THE VAULT
Writing was never a job for me. It was always a privilege. Like playing the guitar, or cooking, it’s a skill I’ll never master but one that travels with me everywhere I go. no matter what crazy shit goes down, advertising taught me I can always write my way out of a jam. Here are a few things from my writer days I’m still proud of.
Here’s a spot I wrote eons ago for American Airlines. The campaign won a Gold Effie and the spot bagged a Lion. Concept sold through by a true Jedi master ECD, Bill Oakley, and shot with director, Frank Todaro, of ESPN Sports Center fame. Storyline nails my personal mentality of cynical optimism.
Below is a Super Bowl spot I also shot with Todaro. I wrote every word of the rap, fending off attempts by Elias Arts composers who repeatedly tried to beat my lyrics. Ranked no. 2 in Super Bowl commercials that year by Nielsen, named TBS’ Funniest Commercial of the Year and one of The Wall Street Journal’s Best Ads of the Year. Most of all, I’m proud of winning / surviving the all-creative department shoot out under the notoriously intimidating Jim Ferguson, our Chief Creative Officer at the time.
I got into this business because I loved writing headlines. Here’s one I wrote for an Abel fishing campaign with former art director partner and current GSD&M GCD Scott Brewer. Featured in Ads of the World. At the time, I told Scott the type is badass but it’s too small. I’m still right.
If you’re looking for more writing from me, and/or how I really feel about the ad biz, here’s a piece I wrote a few years back entitled “Thanks, Advertising.” It got a ton of attention and conversation (like 80,000 reads) partly because Jay Russell, CCO of GSD&M, and Rob Schwartz, former CEO of TBWA/ChiatDay NY, shared it on their channels. I think Rob e-mailed it to the entire Chiat creative department, which tends to get your engagement numbers up.
TL;DR I love what I do and I’m eternally grateful to all the wonderful weirdos who taught me how to do it.