And so it begins: RifRaf Exhibit

It turns out RifRaf is read by Scott Wolf, my mom, AND Jeremy Schwartz of RAF member Partners & Napier. Thanks Jeremy, for the snappy response and the great work for Kodak Entertainment Imaging. (Click on the image to see the ad bigger.) The film vs. digital argument has been raging for some time now. Living in the birthplace of organic, random, beautiful silver halide crystals, I have definitely drunk the kool-aid: I love film. I’d love to hear what local cinematographers and filmmakers have to say about the subject. Hellooo, Matt EhlersTim WainwrightDavid MarshallTim Beideck…and any of you lurkers out there. Feel free to chime in anytime.

Got some work of your own you’d like to share? Send it along, with a high-res jpg, credits and a brief description.

Here’s the story on this piece:

This is the first of 3 print ads and a link to live online content for a Kodak Entertainment Imaging campaign heralding film capture. We’re letting the industry talk back — in their own, authentic words — against the rising tide of hype revolving around digital capture and reminding motion picture professionals why film remains to be the gold standard for filmmaking. The campaign will culminate in the release of a documentary film which we’re currently editing for an early 2009 release.

The first print ad (attached) features Samuel Bayer, acclaimed commercial and music video director that has brought his vision to ads for Nike, Visa, Volkswagen, and Pepsi and to music videos for Nirvana, David Bowie, Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Sheryl Crow, The Strokes, Smashing Pumpkins and countless others. The ad is currently running in American Cinematographer and other trade pubs.

Check the first of some online content related to the effort.

Credits:
Agency: Partners + Napier
Creative Director: Jeremy Schwartz
Account director: Kurt Jaekel
Account executive: Heather Semmler
Art Director: Jack Jankowski
Designer/Retouching: Jack Jankowski
Copywriter: Scott Allen
Photography: Gabrielle Revere (portraits), Jeremy Schwartz (insets), Justin Arcangeli (product)
Print Production: Doug Hood
Interactive Art Directors: Marcus Lennon, Mike Governale
Interactive Project Manager: Kim Pegg
Interview footage:
Director: Henry Corra
Producer: Jeremy Amar
Kodak Client: Sarabeth Litt, Nicole Phillips

And yes, we shot all content on film, both for print and motion interviews.

Crickets

helloooooooo…is anybody out there? just wondering cuz it gets pretty lonely in here. if you’re listening, i got a proposition for ya. done any good work lately? something you’ve been itching to show off? well, let’s have it. honestly, i’d (heck, we’d) love to see it. and post it here for the other two people who read this blog (not counting my mom, natch). let’s start our own little exhibit of cool work being done in this town. because we both know it IS happening, right? send a nice jpg of your latest and greatest to kate@katesonnick.com and i’ll post it here. be sure to include credits and a brief description of what it was for. students, this includes you, too! show us what you’ve got.

peculiar product peddler

if you heart mad men, then you probably caught this clip on SNL over the weekend. and while jon hamm could peddle the pants off anyone, it got me thinking. about the strangest product i’d ever worked on: an estrogen replacement therapy aptly named femring. it was no john ham, and you couldn’t eat it in the bathroom, but still.

Books for kids

In the spirit of its commitment to education, the American Advertising Federation will hold a three-week nationwide book drive to promote literacy among disadvantaged children and youth. Book drive dates: October 27 – November 18. The drive will be held in conjunction with the Books for Kids Foundation. The new public service project demonstrates the advertising industry’s comprehensive understanding of corporate responsibility and the value and vital importance of education.

The AAF is asking members from its college chapters, clubs and corporate organizations and companies to donate new children’s books in the category of kindergarten through third grade. Books in Spanish are also encouraged. The AAF’s goal is 5,000 new books to be collected from October 27 to November 18, 2008. Donations will be accepted from either individual AAF members or as part of a group donation from a club, college chapter or member company.

Click here to know more.

Membership has its privileges

The American Advertising Federation is excited to offer you an exclusive 35 percent discount to upcoming ad:tech conferences as a benefit of your membership!

ad:tech conference events provide advertising, marketing and technology professionals with speakers, panels and workshops all focused on the media industry. ad:tech conference gives you the opportunity to stay on the cutting edge of the trade with multiple events worldwide.

Upcoming Conference:

ad:tech New York
New York Hilton
November 3–6

Catch Shelly Lazarus as she opens day two of ad:tech New York with her keynote presentation “Dispatches from the Digital Frontier.” The conference features a stellar group of media, agency and brand all-stars from AAF member companies, including: Ogilvy & Mather, MediaVest USA, Initiative Media, Group M Interaction, NYTimes.com, Businessweek.com, CondeNet, Turner, Procter & Gamble and General Mills. Jonathan Klein, president, CNN/U.S., presents the opening keynote on Election Day! Join us for this annual powerhouse event.

Register here and receive a 35 percent discount off the current online rate for a Full Conference Pass! Use code: 35NYE5

Aye Carumba, Jimbo! Always Check the Replay.

It’s not often you see commercials that continue to make you laugh long after seeing them, but I’d definitely file this spot for Vault Energy Soda under that category.

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Hilarious. I’m not sure who’s responsible for the creative, but I do know the first few commercials for Vault (owned by Coca-Cola) were done by Publicis New York. They may have done this one as well.

Embrace your freak flag

Quick mockumentary from the Australian Director’s Guild (what, not a member?) on creative collaboration – good stuff happens when quirky people with diverse talents get together. Sometimes bad stuff too – think the Joker in Dark Knight. But that’s not the point here.

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And if you have one eye that’s enormous, now you have company.

Flying the Freak Flag

AIGA: Get Out the Vote

Our friends at AIGA have a cool event we wanted to tell you about. Come out for cocktails, mingling and plenty of inspiration to get your vote on!

event:
get out the vote poster display

date:
thursday october 30, 6-8pm

venue:
Abilene Bar and Lounge
153 Liberty Pole Way Rochester, NY

description:
-24 juried posters printed by AIGA National will be on display.
-250+ posters will be projected.
View Posters here.

-AIGA Upstate Member, Anna Keeler was selected as one of the twenty-four posters. She will be our guest of honor.

-Posters will be raffled off at event.

More details to come on monday, october 20th, 2008.
Visit the AIGA Upstate New York website for more information.

Freelance Creative Expo Recap

We held our 6th annual Freelance Creative Expo tonight at the Memorial Art Gallery. Over 30 exhibitors and about 150 attendees participated. I heard a lot of good comments and saw a lot of new faces. Many thanks to Diane Fitzgerald Harris for coordinating. Also, thanks to our great sponsors: Monroe Litho, Brewer & Newell, Digitech, A Touch of Excellence and AdHub for your tremendous support. Whether you were a sponsor, an attendee or an exhibitor, we really appreciate your participation. I’d love to hear what you thought of this year’s event. Please feel free to leave a comment here or send us an email and let us know your feedback.

AAF Book Drive

The AAF is launching a new organization-wide public service initiative—a three-week book drive to benefit the Books for Kids Foundation, which they hope underscores AAF’s commitment to education.

The AAF is encouraging individual members from all of their clubs, as well as college chapters and corporate organizations, to donate new books appropriate for kids ages kindergarten to third grade during the drive, October 27 to November 18. The Books for Kids Foundation provides books, creates children’s libraries in underserved locations and participates in reading initiatives with community-based organizations. The majority of the organizations who receive books are public schools or day-care facilities, homeless shelters, after-school programs and community centers. Members’ participation will target nonprofit community-based organizations located across the country and in the AAF’s 15 geographic districts.

For complete information on the book drive and to download the donation form, please visit http://www.aaf.org/books.

How to Participate

  • Step 1: Purchase a new book or books appropriate for kids from kindergarten through third grade.
  • Step 2: Fill out this form (http://www.aaf.org/books/logform.pdf) and print it. Each individual donor from an organization must complete the form and enclose with each shipment of books. Be sure to include your club, college chapter or member organization name.
  • Step 3: Mail your donation to…
  • Books for Kids Foundation
    C/O Capital Moving & Storage
    97 Burma Road
    Jersey City, NJ 07305
    Contact number: (201) 332-7510

    The deadline for submissions is November 18, 2008.

    Shipping Instructions
    All books must be shipped directly to the Books for Kids Foundation. The AAF is teaming up with FedEx to make shipping more cost-effective for our members. In order to facilitate the shipment of book donations to the Books for Kids foundation, FedEx is offering all participants a discount of up to 25% on FedEx Express® services and up to 12% on FedEx Ground® services. To take advantage of this benefit, simply go to: http://enrollpreview.visionary.com/2153/ and enter promotion code 58R5R1 or call a FedEx Association Enrollment specialist toll free at (877)-269-0605.

    Important Facts:

    1. The book drive does not have to be a club event. However, clubs can coordinate a group donation by collecting books at an event or a centralized location if they’d like to.
    2. Each individual donor must fill out the AAF’s Book for Kids donation (http://www.aaf.org/books/logform.pdf) and include it with their donation, even if the donations are being sent together by a club.
    3. Donations are tax-deductible at an individual level, which is why we need information from each individual donor.
    4. All books must be sent directly to Books for Kids Headquarters.
    5. If your members would like to make a monetary donation instead, they can. There is a link on the AAF Books for Kids page. Please just make sure to specify that the donation is part of the AAF drive.
    6. Books for Kids identifies recipient organizations after it receives books, so the AAF will not be able to “target” specific donations to organizations. The AAF will compile a list of the final recipients of the donations after the drive is completed.
    7. The AAF will track donations so that we can acknowledge your participation.
    8. Thank you in advance for your participation and donations!

      Joanne Schecter
      EVP – Club Services
      American Advertising Federation
      1101 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 500
      Washington, DC 20005