I DID NOT DO THIS VIDEO, IT IS POSTED AS INSPIRATION ONLY.
One of my favorites.
August 1, 2008
July 31, 2008
Pictionary
A few years back the game-show Pictionary was in syndication across the country with Alan Thicke as the host. I had the opportunity to produce a series of promotions for the show and help with its launch.
This still is from a production of one of the promotions. We were doing behind the scenes footage during one of the tapings of the show itself. After the shows were completed, we had time with each of the talent to get one liners, live reads, and wild shots.
July 29, 2008
Break The Rules
The media industry is all about knowing the rules, but, it’s very important to understand that you can and should, break those rules. I’m not talking video levels or transmissions standards, I’m talking creative principals of animation, editing, layout, design and all the other things that are similar.
MTV is the perfect example of this. Before the networks launch, jump cuts in editing were frowned upon and look at as unprofessional. Today, they’re a common occurrence in promotion, commercials, an even films. They’re common place now because the pioneers at MTV took a risk and broke the rules of the day.
For a little while now there has been a trend to dial back the slickness of spots and give them a “home-brew” feel, thanks in part to the proliferation of YouTube and other user created video sites. However, this is a practice that would have been laughed at only a few years ago in the late nineties.
So, I say, don’t be afraid to break the rules if the chance arises. Sometimes it won’t turn out well or be received by the public as intended, but, you tried. Eventually it will pay off.
Breaking the rules doesn’t have to mean, breaking the rules for an entire spot it could just mean for a certain element in a spot. Let’s say, an animation path where the curves are all out of whack creating a disconcerting feel, that will work for some concepts and help sell certain programs much better. Although, it’s against the norm of having the animation ease-in and eas-out in the way it “should.”
My concept of breaking the rules also transcends making something “ugly” or “wrong” when you break the rules, it could also be using technologies in ways they aren’t even intended for. Full length animated films may have never came about if it wasn’t for Walt Disney breaking the rules of his day.
So, where can we brake the rules? What technologies are ripe to be exploited to help us get our message out? I ask myself these questions many times when I’m presented with new technologies, concepts, or just trying to cut through the clutter of today’s sponsored surroundings.
*****NOTE: MOST EVERY IMAGE I POST ON THIS SITE IS FROM WORK THAT I’VE DONE. HOWEVER, THIS LOGO IS NOT SOMETHING I WORKED ON. I’M JUST USING IT TO ILLUSTRATE THE EXAMPLE IN THE POST.*****
Universal 360
Universal studios needed to start marketing and creating commercials for a new entertainment option at their resort.
However, the building and installation of the attraction was still a month or two off. So, they needed to create a photo-realistic version of the attraction so people would be compelled to come and see it when it opened.
We began the project by looking reference materials and videos provided by the company developing the technology. From there we build scale and texture accurate 3d objects of the attraction.
Next we needed the background plates of the location the structures will he when they launch. We shoot HD on a varicam from multiple angles and with talent.
The pieces were then composited together. Masking out another production crew in the shot, adding fireworks and lasers, color correction and turning the scene from dusk to nighttime.
In 3d space we had to create the objects, recreate the water due to some unwanted reflections and to get reflections from from our objects.
This still is a sample from one angle. We also create the shot entirely in 3d so the camera would fly around the orbs in the lagoon.
It was used in a great deal of spots and the event had a succeedful launch.
July 28, 2008
Managing vs. Leading
There is a fundamental difference between being a manager and being a leader. Although both concepts go hand in hand and may sound the same, we’ve all seen people that are managers, but, not great leaders.
A manager is someone that divvies up projects, assigns them, and tracks them on a calendar up until their completion. While this oversight of day to day work is an important aspect of overseeing a creative group, I contend that you must also be a great leader if you want a team that consistently delivers industry leading content.
What is my definition of a leader? A leader is someone that not only assigns projects, but, can also inspire their team to deliver content that their people are passionate about. A leader is someone that empowers his or her people with the knowledge and tools to utilize their artistic abilities. If a manager is not challenging their team, giving their people ownership and ensuring their team is focused on common goals, then, they’re not leading. Even if all projects are coming in on time and at status quo, that’s still not leading in my opinion, it’s being an effective manager, but , not being a strong leader.
In the broadcast industry, it’s imperative that we be both an effective manager and an inspirational leader. With how many hands, minds, and eyes touch each and every project, creative teams need the type of focus a strong leader brings to the table. In my career, the teams that have been challenged by projects and are aware of common goals, perform better and deliver higher caliber spots. While the teams that are segmented, unaware of where the team is headed, and detached from the creative process, become disenchanted, delivering what is needed, but, hardly ever go beyond that. Although the team makes deadlines, the quality of their product is only about average. In our profession, we should never be complacent with average work, with all of the competition trying to take away our viewers, our team has to want to surpass anything else out there.
We must keep our people challenged by offering them opportunities to explore and try different things. We have to respect and utilize each team members ideas, suggestions, and concepts. Some of the most innovative ideas can come from the mist unlikely sources, such as an intern, we can never forget that.
It’s our responsibility as creative leaders to create a road map for where our team needs to go, but, allow the entire team to collaborate and decide how we get there. Every project is completed with the blood, sweat and tears of numerous individuals, not just one single person, which I will explore in greater detail in another post.
Managing the day to day planning and execution of projects is an important aspect of any creative director or art director. Managing should never be sacrificed, but, we must also lead by example, inspiration, and collaboration.
2004 Boston Red Sox: Keep The Faith
In 2004 the curse of the bambino was still alive and kicking. It was late July and making it into the post season wasn’t locked in for the Red Sox. Then it happened, a fire was ignited that rocked the core of the team. Many people say the altercation between Rodrigez and Veritek was the turning point for the team that year. All cylindars were firing and the team started to tear it up in the American league.
This new found energy from the team started to electrify New England. It was amazing the feeling walking around Boston and seeing the hopes that this just might be the year where 80 years of misery might be brought to an end.
This excitement bled through from the most casual fan to the top brass within the Red Sox orginization.
I was lucky enough to be a part of this excitment and producing numerous commerials and promotions for NESN and the Red Sox.
This is a still from one of those campaigns that I created using a tag line the front office used when they were in San Diego. However, it resonated much further and had a much stronger meaning in 2004 with this Red Sox team.
The fans bought into the concept, breaking network ratings records, making their signs and creating buzz on the Internet. The players bought into it too, Big Papi was quoted as saying in the ALCS that he never gave up after loooking up and seeing a Keep The Fairh billboard with his image on it, it reminded him what a world series win would mean to the fans.
It was an amazing experience.
July 27, 2008
Welcome to Sheehe.com
Welcome to sheehe.com, my online portfolio. Since 1998 I’ve hosted this site to provide what a resume cannot, a comprehensive look at my accomplishments, credits and other random musings. With the complexity of maintaing a career within the media industry, I’ve always felt it important to showcase my diverse background. This site has always helped to communicate those experiences in a compelling way. In no way is it meant to be a narcissistic indulgence, it’s merely a way to convey my background to potential clients, employers and peers, so, they can get a better understanding of the skill-sets I have to offer to a given project. I’ve never been one to brag and consider myself to be modest, so, I’ve found this site a good way to show my background to those that would like to learn more about my career and the site can be avoided by those who could care less. It’s also been an excellent way for me to challenge myself in understanding how to effectively develop for the Internet. In addition, I’ve always enjoyed looking at other people’s content and seeing how they’ve presented their message utilizing different forms of media. Seeing others creative work helps to inspire and challenge me. My hope is to inspire and challenge others as well. Another goal of the site is to let others who are new to the media industry get some insight into the challenges, pitfalls and excitement of choosing a career within this field.
As you’ll notice while browsing through the site, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to work with great teams developing content for many major networks. I’ve written and produced thousands of broadcast promotions and commercials to support some of the biggest names in sports, syndicated programming and international brands. My career has taken me from directing live programming, producing long-form shows, art directing network redesigns, creative direction of numerous broadcast promotions and many other contributions creating broadcast content.
In addition to broadcast accomplishments, I’ve also managed the deployment and sustainability of large scale streaming media solutions for the Internet. Most recently, I’ve been offered a very unique perspective into the video game industry, one of the fastest growing forms of entertainment right now.
Throughout these experiences my teams and I have been honored to be recognized by peers with Promax Gold, Addy’s and other industry awards. Teams I’ve led have also been accepted to present at national conferences, been recognized by industry publications, featured by industry leaders on their websites and have been rewarded with record-breaking ratings after delivering compelling promotional campaigns.
As with many who have persevered within the industry, it’s not all about success and sometimes I’ve had to deal with adversity. I’ve never looked at these situations as failures. I’ve learned a lot from these experiences and they’ve help me to avoid negative experiences. I’m better able to recognize warning signs and readjust accordingly. Am I immune to missteps now? Of course not, but I know how to handle negative situations when they arise, professionally and quickly.
I’m not one who just performs a job, I love what I do. I’ve done, seen and experienced things I doubt I would have been able to in any other industry. I’ve traveled around the country, met people of all different backgrounds, compelled millions to turn to a network, and got to experience situations that have given me an adrenaline rush like nothing else could. I’ve had the amazing opportunity to work with politicians, A-list talent, all-star athletes, seasoned producers and amazing crews.
So what’s next? I don’t know, this industry is in a constant flux with forms of delivery, audience tastes, and ways of conveying messages, so, you just never know. But, for me, that’s what keeps it interesting, fresh, exciting, and challenging. I’m not one to become complacent or just try for the status quo. I do look forward to helping deliver stellar ratings to a fledgling network, telling great stories to a national audience, branding an innovative new product that reaches amazing market saturation, or taking a tired product that has been around awhile and making it feel fresh and new.
That’s me and my professional career in a nutshell. Please feel free to browse around the website, ask questions if you’d like, and most of all, enjoy.
Constructive Criticism
Everyone is a critic. In no way do I write that statement as a negative. The human race wouldn’t have evolved without constant evaluation of what we’ve done and where we should go.
However, I’m writing that statement because I’ve heard people mention that, being a critic is their unique ability. Sorry to say, but, in my opinion, it’s not. Any type of media that even the most experienced professional creates will have people that like it and people that don’t. The biggest blockbuster films that make millions worldwide will have groups of people that can find something wrong with it.
How does this relate to our industry? I contend that we must not be critics, it’s so amazingly simple to find something that can be changed in anything that we do. How good or bad our creative is is so subjective, we’ll always be able to find people that like it and people that don’t.
I say we challenge ourselves and our colleagues to not only criticize our teams work, but, offer ways to make it better. This would be, constructive criticism.
I’ve sat in so many meetings and creative briefs where people have pointed out what is wrong with something, but, are unable to offer suggestions on how to make it better. This type of meeting can draw on for quite sometime without any true resolution or goals to really polish up a piece.
The creative sessions that I’ve been involved with that have been most productive, are the ones where everyone involved is focused on making the piece better.
The ideal situation, in my humble opinion, is when egos and pride are checked at the door and a heathy debate arises on how to make a piece better. It’s important for everyone to be flexible with their ideas and imperative to get different perspectives from the entire creative team and our partners. In the end, your teams work will be seen by millions of people and the best way to appeal to the largest amount of people is by integrating different perspectives into a promotion or commercial.
As with everything I write here, I don’t think these concepts will work for every project. Sometimes your team comes up with something so far out of the box that you just have to roll with it. Also, some projects could be impacted in a negative way if there are too many modifications.
As creative leaders we must be able to ascertain which projects will be open to debate and which projects just fly as is. It’s a constant learning experience that we will make great decisions sometimes and sometimes miss the mark completely, but, we should always look at those misfires as a learning experience that will not be repeated.
Building a team that focuses on constructive criticism helps in the ways I’ve already mentioned, but, I also feel it helps build a team of people that are vested in every project that they work on. Their ideas are being considered and implemented because they’re offering suggestion on how to make something better, rather than just pointing out what’s wrong with something.
My observation is that people that have been in this industry for a while typically practice these philosophies, but, interns and those new to this industry don’t. Not because they don’t want to, but, they really don’t know better. Criticism is something that we are inundated with every day. Movie reviews and actors clothing at the oscars are just two examples where we hear that the movie was bad or that dress was ugly, but nothing more beyond that. It’s easy to say someone’s dress is ugly, it’s much more of a challenge to offer ways to make that particular garment work.So, as leaders, we must challenge interns, newcomers and even our veteran staff to step outside the comfort zone of criticizing a project. They must be challenged to think of ways to make the product better, offer up what they dislike about something, but challenge them to follow it up with a way to make it better.
Plain vanilla criticism will always be around us, is just to easy, but, if we constantly strive for industry leading content to be produced, we must empower our team with the wherewithal to go beyond common and really provide outstanding ideas on how to make every project better.