Monday, March 31, 2008

Freelance English Copywriter

This blog is also finished, to read the whole story, scroll to the bottom and read upwards.

Here is the sequel:

English Copywriter in Hong Kong

If you are looking for a freelance English copywriter click this link.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

"When You Reach For the Stars...

...you may not quite get one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either."

That's a quote from Mr. Burnett. I like it very much. And it's so true. I took a shot at a pretty tough goal and perhaps this just wasn't my year.

No matter. I came up with a handful of some pretty cool work. So I'm really happy with that.

I learned so much, actually. And I don't regret a thing.

Either way, this blog is finished. I'm taking the next month off to write my novel.

Will I document the process? Of course!

You can read about my third mission, and the sequel to this blog, right here:

An English Writer in Hong Kong

Thanks for reading. Thank you for your support. Let's catch up on the next page.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Last Day

Today is my last day at Ogilvy and Mather.

I have decided to take the next month off to visit with my brother and write my book.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Yay!

Ogilvy won top honours at the MTR Awards last night, taking home Agency of the Year (Creative).

Our Disneyland work won the following awards:

- Gold - Favourite Campaign - selected by MTR passengers; sample size 1,200 (Disneyland)
- Silver - Best Tactical Campaign (Disneyland)
- Best use of Power Zone - (Disneyland)

Super Mouse

Thanks to a little SEO copywriting, Maria now has the #1 spot in the world on Google for Native English Teacher.

Check out her informative teaching blog, and if you need private lessons, let her know.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Long Nights

We finished up this morning at 8 a.m.

We ran into the CEO as he was coming in to work. Amazing.

Why am I working so hard when I only have 6 days to go?

That is the interesting thing about advertising. Everything you do is good for your portfolio. Everything creative is worthwhile.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Finishing Strong

Last night we were here until 5:30 a.m. getting ready for an internal meeting.

We have a great brief on our hands from our biggest client, and the chance to do something really spectacular. So that’s fun.

We have some great ideas for stunts. Big stunts. The stuff that would have the whole of Hong Kong stop and take notice.

It’s nice to put in a good solid week before my contact’s up. You never know, this stuff, if it gets produced, may just get submitted for Cannes next year.

Monday, March 10, 2008

English Copywriter Pick of the Week

As an expat in Hong Kong, I can really relate to this spot. I think it takes place right near our office here in Central.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

But Wait...

Why am I still posting?

I thought this blog was over?

As it turns out, they have extended the deadline at Cannes until March 28th.

Another One From Brian

Brian wrote in to wish me: “Gambatte.”

It is the perfect expression.

A while back he sent me this gem.

It is an annual report for a food company that you need to bake before reading.




Friday, March 7, 2008

No Dice

Today is the submission date for Cannes.

Nothing of mine was entered.

What can I say? It was out of my hands.

And yes, maybe it’s true: While I couldn't have tried harder, I could have pushed more.

Either way, there is always next year.

What a drag.

So that’s that.

Now, I am going to do something I have been meaning to do my whole life.

I am going to write my book.

I’m leaving Ogilvy March 18th.

My plan is to spend some time with my brother. And take a rest. Then I will take a month to write.

After that, who knows?

(Probably another blog...)


Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Dreams, Visions, Wild Ideas

The nice thing about working in a creative industry is being able to put all your random ideas to good use.


Monday, March 3, 2008

English Copywriter Pick of the Week

This is one of the spots that made Howard want to do ads. Super cool.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Bjork in Hong Kong

I went to see Bjork the other night at Asia World Expo. It was exactly the spectacle I had hoped for. For some reason only a few thousand people came to see this incomparable Nordic star in action.

All of the eccentricities were out in full force. Visually, it was vivid. Hanging from the ceiling were medieval pennants adorned with pastel fish and amphibians. And beneath, she danced in a firecracker dress, smashing cymbals with her outstretched little hands. Wailing, writhing and wafting through eerie synths and spooky sounds and playful green lasers while an odd and animated horn section swayed with their shiny brass instruments under flapping and flagging red banners.

Her voice was a signature moan. The music ranged from soothing to savage, peaking with the growling, stomping, jungle war cry of "Army of Me."

She spoke to the crowd only little. At first to request that they turn off the hundreds of video cameras you see glowing above the bouncing heads of every show. (Amazingly enough, most heeded her wish.) And later to innocently congratulate Hong Kong on the Olympics and speak a little Cantonese.

The finale had thousands of white paper squares explode into the air and rain down like snow. She barked the words to "Declare Independence" and the chorus echoed in a wild chant over and over and the crowd joined in and the frenzy grew and the lyrics spat out from the wild-eyed few: "Raise your own flag! Raise your own flag!"