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Still Feeling the Wrath of Cannes

Wednesday night was the fourth annual Wrath of Cannes competition/award show. I don’t know who thought it was a good idea to strap an [expensive] camera on me and let me run amok consuming 2-for-1 PBRs, but it happened nonetheless. It’s pretty obvious that I didn’t get too many outstanding photos, but there were a handful that turned out “good enough.”

By the time I made it down to Kabin to get my party on, I was dripping in sweat (as always), so I decided to take a mini shower in the sink at the bar before heading to the back room for WOC. Thankfully they were pumping the AC, so it wasn’t long until I noticed not only had my sweating problem gone away, but my skin now smelled like stank bathroom water. Or maybe it was just the room, I never really figured that out. I opened a tab and tried to take advantage of the last 30 minutes of 2 for $2 PBRs, and that’s about all I can really tell you about the evening. True to form, my memory has failed me once again.

Thankfully I was able to relive the evening through the blurry photos and stories my coworkers told me on Thursday. That was, of course, after I forced myself out of bed and peeled my hand off the greasy paper plate I had passed out with while inhaling pizza at 2am. I remember running into Kelly Samardak from MediaPost several times, whom I’m pretty sure I’ve met once before at another WWD&S event. She was taking photos and documenting the event as usual for her column, Just an Online Minute (which if you haven’t checked it out, I recommend you do so. Right after you finish reading this post, of course.) I came home with a few business cards, and yesterday I spent a good portion of the day with my friend Google, playing a game of “try and remember who the hell they were.”

Congrats to Vinny Garbellano and Mark Forsman from SVA, the crowd’s choice winners for their Jack Daniel’s “Walk the Line” app for the iPhone. Second place went to Hez Kim and Jang Cho with their “Lift This Up” campaign for Comedy Central. Best of luck to both teams in whatever it is they pursue next!

Check out the photos I took on my Flickr, or for a complete set, WWD&S Flickr.

Albert Lee and Hogan’s Heroes at BB King’s

Saturday night I went to see Albert Lee and Hogan’s Heroes at BB King’s in Times Square. It was my first time going to BB King’s, and my first time seeing (or hearing) Albert Lee and Hogan’s Heroes. My Uncle Butch emailed me and told me to check out his friend’s band (Gerry Hogan) since they were coming to NYC. I figured I couldn’t go wrong with a recommendation from him, so I bought a ticket to the show without even giving them a listen. Plus, I’ve always wanted to go to BB King’s.

The club was awesome— a low stage in the front, surrounded by candle-lit tables, and a full bar opposite the stage. I had macaroni and cheese and pumpkin pie, along with white wine, a few fruity drinks, and a beer during the course of their set. What a mixture. It was expensive, but pretty tasty. The show was great though. I took a few photos and even a short video when they did a cover of Oh! Darling.

After the show we went to a friend’s bar that was in the same neighborhood, which oddly enough, was the same bar I had been at the night before, not knowing this was the bar he worked at. We stayed there for a few hours and quite a few beers, listening to some more live music before heading home around 1. All around, it was a great night full of awesome live music! If Albert Lee & Hogan’s Heroes is playing near you, I’d recommend that you check it out!

Cue Summer; and Go!

Happy first day of summer everyone! I love the warm weather because I’m actually motivated to get out of the apartment and enjoy every second of sunshine (and moonshine) possible. And boy am I starting this summer out right (although completely broke).

Friday- I randomly went to see New Kids on the Block at Radio City. It was ridiculous. I couldn’t believe how many hoards of crazy women flocked to this concert! I didn’t even know anybody liked them anymore! The only reason I went was because this girl in the meetup group had 3 extra tickets just a few hours before the show. So why not? I figured at the very least it would be inspiring for my comedy routine.

Saturday- I spent the day at Brighton Beach and the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. Then I had dinner and drinks at BB King’s while watching Albert Lee & Hogan’s Heroes put on a great show.

Sunday- I went and saw Toy Story 3 in 3D, and I bought a few books on comedy writing.

Monday- The first night of the HBO summer film festival in Bryant Park. Heading down there to watch Golden Eye tonight.

Tuesday- Tigers @ Mets! Go Tigers!

Wednesday- Wrath of Cannes at Kabin.

Friday- My 2nd stand up show at New York Comedy Club. Come! It’ll be fun! The show starts at 10pm.

Saturday- UCB Theater for a battle of the best sketch/improv acts.

Sunday- Champagne lunch + Polo match out at Governor’s Island.

And next Friday, I’m going back to Ohio for a few days for a long overdue visit!

Did I mention that I somehow have to make time to shoot & edit a few spec commercials over the next 2 weeks as well?

Rich Parents Send Kids Across the Pond. Again.

This weekend the industry’s elite swarm to the French Riviera, leaving the rest of us here to battle their clients and revise their mistakes. Sure, if your hard work is up for a lion, I guess I can understand your need justification for traveling halfway across the globe to celebrate and network for a week. But what’s the excuse for those kids who booked their first-class flights and luxury hotel rooms with their dad’s credit card in order to binge drink and OD on narcotics learn, network, and begin their career? I wouldn’t know, but apparently having filthy rich parents is the first step to success. Those kids have always been able to afford to attend every industry event no matter the price or location. They can afford to submit 10 ads to each competition at $250 a pop. And since they don’t have to work to put themselves through college or avoid eviction, they can devote all of their time to homework and ass-kissing (outside of the wild, coke-infused parties of course). So if you’re a youngin’, and your trust-fund classmates are heading off to Cannes this weekend, you’re probably thinking the same thing as me: “Karma will catch up with them. When they graduate, they’ll have no work ethic or experience. Nobody will want to hire them.” Well I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but you’re wrong. These trust-fund babies have a way of effortlessly graduating right into your dream job.

So while those kids are partying on a yacht in Cannes, slurring the eight French words they remember from high school, and passing out in their own vomit somewhere on the beach, now is your chance to show the advertising world that a little bit of elbow grease can pay off (and I’m not talking about tanning oil). Wednesday is the fourth annual Wrath of Cannes competition, a “bitter response to the self-congratulating, glad-handing, marblebag-wearing, Dom-swilling, bronzer-slathered soirees that fester up on the beach in Cannes.” In other words, it’s an excellent opportunity for all of you unpretentious juniors to make a name for yourselves with something that really matters— your work.

So let those kids in Cannes come home with a couple of business cards, a few people to follow on Twitter, and maybe even an STD or two. What they won’t have is their name engraved into the Grand Coney for eternity, or a brand new iPad (okay, their parents probably gave them an iPad just for taking out the trash last week. But still, it’ll feel better to win one).

Experience the Wrath of Cannes

Hey junior advertising creatives! Did you miss out on your chance to go to Cannes by losing the Young Lions competition to someone who is obviously an idiot? Or maybe you were too lazy to even enter in the first place? Are Mom and Dad too deep into their 2nd mortgage to give you another $5,000 just to relocate your alcohol addiction to a place far nicer than the beach they spent their honeymoon on (the Jersey Shore)? Or maybe you never stood a chance at winning a lion in the first place because Gerry Graf and Alex Bogusky clearly don’t know what they’re missing out on by not giving you a chance?

Whatever your bitter reasons are for not attending the Cannes Lions Festival this year, fear not. You can still get just as drunk right here in New York City with $1 beers at Wrath of Cannes. Now I know you’re a creative so you’re probably not that good at math, but for the same $5,000 you’d spend in Cannes, you can spend $5,000 at Wrath of Cannes and get 5,000 beers— or 4,000 beers if you tip well.

The Wrath of Cannes competition is open to all juniors with less than 2 years of paid experience in the industry. You know what that means— you can get as drunk as you want and the photos won’t end up on the front page of AdAge the next day. Nobody cares knows who you are! Check out Wrath of Cannes on YouTube for details, but basically the cost to enter is $0, and we won’t extend the deadline 17 times before the show. Just show up at Kabin at 7pm on June 23 with your best work on a thumb drive and let the judging begin.

Of course, you don’t have to be a junior to attend Wrath of Cannes. Maybe you’re a seasoned pro just looking for the next big idea that will send you to Cannes next year. Come on by and meet the juniors who will be accusing you for stealing their work next spring. At the very least, come get to know the brilliant minds that will be setting up their Twilight collection in your cubicle next month as you’re forced into early retirement.

After all, who wants to carry a faux-gold trophy 4,000 miles back home when you can stumble just a few blocks home with an iPad?

Already Problems with Unreleased iPhone

Priceless WWDC2010 moment, via engadget.com:

10:43AM “I’m afraid we have a problem and I’m not going to be able to show you much today…let’s just go take a look at some photos here…take a look at that.” Wow, this is striking–huge difference in quality.

10:42AM “Okay, we’re going to switch over to some backups here, I have a feeling we might have the same problem…” Deadly silent here. Oooh, error balloon about the dock connector! “Well geez…” Wow.

10:41AM: “You know you could help me out, if you’re on WiFi if you could just get off…well we’re having a little problem here.” Oh boy, the iPhone 4 is NOT loading.

10:41AM: “So now I’m going to go to some websites. I’m going to go to the NYT…let’s compare.” Loading slowly… “Our networks in here are always unpredictable…”

35th Anniversary One Show

At the One Show!

iFeliz cumpleaños, WWD&S!

A whole week ago, Woods Witt Dealy & Sons had their third birthday party + Cinco de Mayo bash. I was there physically, but my mental presence was questionable by the end of the night. So questionable in fact, that it’s taken me an entire week just to recover and bring myself to post a blog about it. Okay, I didn’t get that crazy, I just didn’t really snap any good photos so I haven’t had the urge to share. It was a good time though, with chips and salsa, guacamole, quesadillas, stuffed peppers, hummus, a cheese and fruit plate, and a ton of Mexican beer and frozen margaritas. If you want to see some pretty boring photos that a slightly intoxicated, inexperienced photog took, check out my Flickr. They’re mostly just food shots, and boring (see: lacking action) shots of piñata smashing.

Looking for the Perfect V-Day Dinner?

In case you’re looking for somewhere romantic to spend your Valentine’s Day…

This is not a joke. They’re serious. Check out their website.

SVA Photo Panel

“An open discussion with photography professionals. Mentors from the photo trades will address assignments & stock, licensing, copyright, metadata, releases, budgets & negotiation, and representation. Hosted by the MPS Digital Photography & BFA Computer Art Departments.

Panelists include:

*NY Mets photographer Marc Levine
*National Geographic photographer Ira Block
*Book-cover specialist Laura Wyss
*PhotoLibrary Creative Director Phyllis Giarnese
*VH1 Photo Editor Daniella Nilva
*ClampArt gallery owner Brian Clamp

December 2, 2009, 6 – 9pm
133/141 West 21st Street, Room 301C
Admission is free and open to the public.”