Gap

I will admit it:

I love the 2009 Gap Holiday ads. And I think I may be the only one. Everyone I've spoken to thinks they are campy, cheesy, or just plain annoying. All I know is, for some reason, I will sit and watch these Gap Holiday ads straight through - even if I was about to leave the room. Seriously, every one in the campaign appeals to me. Why, you ask? I'm not sure. Perhaps because they're fun. Or maybe because I like watching these cheesy dance/cheer routines (I was a sucker for Bring It On when the first one came out). And I never YouTube anything, but I've actually YouTubed these commercials. And by doing so, I even actually listened to their cheer - and discovered they were arguing why clothes from Gap are better than electronics as gifts! I mean, I can respect that; they just say flat out, this is what we think, and this is what you should think. It's not a clever message, really straightforward. It's a clever (at least entertaining) delivery to say the least. And I like it! I think they're just fun, and a nice change from the usual horrible holiday ads. (Need I bring up the "Whiskers saved Christmas" cat food ad that makes me dive for the remote? Or perhaps the ridiculous, annoying, kind of creepy Old Navy holiday ads - with their weird Supermodelquins? CREEEEEEEEPYYYYY)

I know Gap is on the downfall. But you've got to admit, they have nailed down their brand of commercials. they've practically patented the dance-routine-as-a-commercial thing. You know you remember the khaki ad they did years ago. So while Gap itself may not be what the public wants, and I personally (now that I think about it) have never bought a thing for myself from Gap, I still love the commercials. So what if their advertising is so much cooler than their clothes? So what if their brand doesn't line up in marketing and product? Finally, a company that entertains before they sell - haha, probably why they are going out of business. But hey, what does it matter? I'm entertained. And I shall never be without those peppy little Gap ads with the wonders of YouTube.

So thanks Gap, for entertaining me with your cheesy, campy, but awesome 2009 Holiday ads. Even if I'm the only one that thinks so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVMPWlWDvsI
The original - I love the part where they're walking back-to-back and low-fiving...I'm not sure why...maybe because high-fives and all their affiliates are awesome?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzwsEMd9iBo
The kid version of the 2009 Holiday ads. admittedly a little creepy/wrong, but come on! Still catchy, "How cute are these boots?!" And P.S., I'm scared of/love the little girl who does the 'I'm watching you' motion....she screams later in the commercial, and it looks terrifying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knW1hGwmEXQ
The Khaki ad - you know you remember it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4Hu6up9Xng
The Mellow Yellow ad - cute, entertaining, but if you're ultimately trying to sell clothes, why does everyone look like they're wearing the most boring things that have ever been created. I mean come on, they look like scrubs!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDg50IUYPKE
You know your commercial is awesome when people recreate it and post it on YouTube.

In a Word, Epic.

Some things in life just make you smile, no matter what. This is why I love Andrew W.K.

Andrew W.K. is an epic rock singer/songwriter. A little offbeat, a little in his own world, but talented and awesome because of it. He writes the perfect songs. Instead of all the pathetic pop metaphors ('your body is a wonderland' - who actually says that in real life?), the angst-ridden alternative lyrics, and the I'm-crying-inside-because-I-can't-have-you emo messages, Andrew W.K. tells it like it is. 'She is beautiful.' It's simple, it's sincere, it's everything a girl wants to hear. It's how he feels, and guess what? It's what you hear. To me, that means more than any other flowery poem you could compose. And best of all, instead of being set to some melodramatic tune, the song itself makes you feel like the words do. They amp you up, they make you feel good, and you can't help but grin, no matter what. Finally, a great song whose lyrics and tune match the actual feeling that accompanies them. They make you wanna get up, air guitar, and grin like a maniac no matter what anyone thinks.

'She is beautiful' is a party song. Actually, most of his songs are party songs. Andrew W.K. is a party guy. Not a let's-get-wasted-because-I'm-a-rockstar party guy, but a plain simple, partying-is-fun-so-let's-rock-out kind of party guy. His songs make you feel good, bring up your mood, and make you feel like you can do everything and anything. Andrew W.K. doesn't write songs, he writes anthems.

I love you, Andrew W.K.

Analogizing (Not A Word).

When I feel bad, I write. Today is a setback. So I write.

I also like to make analogies to help me better understand things, and to better communicate how I feel. So I analogize (not a word).

Bad feelings (sadness, hurt, anger) are like zits.

No one likes them. They're unpleasant. In fact, I can't think of a single person who would willingly experience them. They come and go without the slightest reason or logic, and you have little control over them. You can try as many preventative steps as possible, you can do your best to make sure they don't plague you, and sometimes the preventative treatments work. But sometimes, no matter how much you tried to keep them at bay, they come whether you like it or not, at any time whether you like it or not. They are a fact of life, unavoidable, and something almost everyone has to deal with. Sure, there are those lucky ones who will hardly be touched by the unpleasantness, but at some point, everyone will have to deal with them on some scale.

So they're unpleasant, they're inevitable, and uncontrollable for the most part. But that's not all.

No one deals with them in the same way, or under the same circumstances. They can lie under the surface for some; there's no control, that's just how they affect that person. No one can tell, but the person experiencing them sure can. They keep it to themselves, deal with it or ignore it as best possible. Other people, however, no matter what they do, wear them right there in the middle of their face, bright as the sun, for anyone to see. They can try and hide them, but even under the best camouflage they're still there and everyone knows it. Most will avoid discussing it with the afflicted person; after all, it is an unpleasant topic, sensitive, and no one really knows how to deal with it. So for the good of all involved, no one talks about it.

Some go away quickly; some linger; some leave scars.

Bad feelings are like zits. And they both suck.

Check, Check...Is This Thing On?

Technology is killing me.

Don't get me wrong, computers are great, I couldn't live without the Internet, but technology - specifically cell phones - has burrowed its way into my life and made me dependent.

I can't go twenty minutes without checking my phone for a new message, checking facebook from my phone, or checking my email from my phone. And there's no reason for it. Every time I light up that little screen and see nothing new, I become a little sad for a moment. What am I waiting for? I'm not expecting anyone to call, text or message me, so why the obsessive check? I torture myself with it. I know that the way things are right now, everyone needs everything NOW. Instant. Can't wait, no patience. And I'm a product of the times. I'm waiting for something, some message that isn't coming, and I'm trying to control my growing impatience. All for nothing, because it is all pointless. People used to be able to wait. Not so anymore.

As much as I am dependent on checking for constant updates, constant messages, something, anything new, I know I can't stop. I can't say, I hate being reliant on my phone and so won't cave. I couldn't live without it if I tried. There are times, however, when I hate having a phone. Last night at work, I forgot my phone at home. And so for five blissful hours, I felt a weight lifted from my shoulders. I didn't have to compulsively check to see if anyone thought me important enought to message.

Phone, I love you, but I don't have to like you.

I Heard It On The Radio

I've always found radio ads tricky. They're short, imaginative and should be easy to write. But unless that Big Idea hits you, you could staring at a very bad radio ad. So when I write them, I find I have some good, some bad - it's all up to chance and my creativity that day.

My opinions changed today, however. We had to mark the first year students' radio ads. And what a time warp! Looking back, I can see the improvements I've made along the way, and the stuff I learned that I didn't even know I learned. I was not looking forward to marking these, considering my love/hate relationship with radio ads. But all in all, I found I learned a lot about what I had learned over the past year.

This exercise made me appreciate everything I've learned so far, and makes me proud when I read a good ad from a first year. Trust me, there were some bad, baaad, ads; but there were some good ones too. You can see the people who just get it and those who just didn't.

It was nice to take a step back and look at ad creative from a different perspective. When you're writing, you can get too involved in the ad. It was a nice reminder to just take a step back and look at what you're writing, and realize that even if you think you're in the same place you were a year ago, you've really gone so much farther than you thought.

Epic Friday Is Here!

It was early on a Sunday morning. And I was surrounded by three girls dressed to the nines, in full hair and make-up as flashbulbs went off around us. I was at the first Epic Friday photo shoot.

It was amazing. On the 7th floor of the Hotel Fort Garry, we captured everything that is Epic Friday. The fierce, feminine and flirty look; the modern and vintage combination, we had it all. These girls looked like they were ready for anything.

I can't believe some of the stuff we did. I was so excited! After a shaky start (time issues!) I could feel my excitement building. It was just this incredible, invincible feeling. Seeing these models walk around in party clothes, wearing killer heels, with their hair all done up gave me that feeling of power (by association, haha), and combined with the directorial position I was filling, it wa sunlike anything else. I made girls climb elevator grates in 4-inch pumps. I had them stand on a marble table top in a barely-there dress. I had the power to control the lights, the look, the feel of it all. I saw my dreams coming true.

I never thought it was possible, but I created my own fashion line. I have people wearing my clothes. I have photo shoots organized to show off my pieces. This is amazing. And it's just the start.

Everyone always says in this Creative Communications program, don't leave things to the last minute. Printing problems are not an excuse. Etc, etc, etc. Of course, I never listen. I am the queen of procrastination. And while it usually works out ok, I've started to dislike this feeling of unaccomplishment that comes along with procrastination.

I think I'm pretty good at what I do. I'm kind of creative ( I suppose when i have to be), I'm kind of a good writer (I suppose when I have to be), I'm kind of good at designing (I suppose when I have to be). But somehow, I feel that my true awesomeness did not come across in my latest project.

We had to build a calendar. No problem. I even took the photos I needed like a week and a half before it was due. I started laying it out a week before it was due. So when Friday afternoon rolled around and all I had left to do was print, I figured it can wait. The weekend is here, I'm done.

Cut to: Monday morning. I arrive at school an hour and a half early to get this done. Line for the print shop: long. Half an hour later, my turn! Print it: his computer crashes. Needs to turn it off and on after several repeated attempts at printing. Class time. Ok, I'll pick it up later, no sweat. Go to pick it up: even though I followed the dummy I made to ensure everything is placed where it needs to be, I misplaced some calendar grids and photos. Go to: computer, re-figure during 10 minute class break. Bring it back to the print shop. Wait another ten minutes. Come back during another break, and I printed the old PDF - so, another $3.14 on another useless backwards calendar. Go back to the computer: re-save file in right location. Go back, wait another ten minutes. See a pattern? Finally, finally, it's done. I have six minutes to cut it down to size, staple, compile into an envelope with a CD. ANDDDD...MAde it!

So what does all this have to do with it? Upon reviewing what I submitted, my original idea was there. It would've looked amazing. But since I had to re-figure the layout at the last minute because I acted too much the procrastinator, several lines are out of place, and I didn't have time to reformat the font to Mac from PC.

Lesson: don't procrastinate. Schedule time for errors. Printing problems DO happen to you. And they're still not an excuse. Print a copy before you waste $10 printing mistakes over and over. Essentially, do what I was told in the first place.