Script Secrets, Secret Geeks

I spent the weekend attending the Script Secrets, Screenplay writing course over at Raindance. Nice going guys, it was most informative. I don't really want to be a screenplay writer, but I thought that since Dare were prepared to foot the bill then learning a bit about the craft of the writer could only put me in better stead to pursue my romantic ambitions of becoming a truly great interactive director.

What did I find? Well I found myself amongst quite a bizzar collection of odd freaks, geeks and oddballs; even by my most liberal and accepting standards.

Dispel romantic notions of troubled creative writers, twisted on drugs, alcohol and ether; staying up all night exorcising various inner demons via hacking away at their typewriters. No. They're just a freak minority of social misfits who want to live out their fantasies of love, lust, valor, honor, betrayal, mystery and intrigue by hiding themselves in their retrospectively created fictional worlds. Where were the twisted, sworded intellectuals, aspiring to write themselves a better future; pointing through this great medium of fiction to the way we should be aspiring to live? Absent that day it seems, instead a collection of flag waving Greenpeace activists who want to mothball all aircraft travel along with the strong contingent of over zealous gushers, obsessed with conspiracy theory.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

Really.

I wish these dudes, who made me realise a few things, all the best of luck in a cut throat business.

1. I need to widen my criteria of acceptance and scrub the "of a certain type", from my, "All freaks, geeks and twisted people accepted" sign.
2. We NEED people like this. Dreamers.
3. Nothing ever got created by people who give in to Mr Cynical.
4. Working in Advertising has made me too quick to judge.

In reflection I think that this craft of the word-smith is perhaps one which requires a strong streak of unconformity and an introverted nature; as to master these cynical tools of juxtaposition and cruel manipulation of mood requires reflection along with the ability to bite your own tongue while you wait to construct your thoughts with a more informed eloqunce.

Long live the great screen writers.

Dare do DRTV

And so, here I am, just over one year into the crazy world of Dare and ddddigital Advertising and I didn't expect to be posting a Vodafone DRTV in the folio of projects worked on at this place. For my part I have to pass on all production credits to the amazingly talented illustration hands of Gavin L from the Creative Dpt, and Luke from the creative hothouse that is Dareschool. My contribution was in the technical/ finishing area only, wrangling renders etc.

I think that the work stands by its self, without any long winded appreciations from my dulcet tones; it has all of the style that we should be expecting from (otherwise often dull) DRTV commercials, and definitely is a champion. It seems that creativity and perseverance (a lot of sweat and mouse-grease from Gav), have outperformed the super-high production budgets and professional broadcast work flows of the big-boy agencies who rule the roost in this field of putting together TV commercials. Hats off to all involved - Eduardo lists the credits on his blog. For my part, only a satisfied smile and the hope that Dare continues to play a part in bringing it's creative edge onto the Telly.

Cheese

Watch Cheese mature, Live on a Webcam. Simple but great.