WNTD

Can (American for Cannes) 2009

Hotel du Cap

Melanie and The Gimp

WNTD made a last-minute decision to send a representative to Cannes this year, after much deliberation. Several unexpectedly tough mud-wrestling matches later, Melanie emerged victorious. Here's what she had to say about the week:

I was the first to arrive in Nice, and shared a cab with a lovely guy I met on the plane into Cannes. Picked up the keys to our apartment, which was surprisingly nice considering it was booked by our partners across the pond who are men, Matt Wells and Andy Wardlaw of Congregation. The boys finally arrived, insisted I get the nicer room with the bigger bed (Thanks to the British tendency to avoid face-to-face confrontation at all costs) and we were off. It wasn't as empty as we feared this year due to the economy, but turned out to be a great crowd that never seemed to get so over-crowded you couldn't get a drink or pee. Highlights? Hotel du Cap, Martinez, Carlton, Beach parties, Gutter Bar with Fancy, Y&R, W+K Portland, NY, London and Amsterdam, 180, Coca-Cola, TAXI, DDB, Nike, Google Creative Labs, Poke, R/GA, Apple, Publicis, LBi, Leo Burnett, JWT, Ogilvy, RSA, Creature, Fallon, Lobo, Ebeling Group, BBH, Goodby, Crispin, Massive Music and tonefarmer. 

The big buzz of the festival included the first time not film, but PR campaigns, Best Job in the World and the Obama campaign, dominated multiple categories. Other impressive works: the Wallpaper / Trillion Dollar Campaign, Eco-Drive, Carousel, a kickass Uniqlo interactive t-shirt with a small piece of special something on the front that plays video - no wires or anything. We saw Bob Geldof, Roger Daltrey, Kofi-Annan... It was one of the best years I've had, as long as I don't think back to when Matt sprayed Andy's cologne on my toothbrush. And now, a little revenge...

Andy Wardlaw and Matt Wells of Congregation

Someone should have thought before spraying shit on my toothbrush...

*JUST. DO. IT.

Before

After

Claire ran the Helvetia Half-Marathon on Saturday, along with 4,000 other people who aren't lazy. Let me give you a little background here. About 2 years ago, Claire smoked about 40 cigarettes a day. When we worked at W+K, someone had the great idea to bring in an acupuncturist who specialized in smoking cessation and agreed to pay half the cost for anyone who was interested. Claire completely quit smoking. Then she started eating. And eating. Then she started running. And running. And Pilates. Running. Swimming. Running. Biking. More running. And she's lost 30 lbs. (Which is like over 2 stone!) Last week, she announced she might try to run this half-marathon in a few days, even though her longest distance was 9.5 miles. She didn't think she could do it, but leave it to Claire to give it a try. 

She ran 13.1 miles in just over 2 hours on Saturday. This strong, determined, focused, inspirational woman literally couldn't run one block 8 months ago. 

Claire, we think you KICK ASS! 

*If you're Tim Reynolds, Claire's husband and employee of adidas for 17 years, please replace above title to Impossible Is Nothing. 

Dan Wieden's speech at the 4A's

This is what I love about Dan. 

He was invited to speak at the 4A's, an advertising group that shunned W+K when they were a brand new no-name agency back in the 80's, and a group Dan has refused to join ever since. This is a conference where advertising people get together to talk about shit that really doesn't matter. Well, maybe some of it does, I've never been. I can only imagine the riveting discussions at the American Association of Advertising Agencies' yearly conference.

Dan is known by everyone at this little shindig as the man who penned Just Do It. He's half the name behind an agency that revolutionized advertising because they had the balls to say and do things no one else would. Their brilliance is using brands as a vehicle, not only to sell people crap they don't need, but they often use the industry to send important messages, messages of courage and determination and strength and truth, to huge audiences around the world through their televisions, magazines, radios and computers.  

But very few in the ad world know Dan for what I think is his most inspirational achievement, Camp Caldera. A camp of pure love he and his family built from the ground up that has changed the lives of kids who've faced challenges more difficult than most of us will ever know. What's important in life is what you give back, and just watching this video reminds me, once again, of all the things I've wanted to start but haven't yet found the time. 

It's people like Dan we should be following - people out there who are doing not just it, but IT.

Clios 2009: What happens in Vegas, might stay in Vegas

Tricia Krupa Cha, Claire Reynolds, Karen Monahan, Nick Law and Geoff Teehan. Drunk.

David Kennedy giving solo speech about Wieden, in front of a crowd, behind a podium? Now that's love. 

Tricia and Claire jetted off to the 50th Anniversary of The Clios in Vegas. Who knew Tricia was a candidate for Gamblers Anonymous? The Hard Rock Hotel was official headquarters, and between the riveting speakers including Tony Granger of Y&R, Anne Bologna/TOY, Daniel Stein/EVB, Rob Reilly/Crispin, MIke Geiger/Goodby, Karen Monahan/BBH and Nick Law R/GA to name a few, Tricia was hitting the blackjack tables in order to help WNTD maintain our high standard of living. 

A highlight was the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Dan Wieden, an extraordinary man on so many levels who holds a very dear place in our hearts. Some of the other W+K big-wigs, Dave Luhr, Susan Hoffman, John Jay, Bill Davenport and one of the most wonderful people who walks this planet, David Kennedy, showed up to celebrate the occasion. Based on our previous experience, getting those people out the door and actually AT an event is no easy task, quite impressive.

The second highlight was....drumroll....no, it wasn't Matthew Weiner, the producer of MAD MEN, nor was it Mark Cuban, Chairman of HDNet and owner of the Dallas Mavericks and no, it wasn't even the Evolution of Dance guy from YouTube...

Two words: Barry Manilow.

All this experienced in Vegas by two girls in three days - gambling, swimming, connecting, talking, learning, laughing, drinking, dancing and getting to experience Barry Manilow's unbelievable plastic surgery up close and in person. 

Well worth the trip. Thank you, Clios. 

- WNTD

OFFF 2009 - Fail Gracefully

OFFF is a 3-day festival where digital artists, web, print and interactive designers, motion graphics studios and musicians celebration emerging visual culture. This year, the venue was moved to Oeiris, Portugal from Lisbon, to a huge warehouse formerly used to make bombs. I'm pretty sure several years were taken off the end of my life due to the crazy dust and poor air circulation the first day. The speaker line-up was killer, though, and made my shortened lifespan feel worth it. Aaron Koblin is just amazing, Champagne Valentine creates incredibly unique work and they look damn good doing it, Joshua Davis has the most incredible energy and just lifts a room, Stefan Sagmeister is just one of the smartest and most talented people I've ever laid eyes on and PES does the kind of stuff that makes you kick yourself for not coming up with it first. What I love most about all these people? Not only are they geniuses of their craft, they absolutely LOVE what they do and it radiates off them and sticks to you. Love OFFF.

Check out more here and here.

The Roots at Roseland Theatre

BRAVO!

While in L.A., I found myself at the BRAVO awards. Now, I'm not into the Hollywood scene, or at least I wasn't, until I went to the after party and saw Tyson Beckford. You must understand, Tyson was the love of my life in college. He wasn't aware of it, but my love was real. So to have the opportunity to share with all of you, all you people who most likely aren't wasting your time reading this blog, our incredible photo? C'mon. You'd post it, too. You know it, and I know it. 

- Melanie

TEMPT / The Ebeling Group / Graffiti Research Lab - Day 3

Caskey Ebeling, Jose Cabaco and the sound guy prepping James Powderly, in the wife-beater, for a scene in the upcoming documentary.

Evan Roth and Zach Lieberman, being smart.

Zach and Theo Watson being smart on the couch.

TEMPT'S crew, ANGST and KEY, laser-tagging messages to him as he watches out his hospital window. TEMPT wrote with his eyes for the first time using ocular-recognition technology just a few days later. Great to watch this unfold. Thanks Mick and Caskey! 

- Melanie

TEMPT / The Ebeling Group / Graffiti Research Lab - Day 2

I got to take Theo and James to Home Depot and Fry's Electronics today to help them shop for supplies that will ultimately allow TEMPT to write again. Watching them do what they do was a great experience for me. It's not that it's so inspirational watching people shop at Home Depot and Fry's, it was watching these two follow their passion in an uncompromising way. It was watching them fearlessly try new options, knowing they could fail, and if they did fail, going back again and again, never giving up. 

Watching these guys run around like two little boys, pure and innocent and free, doing what they love with such unbridled enthusiasm, it made me think. Potentially, they could change the lives of thousands of people out there who are suffering, just like TEMPT. Just because they have the courage to be exactly who they are. Pretty fucking cool. Can I type that here? Hmm. 

- Melanie

TEMPT / The Ebeling Group / Graffiti Research Lab - Day 1

Our friend, Mick Ebeling, had this great idea. Mick runs TEG, a successful production company with offices all over the world. Mick heard about TEMPT, a well-known graffiti writer who, along with his crew, elevated graffiti to an art form in L.A. back in the day. TEMPT, aka Tony, was diagnosed with an awful disease called A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig's disease). He currently resides in a hospital bed with only control over his eye muscles. 

This SUCKS. 

Mick met Theo and Evan, who are two of the smartest and talented guys I've met in a long time. They, along with their other smart friends, including James Powderly of Graffiti Research Lab, are all really passionate about technology and open-source and art and communication and freedom. Mick told us about his idea, and we offered to help in any way we could. Mick's idea was this: Can these super smart inventive code-writing laser-tagging artists figure out a way for Tony, who can only move his eyeballs, draw again? The answer is yes. Yes, they did.

- Melanie

Ratatat at Crystal Ballroom in Portland

R@@@

Say My Name - SXSW Documentary Premiere

I was blown away at the premiere of Say My Name, an incredible documentary created by Mamamess (The always kickass Nirit Peled and Dave Hemmingway.) This documentary celebrates the diversity and strength of women who have defied the odds, found their voice and fought hard to fulfill their dreams. 

"Sisters, mothers, businesswomen, role models, music artists—in an industry dominated by men and noted for misogyny, the unstoppable female lyricists of Say My Name speak candidly about class, race, and gender in pursuing their passions as female MCs. From hip hop’s birthplace in the Bronx to the ladies of grime on London’s eastside, emerging artists to world renowned stars like MC Lyte and Monie Love, these are women turning adversity into art."

The film is screening all over the globe these days, so check out their blog and see if you can catch it. Beautiful and inspiring. Clink.

SXSW Interactive

  

WNTD thought it would be a good idea to check out SXSW Interactive this year, and I'm blown away we haven't gone before. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Austin is a great town, pretty much the coolest town in Texas. (Hard for me to admit, being an Aggie.) Being from Texas, I miss me some good BBQ and Tex-Mex, so one of the first places I hit was the infamous Ironworks Barbecue, where I was pleasantly surprised to find signed photographs of both Bush and Obama! After drowning myself in chopped beef and ribs, I was inspired by the amazing line-up of speakers at the festival, and only wish I could have crammed more into my schedule. I met some incredible new people, caught up with some favorites from the past, learned more than I thought I could and even got to catch a few new bands. (Highly recommend Electric Touch.) We also suggest ya'll go next year, if you're at all interested in staying on top of who's who and what's what in the world of emerging technology, business and creativity.

- Melanie

W+K 12

Today, Claire and I went to visit 12, the Wieden + Kennedy educational experiment that's a school, mini ad agency and idea factory that operates inside the W+K/Portland building. Thirteen students spend a year being exposed to interesting art projects, as well as real clients, to hone their creative problem solving skills, while experiencing the inner-workings of one of the most respected ad agencies in the world. Byron Oshiro and Jinnina Chiles, the team who makes things actually happen with 12, asked us to come share with the current students some of our experiences and thoughts when it comes to branding oneself to find a great job. And yes, companies are still hiring.

We've reviewed work with hundreds of creative people, which has taught us the importance of remembering creativity is subjective. No one is completely right or wrong because at the end of the day, it boils down to personal opinions. Now, if you show work you've created and love to those you admire and 9 out of 10 barf after seeing it, that might be a good sign you're headed in the wrong direction, or even in the wrong profession. Or perhaps you're just showing it to the wrong people? Joshua Davis, a talented digital artist who spoke at the OFFF Festival last year, said if everyone hated his work, he's pretty sure he'd still do what he does exactly the way he does it, because he gets so much happiness and joy from it. Success comes from being extremely passionate about what you do. If you want to be a writer, write every day. Read. Find authors you love and read everything they've written, read the classics. Scour the web for great sites and read magazines and go to museums and art galleries and listen to music and be a human sponge. Get inspired by the beautiful things other people do. If you do, this will influence your work. All work is somehow influenced by something you've experienced, just don't steal the work of others or you could find yourself here. When people don't have real passion for what they do, no matter how hard they try to fake it, it always shows. 

If you include a lame car ad because you think it'll show you're capable of working on cars, we promise it will only show you aren't good at editing yourself and everyone will remember that lame car ad. If there's one piece that makes you slightly cringe every time you look at it, follow your gut and take it out. If you love every single thing you show in your body of work, you'll most likely attract the company that's best suited for you, and your goal should be to find the right fit. There's usually a place for everyone, and not everyone would be happy at every place.

We think when putting your work together, and yes you should have a website and yes you should take the time to do it right, it's the most important project you'll ever have. Your site should be easy to navigate. We hate when spots take forever to load, you have to close a window, open the next, wait for it to load, close...most people don't have extra time, and a clunky, hard-to-use site screams DON'T BOTHER. How you brand yourself to others is an art form, and those who do it right get the best jobs. Dan Wieden and John Jay used to tell us they want to see the kind of work someone wants to be doing, not necessarily only work they've produced. They'd rather see an entire spec book than a portfolio with produced, yet marginal, work.

People want a feel for who you are. If you're a writer and you can't read the copy on your site, what does that say? An art director with no attention to detail, craftsmanship or aesthetic? Does your work look pretty but there's no concept or idea behind why you did what you did? Don't be afraid to include a section about yourself. Are you a runner, football fanatic, do you paint, blog, speak other languages, or perform stand-up? Are you obsessed with typography or photography or have a huge music collection? People want to know what you're bringing to the party, because they're looking to add to their culture and learn something from you, too. And don't lie, because you'll quickly be exposed. 

We look for original thinking, craftsmanship, consistency, spark. We want to feel something when we look at your work, have an emotional response and walk away inspired by you. There's nothing better than stepping into a world of interesting, inventive ideas and beautiful execution and walking away shaking our head, wishing we'd made it ourselves.

- WNTD

TED Palm Springs - The Rest

Days 2, 3 and 4 of TED were equally inspirational and if I try hard to come up with a negative to the whole TED experience, it was simply not having much time to write, as well as leaving with a brain so cram-packed with new information it took a while to process one of the most educational and rewarding chunks of my life.

I've had an incredibly lucky and charmed existence so far, and I desperately feel the need to start contributing more than I have. TED was part of my quest to figure out just how I can do more, how I can have a bigger impact and make a difference in the lives of more people. Listening to these speeches was often humbling, and always inspiring and motivating. I realize I'm repeating myself, and I encourage you again to spend a good bit of time watching these at TED.com. If you don't walk away inspired, Claire and Tricia will pay you $1 each. 

Nalini Nadkarni spoke about trees and what they give us in a way that made me want to go out and hug some.

Shai Agassi shared an incredible strategy to revolutionize cars. And it's very doable, if enough people will just embrace it. 

Willie Smits. Willie Smits. Remember that name. Look him up. His speech hasn't been posted on TED.com yet, but every human being on this planet should watch it. He took an impossibly shitty situation and created, well, everything. Everything. I can’t explain it. Unfuckingreal. Willie Smits.

And there's this guy who plays the piano. Eric Lewis. Incredible.

Elizabeth Gilbert was an unexpected surprise. Her speech about the creative soul should be watched by anyone who considers themselves the least bit creative.

- Melanie

Download ElizabethGilbert_2009 

TED Palm Springs - First Day

I applied to TED to be inspired by people who are way smarter than me. I'm so blown away after Day 1, I'm finding it difficult to fully articulate the experience in a meaningful way. I'm in Palm Springs. TED is in Long Beach with 1,300 attendees, TED Palm Springs is a satellite event to Long Beach, with about 400 and we're all connected by huge screens. 

I arrived yesterday, and met people from the US, Canada, South America, Australia, Europe and Asia. People who run non-profits, philanthropists, employees of Microsoft and Google, musicians, artists, creative directors, photographers, CEO's, architects and a cardiologist. I awoke to the shock of the sun, sent a few emails, then wound my way around the hard-to-resist pool through the Riviera Resort to the Google cafe for coffee before the first event. An inspiring and delightfully open and humble man I'd met the night before, Brian Andreas, gave advice on how to effectively tell a story. Talk to others like they're a friend, tell a story in pictures and create a pattern. 

People were called to stage to answer a question by our Palm Springs hosts, Kelly Stoetzel and Rives (shopliftwindchimes.com). "I was once caught..." I told the story of entering the kitchen one morning to find my Dad with my shoes on the breakfast table, the very same white flats I'd used to write the answers to a test. I was in Texas, it was the '80's and I got a t-shirt for telling it. 

Start.

Juan Enriquez, among other depressing economic statistics, told of scientists spraying stem cells from a mouse onto a human heart, which then regenerated and began to beat. 

Peter W. Singer spoke about the robots being used in Iraq to disarm bombs, as well as the dangers of distancing human emotion from technological warfare. 

David Hanson showed his Albert Einstein robotic head that not only looks unbelievably real, but recognizes and mimics the expression of any human face it sees. 

Bill Gates released mosquitos into the audience as he discussed The Gates Foundation and radicating Malaria, "Why should only the poor have the experience?", as well as the importance of education, what makes good teachers good and the success of KIPP charter schools. 

Ben Zander, who I experienced at a Nike speaker series years ago, is one of the most amazing public speakers in the world. He had us sing, some guy named Ross had the best birthday of his life. 

Tim Berners-Lee, the man who invented the web, yes, the web, discussed the hidden potential of linked data.

Cindy Gallop woke everyone up to proper sex education through her recently launched site needing little explanation, makelovenotporn.com.

Pattie Maes of MIT Media Lab revealed an unbelievable technology I can't begin to explain here, so you need to watch this video on ted.com to be appropriately blown away.

Al Gore reiterated how fucked we are with global warming and the continued importance of change in order to slow it down. Might be good to watch this one, too.

Ray Anderson. Wow. An entrepreneur from Georgia who founded a carpet company in 1973 that until 1994, had a really negative impact on the Earth. He instituted a mantra of "Take nothin', do no harm." and, well, also worth watching. I was fighting tears at the end. 

Saul Griffith on efficiently harnessing the wind to supply electricity to the world. Incredible.

Seth Godin encourages everyone to make a movement and lead a tribe. 

Seriously, I haven't even gotten to the best part. 

Jake Eberts. He did films like Ghandi and The Killing Fields. He has produced a film with a Frenchman names Jacques something super French called Oceans. Unreal. Stunning. This film will change the way you think about life in the sea and the fucked up impact of humanity. Beautiful. Please watch this one. "It is late in the day, but not yet dark."

Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Unreal photographer, this man has spent a good chunk dedicating his life to document, via the air, the impact humans have had on Earth. He is distributing this film, called Home, on June 5th of this year. He's not selling it, he's giving it away for free to anyone who wants to see it. "It's too late to be pessimistic."

I'm so tired, I don't think I did any of these justice. The good news is you can watch all of them on ted.com. 

To say I've been inspired to DO SOMETHING is a huge understatement.

- Melanie

We'll be okay, really we will.

Last week was kind of emotionally difficult. It really started to bring me down, the incessant negative news, concerned calls from people, nervous people with mortgages and families, who are just now starting to feel and fear the domino effect of this horrible economy. Thanks to corporate greed and the inept leadership who blindly ran this country into the ground.

Everywhere I go, they're there. These little reminders that something big, really big and really scary is happening and no one knows how or when it's going to stop. Just thinking of listing all the increasingly bad things happening in the world right now is too depressing, and at times I’m feeling like I can’t escape it. Simply driving to my house, I'm reminded as I pass one barren car dealership after another and OPEN HOUSE! signs scattered throughout the neighborhood. How does one keep positive momentum when it feels like the walls are slowly closing in like the Death Star trash compactor scene in Star Wars? 

As a result, I've spent a lot of time this weekend reading and thinking. When I contemplate my life so far, it’s very clear the most difficult challenges I’ve faced have made me grow in the most beautifully raw and profound ways. I've overcome some things I really thought I couldn't, and when I’ve had the courage to follow my gut and face the uncomfortable, the bad and scary, it has turned out okay, even better than I expected. Always.

As a result, I’m stronger. I feel myself carrying more wisdom through each “event”, walking with more confidence and less fear and slowly shedding the facade I so strategically began building when I was a pure and innocent little girl who didn’t want to feel pain.

Einstein said, “No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it.”

When you think about it, George Bush was a gift. If we hadn't spent the past eight years feeling so weak, powerless, horrified and embarrassed by our president and the actions, or inaction, of our country's “leadership”, I don't think we would have come together in the ways we did to elect our first African-American President. It took horribly awful to create an awakening, and we’ve finally taken our first step towards a new direction.  

There are unavoidable challenges we’ll continue to face over the next few years in this country, and on this planet. Maybe we need this increasing horribleness to create a bigger awakening, not only for a healthy economy, but for the evolution of our collective consciousness. Maybe it takes the horrible to convince more of us get off our asses and actually DO something. Maybe we’ll get in touch with our true selves, develop into the kind of aware, empathetic and generous people we should be, and maybe, just maybe, we can actually solve many of the problems we currently face.

I'm headed to TED Palm Springs tomorrow and have a feeling something really good is going to happen there, I’ll keep you posted. If there’s anything we can do to help you, whether it's give you feedback on your work or advise you on your current situation, just ask and we’ll do our best to help you. For some inspiration when you need it, go to TED.com and watch a 20-minute speech given by incredible thinkers and doers. Here's one we love from a scientist who studies the brain, Jill Bolte Taylor. 

- Melanie

Download Jill BolteTaylor_2008 

Sundance 2009

Dan Wieden making a good point.

David Kennedy

I've just returned from an impromptu trip to Park City, Utah, to attend the ART & COPY premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. ART & COPY, a film concentrating on the great part of advertising - and yes, there is a great part. I ended up in this business because of two men I admire more than I can describe in words, David Kennedy and Dan Wieden. I admire them for their straight-up, no-bullshit attitude and their desire to create and communicate honest and meaningful messages to the world by cleverly drafting off the very few brave clients in this industry.

I was invited to the premiere by one of the films' creators, another man I greatly admire, Kirk Souder. Upon arrival, I was blown away to find not only Dan and David standing there, but also Lee Clow, Rich Silverstein, George Lois and Robert Redford? Wow. By the way, George Lois is one of the funniest people I've ever met and next time I'm in NY, I'm going to beg him to meet with me just to hear more of his stories. 

ART & COPY pays tribute to other ad legends as well - Bill Bernbach (VW "think small"), Phyllis Robinson (Clairol "me generation"), Hal Riney (Insured Ronald Reagan's reelection), Mary Wells Lawrence ("I love NY") and Cliff Freeman ("Where's the beef?"). Shout out to Phyllis and Mary who achieved what must have seemed impossible back when advertising was still rampant with misogynous Mad Men pigs. Not like today. Ha ha. Ha. 

I really hope the film is distributed, for two reasons. One, because it's one of the only lengthy interviews ever given by Hal Riney, who passed away in March of last year, and two, because listening to the fearless drive these women and men had to embrace change, follow their instincts and challenge failure is absolutely what we need more of right now. I left invigorated and inspired and ready to take on whatever comes my way.

-Melanie

Click here to watch an interview with these guys just after they saw the film for the first time.

Art & Copy

Original Concept: Kirk Souder, Greg Beauchamp

Director: Doug Pray ("Hype!", "Scratch", "Surfwise")

Screenwriter: Timothy J. Sexton

Executive Producers: Kirk Souder, Greg Beauchamp, David Baldwin, Mark Warlick

Producers: Jimmy Greenway, Michael Nadeau

Cinematographer: Peter Nelson

Editor: Philip Owens

Music: Jeff Mart