so funkanometry sf is producing their very first show. im proud. gina and emerson have done amazing things this year with help from some core members and choreographers along with a brand new team. here is the poster design for the sock hop done by your truly. i like it. simple, fun. the sock monkey by mariel martin.
after receiving a call from the brooklyn brothers (A KICK ASS CREATIVE SHOP) yesterday about the possibility of a summer internship, i compulsively hopped on the chinatown bus ($60 roundtrip... for the first time) and headed up to nyc to meet with them and attend my brother's graduation ceremony.
the trip was great. i got to see family and hang out with my brothers.
as much as i love new york, it's always so overwhelming. i swear, every time i go there, it makes me feel schizophrenic. the crowds, the people, the sites. so much visual stimulation. so many things going on. so many beautiful people. so much information. amazing.
i was up there about 2 weeks prior, staying with a few college friends. one concept i have a difficult time grasping is the closet-sized apartment phenomenon. i mean, i get it... it's NEW YORK FUCKIN CITY, but shhhhhiiizzzzaaaaa mannneeelli, those apartments are tiny. my brother doesn't have a window in his room and the elevator to his floor smells like the CBGB bathroom, post japanese death metal concert.
the interview went really well. the funny thing is i wasn't even sure if they had time to meet with me until after i arrived that morning. i called and was like, "hey, hi, hi, i'm in town, got a minute?" it was a total gamble. it really felt good to take chance on something i believed it.
i met with a total of 4 of them for about a 45 minute interview. they are all really down to earth for what i consider to be one of the most underrated creative shops around.
the work environment is open, no cubes or partitions, just one big table in one fairly large studio. they don't have a receptionist and when you walk in, it's difficult to know who to talk to. they have about 12 total employees, maybe 2-3 account services and the rest creatives. they outsource all production. they produce about 50 tv spots a year (which is a TON, especially for a small shop). they are multicultural... i met with two americans, one scott, and a brazilian. they are all fairly young. it was interesting and exciting. it breathed new life into me after a year of adcenter madness.
in other words, i'm in love. and i hope this relationship works out (unlike my personal ones)
this summer, i'll be taking my first official graphic design course. yay. i want to learn how to make stuff that looks like the image above. its amazing that brandcenter does not offer more art and design classes for art directors. i really thought the program would be all about this. regardless, i am walking away with concept.
portfolio review on wednesday, then onto future lions, then i'm officially done. im looking forward to being me again. i feel like my time here has been awesome, but ironically while i have been trying to find my voice, i've probably lost more of it in the process.
i look at ads more critically than ever, but still can't distinguish so-called "good ones" from "bad ones" at times. which leads me to remember that ads are for everyone, even the "bad ones."
yea, i'm in a summer time funk. what the fuck do i do? go home and learn flash, as recommended by mr. proudfoot or go to the big apple and intern. i'm trying hard and planning harder, but i really think i need divine intervention for this one. so, um, yea. any minute now...
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to any incoming 1 st years. you have something amazing to look forward to in the fall. im happy for you. congrats!
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in other news, here is something fun and simple i helped mandy with. i like the yard sale line the best!
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Fall 2008 Schedule
Culture w/ Coughter; Th 1:30-4:30
Portfolio Dev w/ Hall; Tues 9am-12:00
Brand Campaigns w/ Boyko; Wes 1:30-4:30
Presentation Skills w/ Coughter Fri 9am-10:30
im here in nyc for the one show pitch. the good news is, it's over and we did well. in fact, "we" did so well that we took home first prize! however, "we" just happens to be the other brandcenter team, tor week and guarev de, which is a WELL deserved win and freakin' awesome because a win for them is a win for us.
the competition was stiff. there are some talented people out there man. they came from as far as Sweden and from schools like creative circus, Texas, BYU. Ideas were flying all over the room and on the screen. it was a don just presentation - on crack.
the reception was great. if you can imagine a room full of super talented, funny, beautiful people all there to collect pencils and rub elbows. it was quite an experience. our very own jake dubs, raquel gimenez, and tony collins took home a bronze for their :30 Doritos spot, chip etiquette - handshake.
in related news, new york is fuckin amazing. i'll tell you what, i've always been a little intimidated by this city, but distinctly remember that every time i come here, i think to myself, "i need to live here."
this trip was no expection. i was able to sneak out after the reception to meet up with some old college friends. they've been living here for 5 years and have no plans of returning to california any time soon. they convinced me to reconsider nyc for my internship destination and im looking into it. im torn because i began having vivid sfc summer dreams.
to be continued...
so as internship time here at the brandcenter comes to a close, i am still left without a summer destination, without summer meaning in the form of work. i have been stressing over it until recently because i've resolved to commit to an interesting plan b.
so i was thinking, what if i spent this summer back home in sf, just bumming it. i would get an interesting job at say a production house or better yet a a screen printing shop and then take classes in flash, illustrator and web design. i'd probably try to freelance, mess with photography and also spend time helping grow funkanometry. i'd be a bike bum, hanging out with friends and taking in as much culture and art as possible before making my way back to RVA. i'd go to each and every summer festival, including stern grove and movies in delores park. i'd travel, visiting friends in NYC & CHI. I might make my way out to China to visit students that i used to teach and check out Beijing's Olympic madness! i'd hang out with family and spend a lot of time with my dad. i'd spend my last summer as a kid... a 28 year old kid.
not to shabby huh?
