A year's worth of work!

Here it is, my promo video for the Whiteshell... a year's worth of writing scripts, filming all seasons, editing, and voicing my vid has finally come to an end. Just a quick note: This YouTube version isn't my high quality web version, so if it may look pixelated on the screen, but you'll get the gist of it!

Everyone's IPP blew me away this year- if you missed the presentations at the Convention Centre, I'm sure you can check blogs and Facebook for updates and recaps!

Cheers!

The end is near

It's been a while, but I've been consumed with school and busy putting the final touches on my IPP project (Independent Professional Project) for those of you that don't know.

These last few days have just been amazing, and as I've already said during my speech, my CreComm family really is the most talented group of people I've ever met! Wednesday, and today, we all got to watch a years worth of hard work unfold.

Tomorrow is the final day, and I encourage you to come out and watch if you can- you won't be disappointed! To follow the action being Tweeted live, or to Tweet about it, use the hashtag #IPP11

I can't wait to graduate with all these fabulous people!

Cheers!

I'm lovin' it...

The new McDonald's commercial, that is.

McDonald's has done the whole nostalgia thing before, but their new commercial is memorable, cheesy flashbacks and all. The commercial caught my attention two weeks ago, and features a series of scenarios in present day, that flashback to the past. To give you an idea (if you haven't seen in yet), there's a lady with her family, and the commercial flips back to the exact same location at McDonald's, but circa 10 years ago- this time she's pregnant, and is dipping her Chicken McNugget's in her sundae to curb her cravings. In another situation there's a man bringing a big tray full of food to a group of guys huddled around a table and laughing- now flashback 15 years or so to their college days, when they're around the exact same table, wearing what looks to be varsity football jackets.

There are a few more scenarios, but you'll have to be on the lookout and let me know what you think. I tried to locate a video, but because the commercial is so new, it's nowhere to be found. A big part of what makes the commercial, is the song choice. And as all us ad majors/media prod's learn, music can make or break a commercial, video, or really anything that hopes to leave a lasting impression on an audience. The song to the McD's commercial is called "Older Brother," by Pepper Rabbit.

I really don't know that they could have picked a better, more appropriate song for this commercial. The music literally brings you back to a time where things seemed simpler. The whole message seems to suggest that although circumstances change, and a people get older, there's always the traditions, and memories. These memories are shared at McDonald's- whether it's the boy in the commercial sitting solo, reading a book, or a young boy's birthday party, years later they can still find joy in the same things, at the same place.

If only life could be that simple. Ah that's good advertising.

Although I'm not a huge fan of McDonald's food, after watching hundreds of their campaigns/commercials, I've become a huge fan of their advertising. They're a powerhouse of feel-good, strategy. I've watched a few commercials that are just okay, but for the most part they've done an amazing job at being able to appeal to all ages. I can't think of any other fast food restaurants who have the ability to make you stop thinking about food, and actually sell you real emotion. Everyone says their goal is to sell a feeling, but very few accomplish it, or are way off target. Over the years I've seen McDonald's commercials successfully target kids, teens, adults, sports teams, seniors, and anyone in between.

McDonald's has also seemed to sidestep any real confusion in terms of their advertising. What I mean is, many companies have a hard time pulling off a bunch of different tones, and appealing to such a large market, because they risk being too generic, and too all over the place. But McDonald's has done their homework, and has really been able to transition from one demographic to the next quite smoothly. They don't seem like they ever try to do too much, or run different campaigns too closely together. They run a brilliant campaign, or a series of similar commercials for a while, and drive it home. Onto the next.

There are the odd commercials you see that use nostalgia and pull at your heartstrings to try and connect with us consumers, but sometimes they come off a little flaky. I found the new McDonald's commercial heartwarming, but without trying to hard. It's a fine line, but once mastered, seems to work wonders, and spread a feeling so contagious you decide to take a trip to the drive through.

As one YouTube account user so eloquently wrote under the song: "McDonald's is damn good at making disgusting taste good."

I wouldn't go so far as to say the food is disgusting, but with commercials like these, you realize how easy it is to want to succumb to the glorious feelings that supposedly await once you reach the golden arches.

Ten day vegan challenge- Could you do it?

For our TV Documentary class, we are asked to either partner up, or do a solo documentary project that's interesting and thought provoking. Mine and Melissa Marlatt's solution, inspired by a recent Oprah show: go vegan.

We both love animals, but we've both never tried to go vegetarian, never mind vegan. I've heard a bit about the pros and cons about being a vegetarian, and about eating animals. We needed to see for ourselves, and play by strict rules so we could form this experiment. I'm sure some hilarity will ensue because we both know little about cooking vegan, and hidden animal-based fats etc. that we have to watch out for in foods. The point of this doc though, is not mainly for entertainments sake, but more for personal learning, as well as informing people who have questions about the vegan lifestyle.

Mel and I will go vegan for ten days, starting on spring break. We're really interested in this, and excited to see what comes of the doc for many reasons: a) She loves meat, I don't care that much for meat but I'm really picky and hate most vegetarian dishes. b) It'll be interesting to film something we're a part of, and after all the many interviews, and strict diets, it'll be interesting to see just how easy or hard it is to live vegan.

How will it go down?

Basically we'll start by researching how to become vegan, which includes not wearing anything like leather jackets, and UGGS (because of the sheepskin). We will film a doctor or nutritionist giving us advice on if we should expect any bodily changes, weight gain or loss, any difference in appetite, or if we'll have to take vitamins as substitutes for any lost nutrients.

We will then take the viewers right inside homes as we raid our fridges of anything containing meat, and film our last meal before becoming vegan. We'll be filming us going shopping, learning to pick out new items, and learning to embrace to shop the plant-friendly way. We will then film from day one to day ten, and document our experiences as the days go on in terms of irritability, bodily changes, moods, and anything else mentioned above. We will also document any findings or insights we have from the experience.

Besides documenting how we handle the drastic lifestyle change (even if it only is ten days), we want to cover all angles. We'll be doing 'vegan streeters,' and asking random people if they would ever consider going vegan, why or why not? We'll ask kids, adults, and seniors if they even know what vegan is? (Jay Leno style- the funnier answers, the better), and other questions that you'll have to wait to hear! We also want to look at the economical side of things, interviewing farmers and people who make their living from selling, and using livestock humanely for meals.

We're not sure at all what the outcome will be, what we'll learn, or if it will affect us at all, but we're excited to start the ten day challenge, and learn a lot about the vegan lifestyle. By the end we hope to achieve a better understanding of what this lifestyle that growing number of people have embraced, as well as asking ourselves if we can keep this lifestyle change or not.

A few people have sent us links and recipes already, but we need all the help, and recipes we can get our hands on for this to be a success. Please feel free to post any info, tips, or anything else you think would be useful. Thanks!

We realize many people are vegan, so by no means are we trying to mock or belittle their lifestyle. We are simply trying an experiment for ten days that'll hopefully give us more insight into this than we knew coming in. And who knows, a permanant change could be the result for us.

Cheers!

Golden voice, golden future? Give the guy a break.

By now everyone has heard of internet sensation Ted Williams, aka the man with the golden voice, and former homeless man. A hard battle with substance abuse and being estranged from his mother for almost a decade (except for one instance, and it was his choice) have many cheering him on in his sobriety, and in life.

There is huge controversy surrounding the 53 year old man's new found recognition and overnight fame. By controversy, I don't mean he has relapsed or anything (to anyone's knowledge)-- I mean the countless comments left on websites, and chatter about whether Williams deserves this recognition, and the countless job offers thrown at him.

I've read some comments asking how people qualified for the jobs he's being offered feel that he's given special consideration. First of all.. yes, he may have gotten media attention, which prompted him to be quickly noticed, but how is he not qualified? As we CreCommer's know, it's who ya know sometimes, more than what ya know, or what you have (a degree, diploma, etc.). As a few people have mentioned, he had some training beforehand when he had a gig in radio. His errors shouldn't have to dictate his future though. If we judged all humans by such high standards, no one would be able to rise above anything, and be successful.

Bottom line: he DOES have talent. Does he have the greatest voice in history? Probably not, but boy does he have a set of pipes on him, and to me, that qualifies him. People who complain tirelessly, seem jealous and caught up in self-entitlement. Get over it, work harder if you want to succeed. Raining on someone else's parade just looks bad, and it's unprofessional.

Honestly, when I saw the first of many news stories, and YouTube videos, I thought this was a heartwarming story (which is what they were going for I'm sure). But of course, like others, I thought yeah, he almost seems to enjoy telling his story too much. But hey, that was me being judgmental for a second, and who doesn't like talking about themselves. Give the guy a break.

For a panhandler with no place to live, no extended education, no previous religious beliefs, and a life full of addiction, he's done a pretty good job at really appreciating how his life has turned around. Maybe you don't believe in God, but that makes no difference. It's refreshing that a homeless man, once given an amazing chance, is able to to do something many of us can't: give thanks for the little gifts, and people we meet along the way.

Express your opinion for sure, but good or bad, I think Williams was in the right place at the right time, and I'm happy for the guy. So far he's tried to turn his life around, reach out to his mom, and for the first time probably feels worthy of love. You can hate, push people down, and think you deserve something over someone else, but the reality is the cliched saying "You're only hurting yourself." When you're too busy focusing on what others have and what you don't have, and what you deserve, it's a self-fulfilling prophecy, and takes up a lot of your time.

Despite hard times, and despite the fact that he gave up a functional life in '93 when he surrendered to his addiction, he didn't give up hope. Maybe he made foolish choices, but who hasn't. To me, it's inspirational, especially since he lived on the street but still treated people with respect. It's nice to see that he is grateful for all that's happened, and as he's said, he's greatful God still left something to his voice, with all the drug use.

Williams has been compared to overnight sensation, and success, Susan Boyle. For his sake, I hope he keeps his gracious attitude, and knows the difference between real friends, and people coming out of the woodwork. We've all seen what fame can do to people, and since he's probably still fragile with a past of haunting memories, regrets, what have you, let's hope he comes out on top. Whether or not he stays afloat, and stays sober, I don't think any of his success, or recognition will be in vain, as he's probably been shown more love and attention than he's had in years. And that's something money can't buy.

What do you think?

First week back's lookin good!

First week on the job, and I feel like it's time to get reacquainted with this blog. Interning at HOT 103 has been great so far, and I'm glad I got the chance to help out over winter break so I would know a little about what to expect.

At Red River College, all the courses serve their purpose in the real world and are beneficial in their own way, but I see why work experience is so valuable. The internships CreComms take on in January is an experience that couldn't be taught in a classroom. We've all been thoroughly prepared to find jobs, but it's definitely different to get experience by being thrown into something.

In 3 days, I've written more radio ads than I have before being at HOT 103, and I've learned more about how to craft them in these 3 days than ever before. It's true what instructors say about CreComm sort of being a protective bubble from what the working world in these fields are really like- Employers and people in the work place aren't afraid to hurt your feelings. Developing a thick skin would probably start to come naturally after only a few months, as I already appreciate the harsh but honest feedback given to me.

The one best piece of advice I've gotten so far (I've heard this before, but I think it finally sunk in), was from a production/radio magazine Jim suggested I read. It said that our job as advertisers/copy writers is to only inform the public the best we can of the product or event or client. Our job isn't to create sales, which to me was always confusing at first. It is the sales person, the owner, or whoever that works with a company, store, etc. to make the sale. Just knowing this alone puts a hell of a lot of perspective on writing, especially when you're stuck. I remember being so concerned before, thinking 'Will this sell?' How can I make this better so they can make a better profit.'

You can try and sell all you want, but your job is to get them to the store. If the customer doesn't have a good experience, or isn't inclined to come back, that doesn't reflect a bad spot. That said, it's still important to make sure you inform, so it's concise and gets people's attention, AND makes the client happy. The one thing I never thought I'd say interning at a radio station, is that I'm so thankful for journalism. It's actually come in handy, as I've learned to cut out as much fluff as possible, get to the point and revise, revise, revise.

I know I'm still far from writing amazing radio ads, but it's nice to know improvement is never a far reach if you keep working at something. I'm excited to hear all the students' reactions to their experiences come February, good luck everyone!

CreComm grads can have it all

The last week of school before winter break has come quickly, and it's almost gone! Back in September it seemed so far away, and the light at the end of the CreComm tunnel could barely be seen through piles and piles of work.

Yesterday afternoon it also really sunk in that we only really have a few months left before we graduate. Although this is very exciting, a lot of people have expressed fears of leaping into the real world of work, wherever that might be for each person. As much as I'd rather get paid to do work, it is a little scary transitioning from being a full-time student in a protective bubble, to moving beyond the campus.

The reason it sunk in yesterday was because in our TV class at the end of the day, we talked about what to expect after school. And surprisingly we haven't really covered a lot about this in the past. Here and there we've touched upon where opportunities are, the success of CreComm grads, etc, but never really about the reality that follows graduation. The class was actually pretty helpful, and it turned into more of an inspirational/motivational class taught by our instructor Dean.

He put together a power point outlining the positive side of choosing a great profession, doing what you love, and not surrendering to any unhappiness in general. Although some parts of the slide, like the inspirational quotes, may seem corny to certain people, I think it was very enlightening. Although some things we talked about may very well be obvious, and might feel repetitious, it's something people need to be reminded of constantly. In school, it's easy for morale to drop, as well as confidence and drive.

I think it was very beneficial that we ended of the semester with a class like that, as it reminded us why we're all here, and that it's true that all the money in the world won't buy you happiness if you don't enjoy your job. Grads of CreComm really have the advantage simply because of caring staff, and informative courses that prepare us for our careers.

Coming out of college, our diploma will only help us take a step in the right direction, or help us get a foot in the door, but what's great is we have the option of really doing what we love, without feeling like work is really, well... 'work.' It's not often that it really sinks in that the world IS a person's oyster, and that as cliched as it sounds, you can do anything you want to. The thing is, many people just give up, or tell themselves that something is too hard, or that they can't make it that far- but it is then that those thoughts turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

As the year wraps up this coming April, and with two work placements under our belts, I hope we all take at least a bit of time to realize our hard work was not in vain, and that it's ok to think positive. Shut out the people who tell you to stop dreaming, or that you can't go far- really take it with a grain of salt, because only you can help yourself succeed. Thanks Dean, and thanks to our other instructors for preparing us for what will be an adventure the rest of our lives, or as far as we see our creativity through.