When we were in New York I'd have expected a blog post named "Another Ten Inches" to be some kind of review of a show tune review or perhaps a write up of a micro penised organ playing sextet.
Here it means one thing. Snow. And lots of it. So much snow that if you open the door of your car and put the key in the ignition - accidentally triggering the windshield wipers; you end up with about 9 inches of snow under the electric seat of your car. I know, I tried it. I'm an idiot.
Went to see Bank Job yesterday and besides the ridiculous dialogue "Granted I've been known to get up to some skullduggery in the past..." it was actually all rather entertaining. In a 'here to enjoy the accents' kind of way.
Today saw us trawling the outlet markets for cheap designery things. And tonight we're driving up to Clarkston (home of Kid Rock and that woman who replaced Kirtsie Alley on the Jenny Craig ads for just long enough to allow the agency to find another fat celeb' that they could slim). Our landlord has a couple of restaurants there - so we thought that we should give them a go and try to get him to cash our checks (cheques you UK people)
Looking forward to it.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Back in the saddle
So my unexpected day off (we don't really DO Easter as a holiday in the US) turned into a surprise day in when I got a call last night asking me to attend an ad hoc meeting looking at final plans on my 'big project'
Sure, I said..
And as I'll be out of here way before lunch I really don't care at all. It's not as though I really had any plans for the day anyway besides walking the dog for a while and heading for the gym (note to self, charge i-pod)
Happy times yesterday. Got out while it was still light and went in search of something to eat... every restaurant full and buzzing. We eventually ended up having bad burgers (Tempeh for me) at a brew-pub before going on for Margheritas at a wee Cuban place where the lights are low enough and the music Latin enough to make even the customers look hot. Much fun.
Sure, I said..
And as I'll be out of here way before lunch I really don't care at all. It's not as though I really had any plans for the day anyway besides walking the dog for a while and heading for the gym (note to self, charge i-pod)
Happy times yesterday. Got out while it was still light and went in search of something to eat... every restaurant full and buzzing. We eventually ended up having bad burgers (Tempeh for me) at a brew-pub before going on for Margheritas at a wee Cuban place where the lights are low enough and the music Latin enough to make even the customers look hot. Much fun.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Relaxed
I'm bizarrely relaxed today. I have no idea why. The temperatures are still sub zero. I was still woken by the squealing of cats. The drive in to work was as long as ever (actually I enjoy the drive every day)... I still have a mountain of work to get through and I'm no nearer doing my first Sketchy's show - but for whatever reason the shoulders have dropped, the breathing is deeper and I can feel oxygen in my blood again.
It might be Pilates. It might be the fact that despite the cold signs of spring abound or it might just be the return of decent TV. I'm not sure what the cause may be but it's a good feeling.
And it's good to have a good feeling once in a while. Yesterday I was browsing cool things to do and realized that 7 of the 10 things that appealed to me were happening in Williamsburg, NY - our old neighborhood. I got this deep yearning to be back there. To be connected. To be within arm's reach of a scene that excited me. And then I got horribly maudlin. I miss New York. The buzz. The options. The walking. The subway. The photo opportunities.
But increasingly I like it here. The job is better. The apartment is great. I like having a car. The weather is improving to the point when you can actually go outside and this thaw is allowing culture to creep in and take root (there's an amazing looking film festival next week for example)... so chilled and expectant. That's good, right?
It might be Pilates. It might be the fact that despite the cold signs of spring abound or it might just be the return of decent TV. I'm not sure what the cause may be but it's a good feeling.
And it's good to have a good feeling once in a while. Yesterday I was browsing cool things to do and realized that 7 of the 10 things that appealed to me were happening in Williamsburg, NY - our old neighborhood. I got this deep yearning to be back there. To be connected. To be within arm's reach of a scene that excited me. And then I got horribly maudlin. I miss New York. The buzz. The options. The walking. The subway. The photo opportunities.
But increasingly I like it here. The job is better. The apartment is great. I like having a car. The weather is improving to the point when you can actually go outside and this thaw is allowing culture to creep in and take root (there's an amazing looking film festival next week for example)... so chilled and expectant. That's good, right?
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The glam' world of advertising
I'm sitting in a pre-production meeting talking about who would be the best people to put together animatics before we hire people to produce spots.
Animatics are a bizarre thing. You put together a piece of a cartoon that you whizz the camera over and then ask people to imagine what it would be like as a complete spot.
Of course people always think that you're suggesting an animated spot and reject whatever you've done based on the 'fact' that beer (or whatever) shouldn't be advertised in a style that is primarily suited to children.
It skews everything - but as the bias is built in to every spot then the baseline is set and you can get a bit of a read on how things work.
The cartoon boards and production time costs a fortune... but then shooting something with CGI and a real director costs a fortune, a kidney and a first born.
Somehow today feels less glam' than I'd imagined it would. But we're getting there.
Animatics are a bizarre thing. You put together a piece of a cartoon that you whizz the camera over and then ask people to imagine what it would be like as a complete spot.
Of course people always think that you're suggesting an animated spot and reject whatever you've done based on the 'fact' that beer (or whatever) shouldn't be advertised in a style that is primarily suited to children.
It skews everything - but as the bias is built in to every spot then the baseline is set and you can get a bit of a read on how things work.
The cartoon boards and production time costs a fortune... but then shooting something with CGI and a real director costs a fortune, a kidney and a first born.
Somehow today feels less glam' than I'd imagined it would. But we're getting there.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Back from the ad school
Spent yesterday at the Miami ad school. The weather was good, the work was good, the students were young, alive, alert and glowing with hope. Naiivety was in the air. As was talent. And fresh thinking. And the scent of frangipani. All in, quite an aphrodisiac.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
All too exciting
It seems that at every event we attend recently there's this shot to be taken. A kid, sitting apart, video game in hand, looking cold, disinterested and as though they're counting down the hours until they get back into World of Warcraft. Weirdly I don't blame them.
Despite the fact that it's a good 15c warmer here today than it was two weeks ago and despite the fact that the sun is out and the skies are blue (or blue-ish)... it's still freezing here as the runners in the St. Patrick's Day 10k go streaming by and the crowds stomp their feet as much to keep circulation going as to encourage their friends and realatives on.
Me - well I'm off to Miami tomorrow. So I care not a jot about the cold. Home alone tonight though (Jude eating with Professorial types) so it's crap TV and perhaps a glass of whisky or two.
Excellent
Despite the fact that it's a good 15c warmer here today than it was two weeks ago and despite the fact that the sun is out and the skies are blue (or blue-ish)... it's still freezing here as the runners in the St. Patrick's Day 10k go streaming by and the crowds stomp their feet as much to keep circulation going as to encourage their friends and realatives on.
Me - well I'm off to Miami tomorrow. So I care not a jot about the cold. Home alone tonight though (Jude eating with Professorial types) so it's crap TV and perhaps a glass of whisky or two.
Excellent
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