Dice.com amazementariness from Barkley, Thornberg and Forester

Last year, advertising agency Barkley (www.BarkleyUS.com) collaborated with design and production company Thornberg & Forester (T&F) to create five theatrical spots for Dice (www.dice.com), the career hub for tech. As you can see in the YouTube Playlist embedded above, they all use a very distinctive creative and storytelling style to appeal to their audience.

When asked for his thoughts on the project, T&F creative director Frank Pichel began by asking, “When have so few pixels offended so many? Dice and the amazing agency, Barkley, really went for it on this campaign. Their willingness to push the boundaries of taste and amazementariness makes these spots the most highly discussed low-fi since the humble gif was animated. Gold, in my opinion.”

For more information on T&F, please visit www.thornbergandforester.com.

2012 Full Frame Documentary Film Fest

Celebrating its fifteenth anniversary in 2012 and running from April 12-15, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is an annual international event dedicated to the theatrical exhibition of non-fiction cinema. Each spring Full Frame welcomes filmmakers and film lovers from around the world to historic downtown Durham, North Carolina for a four-day, morning to midnight array of over 100 films as well as discussions, panels, and southern hospitality. Set within a four-block radius, the intimate festival landscape fosters community and conversation between filmmakers, film professionals and the public. The festival is a program of the Center for Documentary Studies (a non-profit, 501 c 3), and receives support from corporate sponsors, private foundations and individual donors whose generosity provides the foundation that makes the event possible. The Presenting Sponsor of the Festival is Duke University.

Full Frame also promotes the festival’s mission throughout the year by presenting documentary work in other venues both locally and nationally, partnering with organizations like the American Tobacco Historic District/Capitol Broadcasting Company, Des Moines Art Center, Duke University, the IFC Center, the International Affairs Council of North Carolina, the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, the National Association of Latino Independent Producers, Rooftop Films, and the University of North Carolina (UNC) School System. Please visit fullframefest.org to read the latest, join the festival’s mailing for updates on activities throughout the year, and find a way to get involved.

Successful kickstart for MIND ZONE

Last November, I received a request from my friend Christopher Cowen, who is VP of original programming for Herzog & Company, asking me to consider taking-part in a Kickstarter for his latest documentary film project. He wrote:

“The film is called MIND ZONE: THERAPISTS BEHIND THE FRONT LINES and it’s the story of the U.S. Army Combat Stress Control Units that are going behind enemy lines and trying to help soldiers deal with life in a forward position, and the horrors of war which they attempt to cope with on a daily basis. Some supporters believe these therapists might help ebb the effects of PTSD, and some critics believe we are weakening soldiers’ fortitude and putting them even more in harm’s way.”

As you can see if you look here, the film was able to meet its fundraising objectives through Kickstarter. Congratulations to Christopher, producer, director and clinical psychologist Jan Haaken, and everyone involved, and “break a leg” in moving forward on this important project you can also check out at www.mindzonemovie.com.

Style Frames Buenos Aires May 2012

Join Stash Media principals and a stellar group of design, advertising and media professionals at STYLE FRAMES, a new series of design conferences dedicated to the art of the pitch. The first event will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on May 10 and 11. EARLY BIRD tickets are now available.

Presented by Stash Media and produced by FITC, STYLE FRAMES will showcase outstanding pitch art and the talent behind it, while demystifying the pitch process, Read more

Stepping on stage

I’ve never pictured myself performing in front of a live audience. After all, I’m not an actor, musician, or lecturer (not yet anyway). However, last week in Nashville, my perspective was turned on its head. In this case, the stage was the Frist Center and the performers (if I can call them that) were two authors focused on creative service firms, David C. Baker and Blair Enns. They spoke of the dynamics of successful relationships between firms and their clients or prospects. Most importantly, when initiating new business. Read more

2012 ReCourses New Business Summit

On January 25-27, I had the pleasure of joining nearly 100 other professionals representing dozens of creative services firms in Nashville to attend the 2012 ReCourses New Business Summit (NBS). Hosted by ReCourses principal David C. Baker, and Blair Enns of Win Without Pitching, the event’s subtitle reads, “Using Your Positioning for More Reward, Impact, Control, and Fun.”

When it was all over, I asked many of my fellow attendees to provide two words that best describe their takeaways from the event, and the word cloud embedded above reflects their input. For anyone who has not spoken with me or others about our remarkable experiences at the summit, this provides quick insight into its powerful impact.For a bit more background, Read more

Super Bowls past and present

Last week, Hulu introduced its Hulu AdZone, which is presented by Toyota and offers easy access to historic Super Bowl ads extending all the way back to 1973. For the project, Hulu invited Advertising Age to highlight celebrity cameos and present expert picks for the most iconic Super Bowl ads of all time. On Sunday, February 5, tune in to www.hulu.com/adzone to watch all of this year’s ads in real-time, share them with friends and vote for your favorites. The best ad of 2012 will be announced early the next day.

On a personal note, I’m hoping for a well-matched battle between New England and New York, and I’ll also be watching for the first-ever Super Bowl spot for Lexus, which is one part of a multifaceted campaign effort produced by my clients at ATTIK. ATTIK’s work has made high-profile Super Bowl splashes in the past, to include their bold logo for Super Bowl XLIV itself just two years ago. Here’s wishing much success to everyone involved in what is sure to be one of the top media events of 2012!