Love them or hate them, or love to hate them, reality TV does not seem to be going away any time soon. I think we all thought it would have run its course by now, but it only seems to continue to expand. Want evidence? “The Real Housewives” franchise is embarking on its 5th spinoff in Beverly Hills (I guess that one in D.C. never came to fruition), and speaking of “the Hills”, which was a spinoff of “Laguna Beach”, that has now spun off in “the City” and even that brunette chick is getting her own show now. I must admit, I do indulge in some of these shows from time to time, but it is a little bizarre just how pervasive it has all become. I mean, FOX has a dedicated network that only shows re-runs of reality shows (in case you really miss Temptation Island).
So it got me to thinking, what if I wanted to pitch an idea for a new reality show? I mean, how hard could it be? I came across this web site where they give you all the goods on how to pitch a reality show idea. Considering all of the awful ideas for shows floating around lately (we are talking to you, Sarah Palin and Heidi Montag..oh and even Levi Johnston), I figured I would look into just what this process entails, as I have a show idea myself to pitch (sorry, but I can’t blog it because that is the first rule of pitching a show, you can’t let it out before you get a deal).
Here are the rules to follow:
1. Be Specific in your concept, and try several approaches
2. Choose concepts and subjects that are highly marketable
3. Think of movies
4. Identify Unique Professions or Lifestyles
5. There are plays in morality or social dynamics
And if all else fails, and you don’t get the deal of a lifetime, you can make your own reality show, like this woman.
So, I am going to follow the rules of this Web site and try to pitch my own show. To be continued…
March 26, 2010 • 11:27 am • POSTED BY brendan quinn
Our friends at Michigan State University are basking in the glow of one of the NCAA tournament’s greatest finishes of all time, when the awesomely named Korie Lucious hit a buzzer beating shot that put the Spartans in the Sweet Sixteen and gave them another epic achievement in their storied sports history.
But here’s the thing:
Michigan State does amazing things all the time that have nothing to do with a ball and a hoop or linebackers and shoulder pads. It’s a genuinely awe-inspiring place, where its people combine brilliant minds with a roll-up-your-sleeves Midwest work ethic to create solutions that change the world for the better. We’re rolling out an ad campaign with MSU that features this TV spot, which shows the potential that exists at the beginning of every day on MSU’s massive campus:
Hopefully you enjoy it. And hopefully we all enjoy another Spartan Final Four appearance after this weekend.
Signed,
A Penn State grad who’ll give credit when it’s due
March 22, 2010 • 12:17 pm • POSTED BY stephen penning
One of the assignments I look forward to every year is creating the concept and materials for De’Longhi’s IHA trade show presence. It is one of the major opportunities for the brand to engage with the trade audience. It is also one of those projects where you get to translate an idea across a ton of mediums ranging from a physical space to video to print to you get the idea.
This year was particularly fun because we were given the opportunity to completely redesign the booth. We partnered with Star Inc. in Chicago and developed a space that took advantage of the giant footprint that De’Longhi has on the showroom floor.
The concept for the booth was to celebrate De’Longhi’s design principals and demonstrate via their new and evolving products how these principals are brought to life. De’Longhi is the only housewares brand that has a team of Italian designers and engineers expertly crafting their products. This is a distinct and relevant attribute to the trade.
With that, we took their beliefs and translated them into typographic landscapes that spanned the giant walls of the booth structure. We elevated their brand photography with more dramatic lighting, product pairings and added depth. We took this new photography and showcased it on 20ft towers that served as the backdrop for actual product. On a micro scale we brought the concept to everything from product id tags to press kits assuring that every touch point reinforced the overarching vision.
Our efforts resulted in De’Longhi having one of its most successful shows.
March 15, 2010 • 11:45 am • POSTED BY Dan Shepelavy
Think of it this way…if Medalist was a band, I’d like to think they’d be Cheap Trick. Direct and intense with just enough humor and art to make you realize how well made and smart it really is….
Medalist is a small, smart outfit out in Reading, PA. They have a technology that does this thing, and does it really well…it’s a fabric, SilverMax, that eliminates/controls scent and body temperature. And weighs next to nothing. And is comfortable. The apparel is used by hunters, cops, firemen, and performance athletes. Oh, and astronauts! And anyone else who puts it on- regular folk, expecting moms, construction workers, etc…It works exactly as described, and it’s the best. And they need a brand.
So the brand we built is as direct and unfussy as the product. What do hunters, cops, firemen, and performance athletes have in common? They are demanding, passionate experts. And when they do what they do, they are defined by moments. The score, the count, the save, the rescue. Straight as pie. Just make it count. Same thing with the work. Great headlines, powerful type, epic photography, bold intense color palette – same thing. Just simple, classic advertising done with passion and chops. Check out the work here.
I am a cyclist and a fervent music fan. So you can imagine how excited I was a couple weeks ago when David Byrne stopped by Philly to talk about how bicycling has helped transform the urban experience. Unfortunately, no music jams or giant-suit wearing were involved. But, all that bike talk was just as stimulating for the noggin. MORE
