big process flow diagrams that you traditionally see wheeled out at pitches. The ‘process’ here is far more iterative – you’ll work hand-in-hand with account teams, creatives, producers and other planners to make world-class work happen, whatever it takes. You’ll be involved from idea inception, right through to final implementation - and beyond.
Specifically, this role is to support the Planning and Creative Departments (and the Agency at large) in understanding how we take what we make and connect it with people; whether it be housewives buying butter, teenagers drinking too much alcohol, or football communities hungry for Nike’s point-of-view on Wayne Rooney’s hat-trick at the weekend.
You’ll need to be able to bring comms planning alive for the agency, and show us how media can be used creatively to give ideas an extra dimension. You’ll need to challenge and inspire the creative teams day in, day out, and encourage them to think differently about how channels can work to enhance what they’re producing.
This is a horizontal role. By that, we mean that rather than running one or two accounts, you’ll work project by project across all pieces of business in the agency, as well as the odd pitch. Part strategy, part creative, and part media, this is a high profile and vital role which sits at the very heart of what we’re striving to achieve as a company.
The Person:
Ultimately, we need someone that gets how communications planning and media works. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have worked in a media / comms agency, but for obvious reasons, that might help.
We need somebody that’s digitally fluent but not myopic. The right person will get how digital media fits into a broader communications framework and will be equally comfortable talking about ‘old’ media, too.
At the risk of this sounding too much like a formal job description, the person we hire will have to be a ‘self starter’. This isn’t because you’ll be left to sink or swim (you won’t, we promise) but there will be many occasions when you just need to get on with stuff. We work in structured chaos, and that needs to be something that you’re happy and comfortable with.
You’ll need to leave your ego at the door. We have an aphorism at W+K that gets used a lot: “The work comes first”. This comes straight from the top – it’s a founding principle of the agency and it applies across the board, from the grad Account Exec right up to Dan Wieden himself. It basically means that we need people that are willing to put our creative output above their own ego. And as such, we don’t tend to hire many ‘glory hunters’.
Similarly, and this probably goes without saying, we tend to go for people that have something a little different about them, whether it’s an interest, a skill or whatever. It doesn’t mean we’re a bunch of nutters, but it does mean that we’re constantly learning from each other and being stimulated by the people we sit next to. Which we think is a great thing.
And being funny, alongside an appreciation of Nathan Barley, will probably help too. (Although that’s not a pre-requisite).
Details:
We expect the right person to have around 4-6 years’ professional experience. But that’s not fixed – if you’re up to it, feel free to prove us wrong.
We also recognise that people don’t work for free. So if we like each other, we can chat about money and benefits later on.
Sound interesting? Drop us a note (geniusplannerhunt@wk.com) and we’ll have a chat.
***end of JD***
You think I stand a chance? I will work for optimism and I'm sure I will make a good addition to their collection of international peoples from all over the world ;) I bet they don't have a Malaysian (yet).
Job Description: Communications Planner, W+K London
November 2009
Summary:
Comms planning genius required to create the best work of their life.
Background:
Wieden + Kennedy London is a creative communications agency.
In fact, our ambition is to be the most admired creative business in the world. This goes way beyond just advertising. Sure, we make ads for our clients (which include Nike, Honda, Nokia, Lurpak and The COI, amongst others), but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. We’re constantly thinking about, talking about, and making stuff for both ourselves and for our clients (both in the real and digital spaces) that challenges convention and gets people thinking, or behaving, differently.
The Planning Department (or, possibly more appropriately, the Planning Collective) at W+K London plays a central role in this. Made up of a motley bunch of people that, in a former life, have variously been digital planners, content planners, partnership experts, media planners, clients and even good old account planners, we’re all bound by a few things that, regardless of background, remain sacred: strategic nous, curiosity and passion. On top of that, as the source of inspiration for the agency, it’s vital that we’re both interesting and have a point of view.
The Role:
Communications Planning at W+K London is quite different to Communications Planning in, say, a big Media Agency. For a start, there are none of those big process flow diagrams that you traditionally see wheeled out at pitches. The ‘process’ here is far more iterative – you’ll work hand-in-hand with account teams, creatives, producers and other planners to make world-class work happen, whatever it takes. You’ll be involved from idea inception, right through to final implementation - and beyond.
Specifically, this role is to support the Planning and Creative Departments (and the Agency at large) in understanding how we take what we make and connect it with people; whether it be housewives buying butter, teenagers drinking too much alcohol, or football communities hungry for Nike’s point-of-view on Wayne Rooney’s hat-trick at the weekend.
You’ll need to be able to bring comms planning alive for the agency, and show us how media can be used creatively to give ideas an extra dimension. You’ll need to challenge and inspire the creative teams day in, day out, and encourage them to think differently about how channels can work to enhance what they’re producing.
This is a horizontal role. By that, we mean that rather than running one or two accounts, you’ll work project by project across all pieces of business in the agency, as well as the odd pitch. Part strategy, part creative, and part media, this is a high profile and vital role which sits at the very heart of what we’re striving to achieve as a company.
The Person:
Ultimately, we need someone that gets how communications planning and media works. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have worked in a media / comms agency, but for obvious reasons, that might help.
We need somebody that’s digitally fluent but not myopic. The right person will get how digital media fits into a broader communications framework and will be equally comfortable talking about ‘old’ media, too.
At the risk of this sounding too much like a formal job description, the person we hire will have to be a ‘self starter’. This isn’t because you’ll be left to sink or swim (you won’t, we promise) but there will be many occasions when you just need to get on with stuff. We work in structured chaos, and that needs to be something that you’re happy and comfortable with.
You’ll need to leave your ego at the door. We have an aphorism at W+K that gets used a lot: “The work comes first”. This comes straight from the top – it’s a founding principle of the agency and it applies across the board, from the grad Account Exec right up to Dan Wieden himself. It basically means that we need people that are willing to put our creative output above their own ego. And as such, we don’t tend to hire many ‘glory hunters’.
Similarly, and this probably goes without saying, we tend to go for people that have something a little different about them, whether it’s an interest, a skill or whatever. It doesn’t mean we’re a bunch of nutters, but it does mean that we’re constantly learning from each other and being stimulated by the people we sit next to. Which we think is a great thing.
And being funny, alongside an appreciation of Nathan Barley, will probably help too. (Although that’s not a pre-requisite).
Details:
We expect the right person to have around 4-6 years’ professional experience. But that’s not fixed – if you’re up to it, feel free to prove us wrong.
We also recognise that people don’t work for free. So if we like each other, we can chat about money and benefits later on.
Sound interesting? Drop us a note (geniusplannerhunt@wk.com) and we’ll have a chat.
***end of JD***
You think I stand a chance? I will work for optimism and I'm sure I will make a good addition to their collection of international peoples from all over the world ;) I bet they don't have a Malaysian (yet).
Culture commoditized.
Remember we spoke about how culture can only flourish in this age when it is commoditized?
Mehndi inspired cookies.
Mehndi inspired cookies.
Anantara Spa: Time for scheduled service.
It’s been awhile since I last had my body treated and kneaded like today. I went for the ‘Revival’ spa ritual because I thought my body needs overhauling before going back to the battle field next week. And boy, was I in for a surprise.
The ‘Revival’ option consists of a floral foot ritual (which really, didn’t make much difference to me), a detoxifying green tea scrub (oh yea!), a seaweed body wrap, couple of showers in between and the so called ‘indulgent’ Swedish massage.
I reckon going to a spa is like taking your car to service when it’s scheduled to. This is to ensure your wheels are on tip top condition, especially before and after trashing it on the tracks or hard driving. So like how you would polish your car once in awhile to keep that shine, you need to exfoliate your body too since your skin is the largest organ you own which you should thank God and take good care of it. The green tea scrub was applied with a bit of pressure so it felt good. Somehow I know it’s just psychological, visualizing how the little sand beads draw out all impurities from your pores and leave you soft and shiny. Like your car minus the soft part.
Then the seaweed body wrap is something like waxing your car, something like a moisturizer because your skin gets dry after you scrubbed it squeaky clean. When my masseur applied it on me, I was like ‘YEEEEOWWWWW’ because it was hot, boy! It almost burnt off a layer of my epidermis. But after withstanding the scalding experience, they wrap you in plastic so that the heat and moisture are kept in which is supposed to be good for blood circulation. Then I dozed off for about 15 minutes before she came in and cleaned me up. I had a soothing aromatic sort of sand bag on my eyes, but I could imagine what a mess I was in.
Next comes the challenge. I asked what was ‘Swedish massage’ before I signed up and if it was painful. The lady who attended to me showed me a very gentle ‘hand chopping’ sign and assured me that it will feel very soothing. Being a serious culture vulture that I was, I thought I should be adventurous and try different massages from all over the world. So, Swedish it was. And 10 minutes into the massage ritual, I figure that was how the famous meatballs came about. It started with warm assuring strokes on the back of your legs with fairly strong pressure applied. I requested for strong pressure in case I burst out laughing because I’m generally pretty ticklish. So I reckon better hurt than tickle. It was painful but not unbearable. Then the punctuated short strokes became more intense. It’s like after warming up your engine, you tap on the accelerator to rev the car a bit and it goes vroom vroom. And then, the strokes became really forceful before turning into a light rhythmic ‘chopping’ on my thigh, which was okay. At this point, she had almost straightened every single vein in my leg. Then the chopping became pounding. Yes, my masseur pounded on me like she was tenderizing minced meat for meatballs. And then it felt more like I was sparring with a Thai boxer and obviously I was at the losing end. I’m only 47.8kg and the way she pounded on my inner thigh (which by the way had me gritting my teeth to avoid any sudden outburst), I felt flabby. And she did the same to every part of my body, leaving no bone unturned. I was tempted to tell her, in case she didn’t notice, I’m no Swedish. My frail Malaysian body cannot take such hard pounding. And I’m no meatball. But still I clenched my teeth and fists all the way through the ordeal because I knew if I could survive a few pitches in a row, back to back flights and sleepless nights, I can survive this! So well, at least now I know. THIS is Swedish massage.
But it was all good at the end, my knotted muscles seemed more relaxed (yea, wait till I wake up tomorrow). My mind as the ritual suggested, sort of ‘revived’. Unknown to my masseur, she has kneaded into me a new sense of belonging in Anantara, Krabi. Darn, I don’t want to go home… Sigh
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