Speaking of contests (see my last post)...

YouTube is putting on one of the more interesting filmmaker contests I've seen in a while – Your Film Festival. I say that because it's such a natural progression for them. So before you upload your next cat dancing video, check this out.:

15 minutes to tell a story. Millions of people to watch it. $500,000 to make a new one for the world to see.

This is Your Film Festival. You have until March 31st to submit a short, story-driven video. There's no entry fee. It can be any format - short film, web-series episode, TV pilot - and any genre.

We are in the business to tell stories in the shortest amount of time. So make a name for yourself and show 'em how it's done.

Filmmaker Zack Borst recently won the Chevrole Route66 competition and this spot will air during Super Bowl XLVI.


I'm all for talented people finding their big break through crowdsourcing contests. In fact, I was involved in Super Bowl ad contests way back when I was writing for Chevy. My only issue with make-a-commercial contests is that, although some spots have been entertaining, none have been super Super Bowl commercials. I like the premise of this spot, but the casting is off for me. For a high school grad, the lead actor looks almost as old as his parents. Plus, his excitement level was too over the top.

Super Bowl time is probably one of the more crazy and cutthroat times at an agency. I've pitched many spots, but I've never been produced. Once I swallowed the bitter pill of making it to a final presentation, only to have another ad get chosen. Often, it's not about just having the best idea. A lot of elements beyond your control come into play for that coveted spot.

Some creatives won't even pitch ideas, because they feel they don't stand a chance. If you can be swayed that easily, this isn't the business for you. Each year I was asked to participate I gave it my all. But it's just like entering a contest – the odds are against you. So if you manage to get produced, enjoy your moment in the spotlight while it lasts.

Still I say congrats to Zack Borst. But know in an agency world, getting any TV spot produced is tough enough. And a Super Bowl spot is never as simple as entering a contest.

By the way, this is the commercial that beat me - and for good reason. It's one of my favorite Chevy spots by some of my former co-workers.

I was concerned to hear Kodak filed for Chapter 11. Of course they aren't dead, just struggling to find a place in the digital world. According to a Bloomberg article, "Bankruptcy allows sales of the photography divisions and patents Chief Executive Officer Antonio Perez wants to jettison to pay off legacy employee benefits and creditors, as he focuses Kodak on faster, flexible commercial and consumer digital printers and the company’s superior ink."
I'm an amateur photographer. I own a couple of small digital cameras, but old faithful is my 20+ year old Canon Rebel. I love B&W photography, even developing my own pictures. The excitement of film photography is not knowing what you may get, until you develop the film. I use different lenses and filters and experiment to capture various results. Even today, I refuse to manipulate my Canon pictures in Photoshop. If it's a failed experiment, I learn from the experience – and it was fun. (I was going to include some of my work with this post, but I didn't get the chance to scan them. Yes, I can be that old school about film photography.)

So with the further demise of film photography, I fear there's a level of creativity that will be forever lost.

Various organizations have been trying to get some momentum behind a Social Media Week. There was one in June and September I recall. Maybe we're not yet consistent on the timing, but it doesn't mean another one is not worth checking out. This one is taking place globally. See what may be happening in your city.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is now part of the ranks of those great long weekend holidays - Memorial Day, Labor day – but does it make a great sale day?

A Veterans' Day Parade can fill me with awe and admiration, but it won't inspire me to catch a sale at the local mall.

If you are in a position to promote a holiday sale, look into the cultural significance of the day. Or you may risk hurting a brand by subjecting it to public criticism. Would you be more inclined to support a Veterans' Day Sale that gave proceeds to programs that support our troops or a sale where the company pockets the profits? Would not the same apply for MLK Day? Why don't we see something that also promotes social change?

And what client (in their right mind) would complain about a promotion that puts them in a positive light? You're doing your job.

Don't get me wrong, you can sell on a holiday. People are off work, why not encourage some shopping during their vacation? Be smart about our hook. Don't create a spectacle.
 

Contact those vendors!

Vendors and sponsors are there to create buzz and interest about their products.

They are trying to sell something.

They want to work with you.

If you see something that could add some "wow factor" to your work, pick up a phone, send an email or meet with them if possible. Start with Eureka Park, which is full of start up companies.


If you weren't paying any attention to CES (shame on you), you can still catch recap videos on various sites including YouTube.

Have you been trying to use your marketing savvy to launch or grow an e-tail business? (E-tailers sell goods over the Internet.) Then you may want to check out the Social Commerce Summit in NYC, February 7, 2012.

According to the site "...social commerce comes with its own unique challenges. The market is crowded, noisy, and always changing. Social Commerce Summit presents today's and tomorrow's best practices. You'll hear about emerging cutting-edge trends and established, mega-successful Fortune 500 strategies."

Speakers include:

Neil Blumenthal
Co-Founder, Warby Parker

Alexis Maybank
Founder and CMO, Gilt Groupe (one of my favorite etailers)

Tim O'Shaughnessy
CEO, LivingSocial (where I look for deals of the day)

For more information, click here.

All eyes on Vegas. 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) takes over the city January 10-13. This is your opportunity to see the tech that may change the world in the upcoming year – or what brands "want" us to get excited about.

For example, consumers never embraced 3D TV no matter how hard it was pushed. And for the couple of years, expert have claimed each one as "the year of mobile." Back then, the predictions may have been premature, but 2012 might be it as Tuesday morning's keynote speaker, Qualcomm CEO Dr. Paul Jacobs, will discuss.

For the next few days, follow International CES on Twitter and check out the tech coverage on your favorite sites from SpikeTV to  CNET to G4TV.

Look for the promising trends you may have to learn more about incorporate into your work – and also the ones to avoid.

I read a recent CNET article by Don Reisinger, "98 Billion Apps to be Downloaded in 2015, Study Says." It made me question, how many companies are creating apps just because their client wants one or just because they can?

Wanting one and needing one are two different things. Wanting one because everyone has one, especially their competitors, isn't a sound enough reason to make one, because:

1. You'll lose money on it.
2. You won't get the downloads you hoped for.
3. You're not creating something your audience wants or needs.
4. If your web site isn't getting big hits, an app won't find the audience for you.

Some apps are no-brainers. I use my bank app all the time. Some apps I download just to see what it's like and then I move on. I don't need it taking up space on my phone.
If you're developing an app for a client or class project, here are things to keep in mind:

1. Make it sure it functions.  Really? Yes. Think about all of the buggy apps you've downloaded. Test and test again. Does it work with or without WIFI? Does it eat up a lot of data? What happens if phone service is interrupted? API? There's lots to consider.
2. Is it useful? Your app should add ease to the service the brand provides. Don't link me to your website. That's what bookmarks are for. Don't recreate the web site. This should be a simplified version of your service. Also, it should offer some service that can only be provided by the app.
3. Has your app been done before? If you're creating an app because your competitor has one, explore and push for ways yours can be better. Find the advantage.
   
4. Ads. If you must promote or sell space on the app, don't clutter or hurt the function. It sounds like another no-brainer, but then why do we see it all the time?

An app for app sake is not an ideal assignment, but you can rise above it by digging deep and creating valuable function and content.