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Fonk for Thoughts: Benrik Limited
French-New Zealandish-Swedish Benrik Limited promote their warped vision, imposing it on consumers everywhere. Time for their Fonk for Thoughts.
Photo Benrik Limited: 'Your values are our toilet paper.' BlogFonk: Who are Ben Carey and Henrik Delehag? And where are you from? Benrik: Ben Carey and Henrik Delehag are Benrik Limited. Ben is half-French, half-New Zealander. Henrik is from Sweden. They left advertising and formed Benrik in 2003 to promote their warped vision of the world, imposing it on consumers everywhere and indeed on the world itself. BlogFonk: Do you love your work? Why (not)? Benrik: It's not work. That's why. BlogFonk: What is 'This Diary Will Change Your Life' all about? Benrik: 'This Diary Will Change Your Life' is a diary that dictates your life for the year, with one instruction per day. Each day is designed like a poster, in a totally different graphic style. The first one came out last year with tasks such as 'today do a runner', 'today propose to a complete stranger' and 'today be gay for a day'. The 2005 edition has just been published, and claims to be more radical. Follow it for a year and your life will definitely change, although not necessarily for the better. 
BlogFonk: Did it change your life? Benrik: Yes. BlogFonk: Is there difference in mentality of creatives in the countries you've worked? Benrik: Our experience is that Franco-Kiwi-Swedish creatives based in London tend to be much more talented and broad-minded than others. BlogFonk: What are the latest important developments you've noticed in advertising? Benrik: Since leaving advertising, we have mostly stopped noticing it, like normal people. It may be a cliché, but advertising is facing a slow death as people have more control over what they view. In the future, advertisers won't be able to bash people over the head with their media spend but will have to score brownie points with consumers by helping create genuinely worthwhile entertainment. 
BlogFonk: Which project are you most proud of? Benrik: We're always most proud of the last thing we've done. Right now, it's 'The Couple's Book', the first book designed for two people. It's an interactive companion to the modern relationship, where couples write down their issues with each other and document the unique details of their relationship, like who paid on the first date, their vintage orgasms, their trial separations, and much more. It also explains who gets to keep it in case of divorce... It's not out yet but you can check out some pages on our site www.benrik.co.uk. BlogFonk: If you'd be given the chance to do something over again, what would that be? Benrik: This interview. BlogFonk: Finally, what is your motto, your 'Fonk for Thoughts' (inspiration to be creative)? Benrik: Benrik's motto is 'Your values are our toilet paper'.
posted by BlogFonk: Thursday, September 30, 2004 [#]
Behind the Idea: 'The Number 118-118'
What were creatives really thinking when they developed 'The Number 118-118', the number for directory assistance?
Photo 'The Number 118-188': The number for directory assistance. Creative team: Andy Dibb & Steve Little from ad agency WCRS, Londen. Campaign: 40 second TV with lots of 10 second ads, such as the guys startling a guest in a hotel room by jumping out of the wardrobe and yelling 'Got your number'. We also used posters quite heavily. Idea: To establish '118-118' as the number for directory assistance. Make it memorable, warm, talked about. Eventually there were '118-118' nights in pubs, '118-118' stag nights, '118-118' people at Wimbledon and got a lot of column inches in the tabloid press. Where: We started with the numbers '118' making up two animated figures. The '8' being the head and body, the 1's being the legs. We did a bit of research and they were found to be a little cold, so we moved on to thinking about what real life people carry numbers, such as policemen, athletes, etcetera and put this idea to a few directors. One guy, Jim Hosking, came in with this great shot of American sixties runner Steve Prefontaine resplendent in a huge moustache. We new it was immidiately right. The American and UK clients were expecting a serious Nike type ad, but had the foresight to go along with a humourous route. We also went early with our campaign and captured the high ground early, which turned out to be crucial. Satisfied: The campaign has been a big success, shifted product and picked up the odd award. The client and the agency are happy. Now it's evolving the brand onto years 2, 3 and 4 and keeping the work fresh and exciting. Comment: It's like every good job, you have to have the right brief, right client, at the right time, and we did.
posted by BlogFonk: Thursday, September 30, 2004 [#]
RESFEST Digital Film Festival 2004
Get ready to enjoy the biggest festival yet, with programs that include short films, music videos, motion design, live music, guest speakers and much more.
In the next four months the eighth annual RESFEST Digital Film Festival will take place in 33 cities in 13 countries on 6 continents. It is the largest festival of its kind. 
Photo 'I Changed My Mind' (Dir: Shynola/UK): Each year the RESFEST festival organisation travels the globe and watch thousands of films in search of outstanding works to program. In reviewing this year's 1,500 submissions, the festival organisation found many work that reflect our strange and uncertain times. In light of that a special program called Bushwhacked is put together, highlighting filmmakers' responses to the political climate in advance of this year's US presidential election.
posted by BlogFonk: Thursday, September 30, 2004 [#]
LOTW: www.woostercollective.com
This Link Of The Week (LOTW) is about 'A Celebration of Street Art'.
Photo: Fresh Stuff From Roadsworth in Canada. The description of the people behind www.woostercollective.com is: COLLECTIVE \Col*lect"ive\: done by or characteristic of individuals acting together; 'a joint identity'; 'the collective mind'; members of a co-operative enterprise. WOOSTER: a street in Soho, New York. Good source of inspiration, throw away those advertising annuals and get inspired by the street!
posted by BlogFonk: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 [#]
Fonk for Thoughts: Leandro Alvarez
Portugese President and CD of TBWA\EPG Leandro Alvarez encourages creative transparency through the agency's weblog. His Fonks for Thoughts...
Photo Leandro Alvarez: 'Our corporate weblog, 'TBLOGWA', increased our awareness in a very short time.' BlogFonk: Who is Leandro Alvarez? And where are you from? Alvarez: I'm the President and Creative Director of TBWA\EPG in Lisbon, Portugal. BlogFonk: Do you love your work? Why (not)? Alvarez: Half of the time I have an exciting and very rewarding job. The other half I'm the President. BlogFonk: What is 'TBLOGWA' all about? Alvarez: TBLOGWA is a site in a blog format where everybody involved with the advertising business can see what we do and how we do it on a daily basis. It's also a way of establishing a dialogue between the agency and students, clients, other agencies and journalists. BlogFonk: Do you think weblogs, which follow advertising trends, have added value towards ad agencies? Alvarez: In our specific case the feedback has been fantastic. I don't have numbers yet, but I feel that we have increased our awareness in a very short time. BlogFonk: Is there difference in mentality of creatives in the countries you've worked? Alvarez: Creative people are all different but are all the same. Although I believe culture and language make people think in a very unique way. That's why a Japanese creative has ideas that a Portuguese one will never have. BlogFonk: What are the latest important developments you've noticed in advertising? Alvarez: Creative teams by Bill Bernbach in the 60's. The rest is just bull. BlogFonk: Which project are you most proud of? Alvarez: I am very proud of the work we are doing for IKEA since its launch in 2003. It's exciting to help build such an iconic brand in the Portuguese market. BlogFonk: If you'd be given the chance to do something over again, what would that be? Alvarez: Choose the right numbers for last week lottery! BlogFonk: Finally, what is your motto, your 'Fonk for Thoughts' (inspiration to be creative)? Alvarez: Advertising is not a 100m race. It's a marathon.
posted by BlogFonk: Monday, September 27, 2004 [#]
Enhance Creative Brain Activity: #10
Use Fonkstra's '20 Ways To Enhance Your Creative Brain Activity' when your brain can't get in over-drive anymore. Get a closer look at #10 'Exercise'.
Photo '20 Ways' #10 Exercise: A new study shows that regular walking, just a few hours a week, can have a significant effect on protecting the brain from early signs of dementia. Start exercising: it's good for your heart and brain! As the baby-boomer generation ages, experts predict a large number will experience one devastating effect of old age: dementia. According to Captial News 9, Jennifer Weuve of the Harvard School of Public Health said, 'Better memory, learning and attention may be achieved by walking as little as two to three hours per week.'
posted by BlogFonk: Monday, September 27, 2004 [#]
SideNews week 39 update
Interesting newslinks...
Sinead O'Connor Advertises Her Sanity The singer has taken out a full-page ad in an Irish national newspaper to complain that she should not be 'called crazy'. Independent News Hollywood's New Partner: Brand Names Advertisers discussed how well products like Ray Ban sunglasses' association with 'Men in Black' and BMW's placement in recent James Bond movies had paid off for the companies. Newkerala Maine Promotes Itself In Fortune US state Maine has taken out an 11-page advertising supplement in Fortune magazine to promote changes recently made in business regulations and programs. Bangor Daily News Real Postal Workers To Star In National TV Ads A new United States Postal Service campaign is making postal workers the official face in national television ads. The Cincinnati Post Aussie Ad Campaign Reverts To Type The Australian tourism campaign aimed to promote a more 'sophisticated' image of the country but tourism bosses have been forced to splice in more traditional images including kangaroos and Uluru. Stuff $12M Ad Campaign Announces Life's Return Life, positioned as 'a backstage pass to America through a weekend magazine', is promoted via TV, print, radio, billboard, bus shelter, online & guerrilla media. DMNews Audi Promotes A3 Sportback Launch With Debut Viral It is the first time Audi has used a viral campaign to promote a model. Brand Republic Google Germany Wins Adwords Trademark Fight A court in Germany has ruled against Metaspinner Media, which was seeking to stop the search engine from selling adverts relating to its trademarks. The Register Cuckoo For Cocoa Ads A much lauded ad campaign uses a new bag of tricks to shill its product, Snickers. AlertNet Madison Avenue Crowns America's Ad Icons Those talking M&M's candy characters cleaned up, with 22 percent of more than 600,000 votes cast. The Christian Science Monitor Volvo viral campaign 'Life on board', which is launched this week, features sports personalities who have overcome great sporting injuries, including Bethany Hamilton, the 14-year-old surfing champion who had her arm bitten off by a shark. Revolution Online Video Ads Continue To Face Hurdles What will it take for advertisers to adopt online video as a component of their campaigns? Media Daily News Advertising Icons Come to Life at New York Event The Maytag Repairman and other American advertising icons received an unusual tribute at the start of Advertising Week in New York. Reuters How Heatmaps Can Help The Poynter Institute observed how users interact with ads before they click on (or away from) them. Heatspots, see this heatmap, are aggregate representations of all participants' eye fixations on a page. ClickZ From Games To Ads, Self-Service Works Companies give customers what they want with more do-it-yourself options. Information Week Giveaway On Oprah Show Could Become TV Standard General Motors took a Goliath's step past the norm in the 'product placement' game, in finding ways to finagle their products into actual programs. Pilot Online Yahoo-Donald and Burger King- AOL Deals NBC 'The Apprentice' fans can visit a new Web site. And Burger King and America Online announced purchasers of an Original Whopper sandwich will get a code on their burger wrappers, which they enter at a special Web site for a free Internet song download. The Wichita Eagle 'Commercial Queen' Aya Ueto Ueto won the judges' special award in the All-Japan National Beauty contest for girls. In Japan, such an award guarantees the winner of countless product endorsements, guest appearances on TV variety shows and image character deals. Japan Today
posted by BlogFonk: Monday, September 27, 2004 [#]
Advertising Week NYC 2004
Tony The Tiger, Mr. Peanut, the Jolly Green Giant, the Michelin Man, Charlie Tuna and dozens of other instantly recognizable icons will take over New York City for the week of September 20, 2004.
Featuring more than 200 events, Advertising Week in New York City (AWINYC) is a historic and unprecedented weeklong celebration of advertising running September 20-24, 2004. Headlining the festivities will be four major exhibits at Grand Central's historic Vanderbilt Hall. Two of the exhibits will celebrate the contributions of advertising to public service, featuring retrospectives of the collective works of the Ad Council and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. The others will celebrate quintessential New York themes, a tribute to the 'I Love New York' campaign, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and a visual history of Broadway advertising curated by Serino Coyne. 
Photo: Advertising Week in New York City started off with a bang, crowning America's favorite product icons and slogans of all time (voted by the public.) M&M's won both categories. There's still time to register for the 2004 American Association of Advertising Agencies Creative Conference on September 23-24, 2004, in the heart of New York City's Times Square at the Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel. As the centerpiece of Advertising Week in New York City, the Conference will feature an all-star lineup of more than 20 of today's top creative leaders, including: - Ewen Cameron, Berlin Cameron / Red Cell - Nina DiSesa, McCann Erickson - David Lubars, BBDO Worldwide - Chuck Porter, Crispin Porter + Bogusky.
posted by BlogFonk: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 [#]
Fonk for Thoughts: Brad Forsythe
As creator and co-host of The Advertising Show, Brad Forsythe brings 25 years of advertising, marketing and media experience. His Fonks for Thoughts...
Photo Brad Forsythe: 'There are no rules, no proven formula to marketing and advertising.' BlogFonk: Who is Brad Forsythe? Where are you from? Forsythe: Creator and Co-Host of The Advertising Show, CEO and Co-Founder of Forsythe & Butler and a creative mind with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, from the U.S. BlogFonk: Do you love your work? Forsythe: If I didn't love it, I wouldn't do it. BlogFonk: Why? Forsythe: Because there are no rules, no proven formula to marketing and advertising. In fact, those who think they know the rules understand later in their career, that only by breaking the rules you do stand to realize the greatest success from any marketing effort. BlogFonk: What is 'The Advertising Show' all about? Forsythe: The show is primarily about entertainment. It's about providing a channel for advertising, marketing, branding, and media professionals who have an interest in learning what's on the cutting edge within their respected industries. Our show strives each week to strike a balance between being informative and being entertaining. 
I often tell our guests before going on the air we have three goals we shoot for during each interview segment. Number one is to have fun. Number two is to be informative and number three is to have fun. Hopefully for those that listen to our show this comes through. BlogFonk: Is there difference in mentality of creatives in the countries you've worked? Forsythe: Not really. There are great creative minds around the world and there is a lot of creative that really sucks. Typically the more conservative your client's corporate culture, the greater tendency for safe marketing. The more forward thinking clients get innovative marketing ideas from their ad agencies. In my opinion, no matter what part of the world you're seeing marketing and advertising executed, clients tend to get the quality of advertising they deserve. BlogFonk: What are the latest important developments you've noticed in advertising? Forsythe: That the traditional advertising and marketing models are broken. Seeking new ways to reach today's consumer is the focus of most clients and marketing firms. BlogFonk: Which project are you most proud of? Forsythe: I suppose the work I'm most proud of is the work for The Advertising Show. With the help of my co-host, Ray Schilens, and others I've been able to take an idea that was rolling around in my head more than three years ago for a radio program and within a few months see it come to life. BlogFonk: If you'd be given the chance to do something over again, what would that be? Forsythe: Nothing. I never look back nor do I live a life of regret. For me life is all about learning from your successes and your failures and I don't get too emotionally attached to either. BlogFonk: Finally, what is your motto, your 'Fonk for Thoughts' (inspiration to be creative)? Forsythe: My Fonk for Thought is 'Inspiration is overrated. Either you're creative or you're not. Inspiration on its own won't get you there.'
posted by BlogFonk: Monday, September 20, 2004 [#]
Fonkcov: first mailbox magazine cover
A cover with interesting clickable links that might inspire professionals working in advertising, design, marketing or other related areas.
Photo: Fonkcov's first issue. If you're looking for Fonk For Thoughts and more inspiration for creativity, don't look any further. Subscribe to Fonkcov, the world's first mailbox magazine cover with links to click on! Leave your emailaddress and receive every two weeks an issue. It's free! Fonkcov's first issue shows links to interviews with Jan Rijkenberg, Åsk Wäppling, Chad Rea and Peter McHugh. Next issue will be published October 1, 2004.
posted by BlogFonk: Monday, September 20, 2004 [#]
LOTW: The Living Room Candidate
This Link Of The Week (LOTW) is about vintage and recent U.S. presidential campaigns.
Photo: The American Museum of the Moving Image shows presidential commercials from 1952-2004. At livingroomcandidate.movingimage.us vintage commercials are shown, ranging from Dwight D. Eisenhower's pioneering TV ads of 1952 right up to this year's Swift Boat slugfest. They can be located by year and political party (including third-party candidates such as George Wallace and Ross Perot), type of commercial (biographical, fear-based, using children), issues (taxes, war, welfare); even ads in which a candidate's statements backfire. A section called The Desktop Candidate showcases emergent Internet ads with more than a dozen 2004 spots (including some no longer posted by their creators). It also covers candidates' Web sites from 1996 onward and the TV 'shadow campaigns' of partisan groups. [Source: Newsday]
posted by BlogFonk: Monday, September 20, 2004 [#]
SideNews week 38 update
Interesting newslinks...
Complaint Against 'Ugly Kids' Campaign Upheld The campaign shows pictures of three children with facial deformities, such as an enlarged chin, missing and bucked teeth, and invites people to vote on-line for the ugliest child. Stuff Tobacco Advertising In China Cigarette brands will be plastered on cars at China's first-ever Formula One Grand Prix despite a city-wide advertising ban on tobacco, f1.racing-live.com SMS ads? UK consumers find new media ads so irritating, they'd rather be cold called. silicon.com Wall St. Journal To Start Saturday Editions Launching a Saturday edition should enable The Wall Street Journal to diversify and moderate cyclicality in Journal ad revenues. Forbes 'If You Drink And Drive You're A Bloody Idiot' The message takes the form of logos fixed to the metal panel of urinals and will soon be seen in pub toilets. TVNZ Comedy 'Better Than Sex' In Ads Overtly sexual advertising appears to have lost its pulling power. Independent News Advertising Crossing Over Into TV Shows Could this mean the end of traditional advertising? Most advertisers don't think that is likely. CNN British Airways 'Go With Those Who Know' Campaign Created by M&C Saatchi in New York, the campaign focuses entirely on London as a destination, and highlights an authentic London experience that only a 'local' like British Airways can provide. Yahoo Philips Realigns Around New Brand Promise Royal Philips Electronics announced a new brand promise evolving around the concept of 'Sense and Simplicity'. Business Wire The Keyword In Advertising: Relevance Consumers prefer banner ads that are relevant to their needs. Audio Graphics Embedded advertising Wieden+Kennedy is moving far beyond television commercials to create product-embedded documentaries, TV shows and even a Broadway-style musical. The Oregon The Writing's On The Wall Fly-posting is one of the most important forms of social communication. Independent News Color Marketing in Vogue Companies actively use colors for effective brand management in order to promote product awareness. The Korea Times They Know What You Want Scientists and ad executives hope to unravel advertising mysteries such as these with neuromarketing. The Age Lavatory Labs For High-Tech Ads Liquid crystal display screens resembling television sets are appearing above urinals and hand dryers. The Arizona Republic
posted by BlogFonk: Sunday, September 19, 2004 [#]
Fonk for Thoughts: Jan Rijkenberg
Dutch creative entrepreneur Jan Rijkenberg of internationally active 'creative consultancy' bsur ('Be As You Are') talks about his Fonk for Thoughts...
Photo Jan Rijkenberg: 'Be As You Are.' BlogFonk: Who is Jan Rijkenberg? Rijkenberg: An idealistic creative entrepreneur. BlogFonk: Do you love your work? Why? Rijkenberg: Yes, because I am not working, but building on the ideas Joost (Perik) and I have, together with around 35 independent characters who make BSUR Concepting. Creating an internationally active 'creative consultancy' based in Amsterdam is something we dreamed of five years ago, but it is a reality now! Which makes it even more fun: more international clients with exciting requests, more international staff in the house and more travel than ever before to do so, picking up inspiration wherever we are at the same time. BlogFonk: What is your book 'Concepting' all about? Rijkenberg: The subtitle on the cover says: 'Creating successful brands in a communication oriented area'. And that's what it's about. That brands should be based on strong concepts (visions etc.) rather than on product claims. And since 80% of the marketing world the last decades has become an analytical, rational product oriented exercise, my book is also a crussade against 'marketing by the checklist' that leads to me-too 'solutions'. I hope my book stimulates people to be more creative and entrepreneurial in marketing and communications. Use your guts and creativity!! 
BlogFonk: What are the latest important developments you've noticed in advertising? Rijkenberg: The main development is that advertising, previously seen as the main communication tool, now has become only a part of a much wider totally integrated mix. Unfortunately the advertising industry is the last to see this. The advertising industry is the least innovative I know. And doesn't see that we go from 'mass' to 'multi-micro' approaches, including internet, SMS etc. As far as advertising style is concerned you can see in West Europe, that advertising becomes more 'realistic', more unpolished. It looks less like advertising and therefore doesn't work at all in countries like for instance Spain and Greece. You can also look at it differently: the West European consumers have had more than enough advertising to consume, they increasingly ignore fakeness and polished sellingstories. BlogFonk: Is there difference in mentality of creatives in the countries you've worked? Rijkenberg: I have only worked out of Amsterdam, but we do work with a lot of creatives from other countries. I believe the real talents are not that much different from each other, they all go for 'essence' and the 'big idea'. What I do see is the way they communicate. Our English designers are more listeners, they work hard and produce a lot. Where Dutch talk a lot, debate and 'negotiate' to get the best out of creative processes. Next to that I enjoy to see young Canadian and Australian talent come to Europe, bringing a lot of world knowledge and views at a surprisingly young age. BlogFonk: Which project for a client are you most proud of? Rijkenberg: That is like asking a father which of his children he prefers most. You don't ask such things! But when you force me, I think what we do for Wrangler in Europe at the moment is something big. With a very simple theme 'WANTED' and a very new way of more fashionable advertising, I believe the brand will be better connected with the younger target groups throughout Europe. Not 'one TV commercial every two years', but being in the streets and magazines a couple of times throughout the year with a great variety of 'unexpected' Wrangler fashion. All of them only have one line: WANTED. BlogFonk: If you'd be given the chance to do something over again, what would that be? Rijkenberg: Eight years ago: a couple of TV commercials for an insurance company where we wanted to be funny, but failed. That means: the board didn't approve them after production; it was not their kind of humour. And that was the big lesson: we should have involved those board people earlier. Then either they 'had grown into the idea' or we had created something else. BlogFonk: Finally, what is your motto, your 'Fonk for Thoughts' (inspriration to be creative)? Rijkenberg: Be As You Are.
posted by BlogFonk: Thursday, September 16, 2004 [#]
Art Directors Club & Young Guns 4
The Art Directors Club (ADC) in New York is a forum for creative leaders in Advertising, Design, and Interactive Media. With a new website.
The ADC is the premier organization for integrated media and the first international creative collective of its kind. Founded in New York in 1920, the ADC is a self-funding, not-for-profit membership organization that celebrates and inspires creative excellence, connecting creative visual communications professionals from around the world. 
Photo ADC gallery, New York: A new 5,000 square-foot gallery with reception and dining spaces which can accommodate groups as small as 20 and up to 500. The new ADC website www.adcglobal.org is designed by R/GA Associates in New York and was launched the day of ADC's 83rd Annual Awards Gala, June 3, 2004. It demonstrates the 360-degree focus of the ADC. The new ADC logo was designed by Paula Scher, incorporating the letter 'c' into the familiar 'AD'. Albrecht Durer's initials were adopted as the logo for the Art Directors Club at its founding in 1920. ADC Young Guns 4 is a biennial competition for young creative Professionals in advertising, design and new media. For the first time, ADC Young Guns 4 accepted entries from around the world. The exhibition runs from September 10 until October 22, 2004 and is open to the public. Two panel discussions are scheduled for September 23 and October 7, 2004. Here a preview of the winners. 
Photo's of the opening reception for ADC Young Guns 4 in the ADC Gallery New York, September 9, 2004. Photo credits: Ric Kallaher. Young Guns 4 is a great initiative! Very nice and inspirational work!
posted by BlogFonk: Thursday, September 16, 2004 [#]
LOTW: www.davidreviews.com
This Link Of The Week (LOTW) is about television commercials.
DAVID REVIEWS is a monthly DVD compilation of UK television commercials designed as a tool for advertising professionals. Each issue contains between 120 and 180 new commercials (depending on how much new material is broadcast). There are also special features looking at Key Re-runs (those ads that reappear on our screens after an interlude). Each issue of DAVID is accompanied by a colour booklet detailing the names of the companies and individuals who created each of the UK-made ads. This information is also available in a subtitle stream on the DVD itself so that subscribers can watch the videos as the names of the agency creatives and directors are scrolled across the screen. DAVID is presented in 16:9 Widescreen and because all the material is sourced digitally, the ads are close to broadcast quality. Nice.
posted by BlogFonk: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 [#]
Fonk for Thoughts: Harry Bliss
U.S. cartoonist and illustrator for The New Yorker, Harry Bliss, about work, children and humor. His Fonk for Thoughts...
Photo Harry Bliss: 'It is very important for me to make people laugh. It's rewarding on many levels.' BlogFonk: Who is Harry Bliss? Bliss: I'm a cartoonist and cover artist for The New Yorker magazine. In addition, I've illustrated six books for children. I was born into a family of working artists, all nuts. I live in northern Vermont with my wife, Kelly, and my son, Alexander. BlogFonk: Do you love your work? Why? Bliss: Yes, I love my work. It is very important for me to make people laugh. It's rewarding on many levels. I'm one of those people who needs a great deal of attention, I always have. I suppose this is where making people laugh comes in handy. Plus, I get to work at home in my pajamas. BlogFonk: What is your latest book 'Diary of a Worm' all about? Bliss: It's about being small and living in a big world. This is a viewpoint children identify with. It is essentially a diary from the perspective of a worm. 'Dairy of a Worm' has been a very popular book with children and teachers because of its humor and its earth-friendly message. It was written by my friend and Caldecott Medal winner, Doreen Cronin. BlogFonk: Is there difference in mentality of creatives in the countries you've worked? Bliss: The short answer is no. I lived and worked in the United States my entire life. Books of mine that have been published in other countries have been well received, the art and humor seems to be universal. BlogFonk: What are the latest important developments you've noticed in your branch as a cartoonist and illustrator? Bliss: Well, technology has made my job much easier. I no longer have to run to get film developed or head to the local library to get reference. I simply walk over to my computer and access anything I want. I work in a vacuum and don't have a great deal of contact with other artists. I don't really know too much about important 'developments' in my field. I see a lot of mediocre work out there, especially in children's books, and I do my best to raise the bar. As far as cartoons go there aren't too many outlets for cartoonists in the United States. Just a few magazines like the New Yorker and Playboy, which publish my work regularly. Fifty years ago this wasn't the case. Back then there were at least 15 different magazines publishing cartoons on a regular basis. One could easily make a living as a cartoonist fifty years ago. Those days are gone and it's much more difficult today. I try to branch out and do different things when I have a chance. The Converse ads I did are a good example of me doing this. BlogFonk: Yes, in the latest Converse gallery website, your film was for a long time watched the most. What is it all about? Bliss: It's about 3 things: youth, creativity and sport. The idea behind this commercial titled 'Hold the phone', came from watching my son draw. I thought, what if he was drawing a baseball game in action. I free associated for a while thinking maybe at the end a huge alien monster would pop out of the stands and reach for the baseball, but then I thought that may be too contrived or expected. I figured a huge baby would be funnier, less contrived. Besides, babies are funny as hell. It is ironic that this ad is the most successful film on the website because people don't generally associate Converse sneakers with the sport of baseball. I'm thrilled this commercial has been well received. I'm very proud of it. BlogFonk: Which project/work are you most proud of? Bliss: To be honest, I'm proud of all the work I've done. If I had to pick, I'd say my latest book for children 'Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth'. It's a book about a first grader who is misinformed that her teacher is a 300 year old alien who is after her first loose tooth. Obviously, the little heroine |
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