on the road: SXSW

PHEW.  I returned from SXSW a week ago and only now feel like I've recovered. It was my first time and I went during the film and interactive portion.  Why you ask? To do some learning from some killer presenters and because... we had a film premier there! Yes, my team made a film called THE HOME TEAM for one of our client's last year and we decided to submit it to SXSW and it was selected.  We were very excited and I was excited to attend.  Check out the trailer:



But boy, was I exhausted.  There are so many things happening that you're racing around from one event to the next and you're not really sleeping much and there's so much to do and it's just GO GO GO.  But it was a great time, the film was received well (we didn't win, but oh well), I met some great new friends and caught up with old ones, and I even snuck in some awesome barbecue.  Here's some fun shots from the trip:

 (a friend was part of the Game of Thrones exhibit, so Mike and I snuck in on the first day and I had to pretend to be Joffrey. Mike doesn't watch the show, but I think he got it).

 (really fun beer garden over on Rainey St. It's been two years since I've been to Austin and this whole neighborhood has been built up).

 (damn I miss Jo's breakfast tacos...)

 (THE HOME TEAM team - well, those of us that were in Austin - at the premiere)

 (director's Q&A at our short doc screening)

 (oh hey, our poster out in Austin!)

 (a great NPR #Storied event we got invited to)

 (incredible barbecue at La Barbecue...take me back)

(Silicon Valley screening and Q&A with creators and cast - it was hilarious)

great content in 2013 and looking forward to 2014

I saw this great roundup of the best branded content of 2013from Digiday. I always post my favorite stuff for you here (see Whole Foods' Dark Rye, American Express's Passion Project, and J.Crew on Film), but I saw this film from cycling retailer Rapha from the article that I loved. The visuals and look & feel were spot on and it was a great experience piece of their brand.

Rapha Gentlemen's Race: Adelaide from RAPHA on Vimeo.


Although, I realized I never posted about one of my other favorite pieces of content: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. I remembered this during their quick and quirky Superbowl commercial. The concept is exactly what you think it is, hosted by Jerry Seinfeld and sponsored by Acura.  They run a quick preroll commercial before diving into the content and it's a great way for a brand to get somewhere in a space people already love-- comedy (check out the Chris Rock one, my favorite).

Even Coca-Cola is joining the trend of beautiful content about their brand when they scrapped their corporate website, hired some journalists and started Coca-Cola Journey (read about that here).

I started in content two and a half years ago and pretty much used to explain it to people by saying "you know how Redbull makes films and such not about Redbull? That's what I do."  Now, more and more people are understanding content and not only do they want it, they know they need it - the numbers are pouring in on how creating content that doesn't interrupt people's lives, but creates films, experiences and websites in which their consumers seek them out is a much more positive and successful form of advertising.

And while I still use my Redbull analogy, I use it less and less as more great content emerges.  I'm looking forward to seeing content continue to grow and in the different ways it manifests itself (and what I'm most interested - how it makes a difference). 

2014: this just in

This year, I will explore people, accept myself instead of working on myself and just be, live, love, grow. Let's see what happens.

british library in public domain

This is interesting - the British Library just put one million images in public domain and some of them are downright weird. But hey - use away!

marketing for good: Walter Mitty promo video

Here was a simple and wonderful idea - take the video promo budget of a major motion picture and do some good with it, like spend it on disaster relief in the Philippines.  That's what this guy did and everyone wins - this guy gets work, people get help and the movie gets promoted through this anyway.  Read the full article here and watch the video below.

married in Boston

Saw the cutest video today from the City of Boston called "One Thing That Makes City Hall Special." City Hall here in town gets a bad rap because it's hideous.  Well, this video doesn't deny it, but it celebrates what happens on the 6th floor...weddings! Check it out:

One Thing That Makes City Hall Special from City of Boston on Vimeo.

There's also an adorable tumblr called Married in Boston to go along with it where people can submit their City Hall wedding photos.  So charming.

slow down & sweater weather

Fall is starting to feel very much underway.  I'm heading back home today after five weeks of nonstop travel- it will be nice to sleep in my own bed again tonight.  The trip has been fabulous and I can't help but think about how lucky I am to have a job that allows me to visit such great place, meet such wonderful people and tell such beautiful stories; but, it'll also be nice to be back home and into my old routine.  Besides- as my friend Michael says, no one does fall like Lady New England.  I'm looking forward to the trees changing here, pints of pumpkin beer after work and drinking warm tea during walks along the river during the slow down time of sweater weather.  I always say it's also the perfect time for self reflection, reexamining how you want your life to look and shifting perspective.  We'll see what else the coming months hold.