Happy Thanksgiving?

So over the holidays I decided to call or text everyone in my phone to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving. Well most people replied with the customary "you too" kind of thing, which was appreciated and excepted. One reply caught me so off guard I had to blog about it though. Apparently someone I know got a new phone number during the time I was gone, and I did not know so the new person replied with "Who the holy hell is this?" Which I guess if you are confused is acceptable. So I said "It's Savannah. I'm sorry I must have gotten the wrong number." Then went to walk the dogs, and when I came back and checked my phone they had left one of the nastiest voice mails ever. Now I understand how it can be annoying when people text you that you do not know, but it really isn't necessary to get THAT angry over "Happy Thanksgiving" Even if I didn't really know them, and ran into them at the mall or something I'd wish them a happy holiday. If I had kept texting them maybe, but my question to you..is to ask if there is ever really a time where it is acceptable to be completely rude to someone who did nothing but send you a holiday greeting?

Gators Wear Jean Shorts

This video is cute and amazingly true. Hopefully you all will be at the game and will look around for Gator fans in jorts. Go Noles!!!!! Enjoy! 

Music makes me lose control!

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving and an even better break!

While I was home in Sunny St. Pete, I began thinking about music for some reason. I've decided to compile a list of some of my favorite songs of all time for you guys! I hope you enjoy!

In no particular order...

1) In My Room--The Beach Boys
**The Beach Boys were honestly my favorite musical group while in middle school. My Mom used to sing their songs to me when I was really little and I guess something just stuck! "In My Room" has a beautiful melody and amazing lyrics so I don't see what's not to love about it!

2) Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World--Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
**Israel begins this song with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and finishes it off with "What a Wonderful World". It is one of the most relaxing, beautiful, awe-inspiring songs I have ever heard. Every time I hear it I get teary-eyed. Gosh, I'm turning into a softie.

3) In My Life--The Beatles
**It was very difficult for me to choose just one Beatles song, but I thought this one would definitely do! I've been very nostalgic lately because I can't stop thinking about graduation and this song touches me like whoa. Sigh, I AM turning into a softie.

4) Listen to Her Heart--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
**I love this song for many, many reasons. First of all, I love basically anything Tom Petty puts his hand on. Secondly, I again love the lyrics. Fool, she might need a lot of lovin' but she don't need you!!

5) A Change is Gonna Come--Otis Redding
**If you honestly listen to this song and don't feel exactly what he is feeling, I'm concerned for you. The emotion expressed throughout the song is definitely one of a kind.

6) Wake Up--The Arcade Fire
**The song starts off with just music, then the singer begins and he has such a unique voice. Their style is definitely not something that you will hear everyday and for that, I love them! Oh and listen to the whole song because they completely change the tempo mid-song! AMAZING. : )

7) Like A Rolling Stone--Bob Dylan
**Honestly, haven't we all felt like a rolling stone at one point in our life or what? I really hope I'm not alone on this one...and I don't mean seriously without a home or anything but you know what I do mean, right? Ha ha.

8) Float On--Modest Mouse
**Again, I think this is one of those songs that if you really listen to the lyrics, everyone can relate to them! Basically Modest Mouse is telling us that although things may not always go how you planned for them to, everything will be fine and we will "all float on".

9) Redemption Song--Bob Marley
**Just a good old anti-war song that again, I think you can completely understand how Marley feels just from listening to his voice. Every time I hear it I want to go protest for something...

10) Boys Don't Cry--The Cure
**Okay, I LOVE The Cure. I had a tough time choosing my favorite of their songs but think "Boys Don't Cry" will definitely work. If you haven't heard it, hit up youtube asap! Oh and by the way, Boys DO cry.

Rock on, rockers! : )

Creative Ads

I needed a creative boost and decided to look at what the professionals were up to. Here are some of the things I came across. Hope it sparks your creativity!

Jobsintown

German job finder site Jobsintown got the most for their advertising dollar with these creative posters.

3M Security Glass Advertisement

What better way to test your Security Glass than by creating a display loaded with cash and telling people to kick. That's exactly what 3M did.

Beretta Heating System

BBC World - See both sides of the story

Cemex - Fast Drying Concrete

COOPS PAINTS

Dealer Track - Tools for a competitive advantage

Heinz Ketchup - No one grows ketchup like this

Firefox - Always use protection

Hush Puppies

BMW - Don’t drink and drive

Volunteers Needed for Red Cross

Cartoon Business Cards

As part of my Self Action Plan, I’ve been spending time looking at other creative people. I ran across this blog: gapingvoid.
It basically is a blog by a guy named Hugh MacLeod who makes “cartoons drawn on the back of business cards". You can actually buy them. He has a section on "How to be Creative" that is pretty hilarious. And his cartoons remind me of Gary Larson, my favorite.
Just thought I’d share some of his "How to be Creative" ideas.....

1. Ignore everybody.

6. Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.

7. Keep your day job.

Gobble, Gobble, Turkey

So for those of you who took any interest in the elections this past year...there is a hilarious video of Sarah Palin pardoning a turkey, and then doing an interview in front of one being slaughtered. The MSNBC version blurs out all the gorey stuff, but it is well worth watching.
On a less ironically funny note, I am so excited about going home for Thanksgiving. This year my family and I have a agreed that we have to come up with a new dish. It can't be something that comes from a recipe. I have yet to decide what I'm going to make, but I want it to have a turkey made of broccoli in the center of. That's as far as I've gotten. I don't know what anyone else is making, but I'm scared. If it is not the most delicious Thanksgiving, it will certainly be the most memorable.
If you have any suggestions for funky new dishes, hit me up. If not it will probably include Lucky Charms, Peanut Butter, a Brownie, and of course the Broccoli Turkey in the middle.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Embarrassing Moments=Laughter!

So a few weeks ago I had an idea for a blog and I totally forgot about it. The other day I was going through my phone and found a note that said 'blog about embarrassing moment.' Then I thought OMG that was what I wanted to blog about a few weeks ago. So here I am. I have decided that embarrassing moments are probably one of the most funniest moments in your life. I have a ton of them...promise. If you really know me you realized by now that I trip about 10 times a day and by now have decided to laugh at myself every time I do it. Not only do I trip, but I'm extremely clumsy. I've gotten used to it thought. Also I don't get nervous before I get up in front of people. At first I thought it was because of the many plays I was in during middle and high school, but I have decided that its because I have had a few embarrassing moments happen on stage. The first one happened in first grade where we had this play were I was a mouse. We had two performances, one for the students of the school and one for our parents later that night. Well during the performance for the school I screwed up what I was supposed to say and started to laugh hysterically on stage. Then within a few seconds everyone was laughed. It was hard to stop, but I did and continued through the rest of the play. The second and probably worst embarrassing moment was at my high school graduation. I was Class Treasurer. I got to sit on the stage and introduce the Salutatorian. Well I got up to do my speech and at the end after I said all these great things about the Salutatorian I was going to say her name when all of a sudden I just couldn't say it. I kept wanting to say her nickname which was Evie when her really name was Evangelyn. During my practice of the speech I kept having problems saying her name and now I was on stage doing the same thing. Then all of a sudden everyone on stage was screaming Evangelyn at me and all of the 5,000+ people watching me were all laughing. Then all of a sudden I said her name and went back to my seat. To add to my embarrassment when I was walking across the stage the Superintendent shook my hand and said, "Nice Speech." My point to the story is that I think that embarrassing moments can help to become who you are today and you learn from them, well sometimes. Not only that, but when you look back on them you might not be able to control your laughter. 

PS: the best thing about my failed graduation speech is that I have it on DVD sometimes is pretty scary/hilarious to watch

For Luxury Brands, Less Money to Spend on Ads

From the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/business/media/24luxury.html?_r=1

“After getting through most of this year unscathed, luxury brands are suffering. Rich consumers who were relatively insulated from the economic downturn continued spending, but that has changed in the last few months. While luxury spending began to fall slightly from June, in October alone, it dropped 20.1 percent, according to MasterCard SpendingPulse, which estimates consumer spending in the retail and service sectors.
That drop-off means more bad news for magazines and newspapers in the United States that had grown increasingly dependent on luxury advertising.”

Prettymuch, this also has an effect on publishers, who are now cutting back on the frequency of their publications.

“High-end advertising was one of the few strong advertising categories earlier in the year.”

“Other high-end projects, and the advertising that would accompany them, are being delayed or canceled. General Motors is postponing the introduction of the Buick LaCrosse until January, Ford is holding off redesigning its Volvo S60 sedan and XC90 sports-utility vehicle, and Chrysler has stopped production on its Aspen hybrid sports-utility vehicle. Orient-Express Hotels canceled new buildings in Miami; Cartagena, Spain; Zambia; and Puglia, Italy. Donald Trump is postponing a $300 million development in Philadelphia, and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has halted projects in Florida, Vancouver and California.”

As an intern in the media department of an ad agency, I’ve definitely noticed firsthand the impact this is having on our luxury resort clients. Some magazines are no longer being published. And client budgets are certainly less than they were last year.

On a brighter note, have a great thanksgiving everyone. Make sure to count your blessings!

Tiger Woods and GM

In case some of you don't know, the economy isn't doing so hot right now. The big auto giants seem to feeling the effects a lot. Most recently, GM has ended it's 9 year relationship with Tiger Woods. I don't think it will hurt Tiger too much though considering he made about $100 million from endorsements alone last year. However, this is just another example of how our economy isn't doing too good right now.

Turducken

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. Wanted to give you all a little more insight about Turducken since I enlightened you all about it last class. From Wikipedia...

A Turducken is a dish consisting of a partially de-boned turkey stuffed with a de-boned duck, which itself is stuffed with a small de-boned chicken. The thoracic cavity of the chicken and the rest of the gaps are filled with, at the very least, a highly seasoned breadcrumb mixture or sausage meat, although some versions have a different stuffing for each bird.

The result is a relatively solid, albeit layered, piece of poultry, suitable for cooking by braising, roasting, grilling, or barbecuing. The turducken is not suitable for deep frying Cajun style (to deep fry poultry, the body cavity must be hollow to cook evenly).

Some people credit Cajun-creole fusion chef Paul Prudhomme with creating the commercial dish as part of the festival Duvall Days in Duvall, Wa in 1983. However, no one has ever verified this claim. The November 2005 issue of National Geographic magazine in an article by Calvin Trillin traced the American origins of the dish to Maurice, Louisiana, and "Hebert's Specialty Meats", which has been commercially producing turduckens since 1985, when a local farmer whose name is unknown, brought in his own birds and asked Hebert's to prepare them in the now-familiar style. The company prepares around 5,000 turduckens per week around Thanksgiving time.[1] They share a friendly rivalry with Paul Prudhomme.

Turducken is often associated with the "do-it-yourself" outdoor food culture also associated with barbecuing and shrimp boils, although some people now serve it in place of the traditional roasted turkey at the Thanksgiving meal. Turduckens can be prepared at home by anybody willing to learn how to remove the bones from poultry, instructions for which can be found on the Internet or in various cookbooks. As their popularity has spread from Louisiana to the rest of the Deep South and beyond, they are also available through some specialty stores in urban areas, or even by mail order.

While popular in the United States, they are rarely seen anywhere else in the world.

So maybe not this Thanksgiving, but definitely the next, get yourself hold of one of these Americanized dishes!

life's hard choices...

After losing my phone in P-Diddy's car in NY I finally got a new one and it's up a running! I've been trying to collect everybody's phone number again, and retake background pictures... All that has been annoying, but the hardest thing I've had to do is PICK A RINGTONE. Today, picking a ringtone is really hard!
1) Your going to hear it all the time.
When your phone rings as much as mine does, you have to pick a song that you can hear 13 times a day, and not want to kill yourself... therefore,
2) you don't want a song you hear all the time on the radio.
If you hear the song all the time on the radio, chances are your gonna get sick of it, and dont want to hear it any more then you already do.
3) lastly, your not the only person your ringtone matters too!
Not only do i have to pick a song i like, that i won't get sick of, but i have to pick one my room mate can tolerate too! She and I have totally different music tastes, but the fact of the matter is, she's going to be hearing the ringtone as much as I am!
For now I have downloaded "spice up your life" by the spice girls, and oldie but a goodie... but here is a list of the current top 5 ringtone downloads.

1. Whatever you like (TI)
2. If I were a boy (Beyonce)
3. Right Now (Akon)
4. I'm so paid (Akon)
5. Womanizer (Britney)

Top Ads

So while trying to think of all the amazing ideas for Master Pools I thought it would be helpful to look at successful ad campaigns from the past. In doing this I cam across Ad Age's Top 100
TOP 100 ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

Volkswagen, "Think Small", Doyle Dane Bernbach, 1959

Coca-Cola, "The pause that refreshes", D'Arcy Co., 1929

Marlboro, The Marlboro Man, Leo Burnett Co., 1955

Nike, "Just do it", Wieden & Kennedy, 1988

McDonald's, "You deserve a break today", Needham, Harper & Steers, 1971

DeBeers, "A diamond is forever", N.W. Ayer & Son, 1948

Absolut Vodka, The Absolut Bottle, TBWA, 1981

Miller Lite beer, "Tastes great, less filling", McCann-Erickson Worldwide, 1974

Clairol, Does she...or doesn't she?", Foote, Cone & Belding, 1957

Avis, "We try harder", Doyle Dane Bernbach, 1963

Federal Express, "Fast talker", Ally & Gargano, 1982

Apple Computer, "1984", Chiat/Day, 1984

Alka-Seltzer, Various ads, Jack Tinker & Partners; Doyle Dane Bernbach; Wells Rich, Greene, 1960s, 1970s

Pepsi-Cola, "Pepsi-Cola hits the spot", Newell-Emmett Co., 1940s

Maxwell House, "Good to the last drop", Ogilvy, Benson & Mather, 1959

Ivory Soap, "99 and 44/100% Pure", Proctor & Gamble Co., 1882

American Express, "Do you know me?", Ogilvy & Mather, 1975

U.S. Army, "Be all that you can be", N.W. Ayer & Son, 1981

Anacin, "Fast, fast, fast relief", Ted Bates & Co., 1952

Rolling Stone, "Perception. Reality.", Fallon McElligott Rice, 1985

Pepsi-Cola, "The Pepsi generation", Batton, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, 1964

Hathaway Shirts, "The man in the Hathaway shirt", Hewitt, Ogilvy, Benson & Mather, 1951

Burma-Shave, Roadside signs in verse, Allen Odell, 1925

Burger King, "Have it your way", BBDO, 1973

Campbell Soup, "Mmm mm good", BBDO, 1930s

U.S. Forest Service, Smokey the Bear/"Only you can prevent forest fires", Advertising Council/Foote, Cone & Belding

Budweiser, "This Bud's for you", D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles, 1970s

Maidenform, "I dreamed I went shopping in my Maidenform bra", Norman, Craig & Kunnel, 1949

Victor Talking Machine Co., "His master's voice", Francis Barraud, 1901

Jordan Motor Car Co., "Somewhere west of Laramie", Edward S. (Ned) Jordan, 1923

Woodbury Soap, "The skin you love to touch", J. Walter Thompson Co., 1911

Benson & Hedges 100s, "The disadvantages", Wells, Rich, Greene, 1960s

National Biscuit Co., Uneeda Biscuits' Boy in Boots, N.W. Ayer & Son, 1899

Energizer, The Energizer Bunny, Chiat/Day, 1989

Morton Salt, "When it rains it pours", N.W. Ayer & Son, 1912

Chanel, "Share the fantasy", Doyle Dane Bernbach, 1979

Saturn, "A different kind of company, A different kind of car.", Hal Riney & Partners, 1989

Crest toothpaste, "Look, Ma! No cavities!", Benton & Bowles, 1958

M&Ms, "Melts in your mouth, not in your hands", Ted Bates & Co., 1954

Timex, "Takes a licking and keeps on ticking", W.B. Doner & Co & predecessor agencies, 1950s

Chevrolet, "See the USA in your Chevrolet", Campbell-Ewald, 1950s

Calvin Klein, "Know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing!

Reagan for President, "It's morning again in America" Tuesday Team, 1984

Winston cigarettes, "Winston tastes good--like a cigarette should" 1954

U.S. School of Music, "They laughed when I sat down at the piano, but when I started to play!" Ruthrauff & Ryan, 1925

Camel cigarettes, "I'd walk a mile for a Camel", N. W. Ayer & Son, 1921

Wendy's, "Where's the beef?", Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample, 1984

Listerine, "Always a bridesmaid, but never a bride", Lambert & Feasley, 1923

Cadillac, "The penalty of leadership", MacManus, John & Adams, 1915

Keep America Beautiful, "Crying Indian", Advertising Council/Marstellar Inc., 1971

Charmin, "Please don't squeeze the Charmin", Benton & Bowles, 1964

Wheaties, "Breakfast of champions", Blackett-Sample-Hummert, 1930s

Coca-Cola, "It's the real thing", McCann-Erickson, 1970

Greyhound, "It's such a comfort to take the bus and leave the driving to us", Grey Advertising, 1957

Kellogg's Rice Krispies, "Snap! Crackle! and Pop!", Leo Burnett Co., 1940s

Polaroid, "It's so simple", Doyle Dane Bernbach, 1977

Gillette, "Look sharp, feel sharp", BBDO, 1940s

Levy's Rye Bread, "You don't have to be Jewish to love Levy's Rye Bread", Doyle Dane Bernbach, 1949

Pepsodent, "You'll wonder where the yellow went", Foote, Cone & Belding, 1956

Lucky Strike cigarettes, "Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet", Lord & Thomas, 1920s

7 UP, "The Uncola", J. Walter Thompson, 1970s

Wisk detergent, "Ring around the collar", BBDO, 1968

Sunsweet Prunes, "Today the pits, tomorrow the wrinkles", Freberg Ltd., 1970s

Life cereal, "Hey, Mikey", Doyle Dane Bernbach, 1972

Hertz, "Let Hertz put you in the driver's seat", Norman, Craig & Kummel, 1961

Foster Grant, "Who's that behind those Foster Grants?", Geer, Dubois, 1965

Perdue chicken, "It takes a tough man to make tender chicken" Scali, McCabe, Sloves, 1971

Hallmark, "When you care enough to send the very best", Foote, Cone & Belding, 1930s

Springmaid sheets, "A buck well spent", In-house, 1948

Queensboro Corp., Jackson Heights Apartment Homes, WEAF, NYC, 1920s

Steinway & Sons, "The instrument of the immortals", N.W. Ayer & Sons, 1919

Levi's jeans, "501 Blues", Foote, Cone & Belding, 1984

Blackglama-Great Lakes Mink, "What becomes a legend most?", Jane Trahey Associates, 1960s

Blue Nun wine, Stiller & Meara campaign, Della Famina, Travisano & Partners, 1970s

Hamm's beer, "From the Land of Sky Blue Waters", Campbell-Mithun, 1950s

Quaker Puffed Wheat, "Shot from guns", Lord & Thomas, 1920s

ESPN Sports, "This is SportsCenter", Wieden & Kennedy, 1995

Molson Beer, Laughing Couple, Moving & Talking Picture Co., 1980s

California Milk Processor Board, "Got Milk?", 1993

AT&T, "Reach out and touch someone", N.W. Ayer, 1979

Brylcreem, "A little dab'll do ya", Kenyon & Eckhardt, 1950s

Carling Black Label beer, "Hey Mabel, Black Label!", Lang, Fisher & Stashower, 1940s

Isuzu, "Lying Joe Isuzu", Della Famina, Travisano & Partners, 1980s

BMW, "The ultimate driving machine", Ammirati & Puris, 1975

Texaco, "You can trust your car to the men who wear the star", Benton & Bowles, 1940s

Coca-Cola, "Always", Creative Artists Agency, 1993

Xerox, "It's a miracle", Needham, Harper & Steers, 1975

Bartles & Jaymes, "Frank and Ed", Hal Riney & Partners, 1985

Dannon Yogurt, Old People in Russia, Marstellar Inc., 1970s

Volvo, Average life of a car in Sweden, Scali, McCabe, Sloves, 1960s

Motel 6, "We'll leave a light on for you", Richards Group, 1988

Jell-O, Bill Cosby with kids, Young & Rubicam, 1975

IBM, Chaplin's Little Tramp character, Lord, Geller, Federico, Einstein, 1982

American Tourister, The Gorilla, Doyle, Dane Bernbach, late 1960s

Right Guard, "Medicine Cabinet", BBDO, 1960s

Maypo, "I want my Maypo", Fletcher, Calkins & Holden, 1960s

Bufferin, Pounding heartbeat, Young & Rubicam, 1960

Arrow Shirts, "My friend, Joe Holmes, is now a horse", Young & Rubicam, 1938

Young & Rubicam, "Impact", Young & Rubicam, 1930

Lyndon Johnson for President, "Daisy", Doyle Dane Bernbach, 1964

I admit I didn't look up all 100, but of the ones I did look more into...it gave me some great inspiration. So I decided to post it for all of you and hope that you could learn something from the masters of the past. (and make sure your not accidentally copying an already done idea!)

You've got to fight, fight, fight...

Pay close attention to around 1:32.

The art of re-gifting...

My office has decided on doing a Christmas Secret Santa gift exchange. I basically cannot wait and think it's going to be absolutely hilarious. My new co-workers and I all get along fantastically and they crack me up like no other!

All of this gift giving talk got me thinking about the one thing we are all guilty of...re-gifting! I was telling my coworkers that I absolutely HATE HATE HATE bath sets! What is the purpose of that? Yes, I know it is supposed to make you want to relax and go take a soothing bubble bath or something like that, but I am not all about it. I already have soap, thank you, and do not want to get some nasty rose-smelling stuff.

I know this seems a bit extreme but I feel as if a bath set is one of those items that you give to someone who you really don't know very well. "Oh, Joan? Well, I just met her but I think she'd LOVE some lotion and soap. PERFECT!"

The only good part about receiving a bath set, in my opinion, is the beauty of being able to re-gift such a beast. Happy re-gifting, friends!

Activities for Turkey Day!

Traveling for the holiday? I know most of you are!!!! Keep these exciting travel games in mind for when you are feeling tired or just want to have some fun until you arrive to your destination. You may recall some of them:

1. Connect the Dots
Each player takes turns drawing a line to connect two dots, either horizontally or vertically. If a player makes the line that completes a box, that player puts their initials in the box. Once all the dots are connected, the player with their initial in the most boxes is the winner!

2. Hangman

3. Tic-Tac-Toe

4. Car Search Game
This game can be played by 1 person or a whole group for a cooperative effort or a competition. The main goal is to mark off the names of cars as you see them.

5. US License Plate Game
See who can spot the most cars from different states across the U.S.




Once you are with the family, remember the following and make your Thanksgiving memorable:

1. Pictures
Take a family picture –silly poses are always the best.

2. Family Gaming
Play a game with the entire family.

3. Handmade Gift Ideas
Create a handmade gift for your parents/loved one that comes from the heart. Gifts don’t have to cost lots of money for them to be special. Examples: a thank you card, a jewelry box, a bracelet, or a picture frame.

4. Express you Gratitude
Draw, write, paint or collage and create an artwork that expresses your gratitude.

5. See the World as a Child
Hang out with the younger children in your family and even sit with them for a portion of dinner. You never know what kids will say these days; they are beyond creative.

'Tis the season...

Christmas season has begun with a bang. The weather’s colder and you can’t get through the mall without having your foot crushed under the heel of a cell phone obsessed shopper or being rung out by a cashier who is more interested in her half masticated chewing gum than your purchase. I can barely survive without a few choice swear words. Maybe patience isn’t my strongest virtue. But the virtue I’m going to work on this season, is tolerance. And I don’t just mean tolerance for the man who smacks you in the ear with his shopping bags. I mean tolerance for different religions and ethnicities and even, sexualities. After all the saying goes, “peace on earth and goodwill towards men” . It does not say, peace on earth and goodwill towards men, but not those who like other men or who practice Islam .

You don’t have to like the lives or decisions others choose to make, just as you don’t have to like the horrible reindeer sweater your Aunt Mildred wears. But is it too much to ask just for a month, if Americans can forget their differences and embrace the similarities in all people and religions? I know I may sound a little hippy dippy here, but any change is for the better. Maybe stop using the word “gay” as slang for “uncool”, or not give the turbaned passenger on your flight home a dirty look. (I often have to remind myself that Islamic does not mean extremist.) The anger or fear you see in yourself is often reflected in another person’s eyes. It’s not an easy thing to do, it has become ingrained in us to fear that which we do not know. I might not succeed every time in changing my perceptions, but every time I do, I’m a better person for it.

How can some people put you into words better than you can?

It's sort of the point of advertising isn't it. Companies don't know the best way to articulate who they are, what they are, and why anybody in the world should care. And thats when we become useful. Today when I was driving home from class I was inspired. After listeninh to Dave Ramsey (Tallahassee 100.7), I threw in a Joe Budden CD. Joe Budden is consistently one of my top 2 favorite rappers. I normally place him at number one whenever he releases new material, but due to his lack of frequecny he sometimes falls to #2. The allure behind Joe Budden is that he is an extremely introspective rapper and often I feel that what he says represents who I am in so many ways. While this also speaks a lot about the importance of understanding you target market and connecting to them in a way that makes you number 1, that is not why I am telling you about Joe Budden. I wrote this blog to share with you the song I was listening to...

(Verse 1)
I've got a ghetto gospel. It's only right considering that the ghetto was my hostel [movie reference]. Memory is gone, but I'm recalling all through high school.
Even at my lowest, I was sitting on my high stool [Optimism, through despair].
But that's what being high will do. Even if I wasn't able to do a thing, I was always able to toke. They told me that I would be dead before I was able to vote.Probably because me and my constituents... and all the things we did. A MRI couldn't tell you what my issue is. But through my treason came a cause that I believed in. Is it really wrong if a man has a reason? At times I felt like I had to take dough (money. I did whatever for a pesos.Being from the hood could be my scape goat! Or can it be? Because I wasn't born under a canopy, maybe I was born to fall in love with vanity. They tell me what you reap is what you sowe. So I told God I'm better than what I show. I've got to grow!

(Verse 2)
Now they say that I floss (boast) too much.So?! Have I changed because I think that $1000 tee don't cost too much? All they should say is that I'm strong. Walked through the fire but came out unscathed. Yeah, I carried on! Now I carry on with Louis Vuitton carry-ons. Now they mad he on (upset that he's successful), but my blessings had a delay!(Said with pain in voice, pleading with the world to understand the way he is)Now I give my girl Esaych. I know its sorta cliche, but my plane ain't gon' never land, unless its in the Netherlands. Ask for a better hand? I tried colliding with my problems, but I never ran. That would make me a lesser man.I ain't go from not having it to being arrogant. I dreamt, woke grabbing it... just by being passionate. Some people get complacent, why? The world's just new born birds, just afraid to fly. Me? I spread my wings, inhale, and embrace that high!

(Verse 3)
Part of me was gruesome. I didn't change, but I grew some. Even if I did change I welcomed it to come. People who used to be with me, used to see with me. Say I changed on them and did a 360, because I don't come around. But to me its common sense, If you want to see the other side you've got to turn around. Show the world your game face! I told them we were on the same track, but weren't running the same race. We aren't in the same space. Something won't let me slow down, I cant explain fate. But don't say I went from broke to Bourgeoisie. I'm far from high end, I just know what suits me!

Too me this song represents a lot more than just the words. It's the feelings of motivation and perseverance that are behind them. It was fun sharing something I am passionate about with you. I hope you enjoy. The bold part is the part I try to identify with the most.

Fingerpainting Fun!

Christmas!!!

I set up my Christmas decorations last night. I love Christmas and I actually love when it's cold outside. But, of course the second I took out my little Christmas tree my cat attacked it. I'm sure that anyone who has a cat knows that they absolutely love Christmas trees. So, I'm hoping that my tree is still intact when I get home from class. Here is a picture of my cat, Simba. 

Yeah, he's pretty awesome. Don't lie, I'm sure this picture made you happy and brightened your day. 

There is no such thing as too many internships!

What is great about this internship fair is that you will actually have time to have real conversations with the recruiters. For all Ad Club members, it's free! This is a great networking opportunity as well. Please RSVP to Joe if you want to sign up for a time slot. We will have a list up of all the agencies very soon.

Scissors, thanks, and rewards.

Hey Guys!
Be sure to come to class today and bring scissors if you have them. Think of the things you are thankful for! You will be rewarded for your hard work!

Business Cards

I've been looking a lot into making business cards lately and there are tons of them that are very creative. It doesn't really take much to think of a good idea, the funds are a different issue though. Here are a couple that I like:


Here's a couple of places to look for some great ones:
Business Cards on Flickr
36 Good Business Cards

So stand straight and act your age...

So I was browsing through the Ad Age site today and found an interesting article that ranked the Top 100 Advertising Campaigns. Now number one didn't surprise me all that much, it was number three that really kind of surprised me. Ranked number three was the Marlboro Man advertising campaign. It really surprised me that they would rank the Marlboro campaign so high, mainly due to the idea that is so often put forth that big tobacco is evil. It's always been kind of funny to me when people talk about big tobacco or big oil or anything like that. The whole idea of the huge corporation that is pure evil. When you think about it isn't big tobacco just providing a service? Isn't it up to the individual people to decide whether or not they smoke? I mean I understand that advertisers work to sway and create public opinion, but in the end isn't it up to the public? Just a thought.

Are the rumors true???? Is she really dead???

Yesterday the entire entertainment media panicked as rumors of 16 year old Miley Sirus' death came out. Supposedly a hacker got into her fan website and posted a message telling the world that the pop star was in a fatal car crash. Unbeknown to Miley everyone in the news media was scrambling around trying to find the truth. Well as you all know she IS NOT DEAD! I was watching E! News yesterday and someone that was interviewing Miley actually broke the news to her that she was "dead". I just think it is so disgusting that people are so obsessed with her that they would fake her death! It is unbelievable, I personally don't like her show/movies or music, but I would never hope for her death! On all of these YouTube blogs people are saying that it's too bad the rumors aren't really true about her death. I have never seen people more obsessed with a celebrity (well maybe Britney Spears) as they are with Miley Sirus! Even though these rumors are extreamely hurtful, the amount of free press (good or bad) from all of the rumors is remarkable. I wonder if some of these rumors are created by people in her own camp to gain her more publicity! If you go on YouTube there are over 38 homemade videos about her supposed death! Here is one I found particularly ridiculous.

Tis' the Seasons!

Being in NYC last week I began to notice all the Christmas decorations starting to go up, especially in Little Italy where there was a huge sign that said Merry Christmas in lights going across the street. Then coming home last night and catching up on all of the shows that I watch I began to notice all the Christmas commercials on television. Even though personally I think that Christmas commercials can get boring cause you see the same thing over and over again. This Christmas season though I have noticed one commercial that I think is one of the best Christmas commercials I have ever seen, Macy's. I personally love their new campaigns starting from last Christmas season where they have all the celebrities who sell their merchandise there in the commercial. I think its genius and I loved how they used it throughout the year especially the Speed Dating one. I did notice the first one of the Christmas season where they show different shows/movies that speak of Macy's in a collage. The latest one that I have seen which I have fallen in love with is the one where all the celebrities are telling this little girl Virginia that Santa is real and that his story will live forever and the last part is the little girl putting her letter to Santa in a mailbox. I love it because its so fairytale like makes you want to believe in Santa all over again. 

New York City

Wow, that is all I have to say to describe the last week I spent in the city. One take-away I must share is that Catch Your Limit has done a tremendous job on teaching us everything we need to go into the real world. Not one thing was said this past weekend at the AWNY conference that I didn't already know. New York has this aura about it that takes you over. All of your values go out the window when the "perfect" job is dangled out in front of you within reach. The city has a different pace that any other place in the world. I have been contemplating A LOT about what I want to do when I graduate in 3 weeks. Part of me wants to pack up two suitcases and book a one way flight to the city. It sounds so appealing and so fun, but I would be sacrificing a lot of things that are very important to me here in Florida. My family, boyfriend, friends and beach are not in New York City. I think as Ad majors we are brainwashed into thinking to make it big or be "successful" you have to do it in the city. I disagree. My definition of being successful is finding something I love to do, and having people to share it with. In NYC I would be sharing my successes by myself, in a closet of an apartment and probably be wishing I was somewhere else. But don't get me wrong I love NYC, I am just realizing maybe its not for me, and wanted to remind everyone that success is what you make of it not what others tell you.

Oh, the World of Statistics

So I saw someone did a quote about advertising, so I decided to do a quote about creativity. YAY! So my quote is by Mark Twain who said, "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." My interpretation, though somewhat biased because I just read Hard Times by Charles Dickens, is that there can be no real use or development of the imagination if it is based on facts alone. When one thinks of statistics and numbers and cold hard facts and only what is tangible and visual it limits the borders of the mind. Which, frankly, is ridiculous. The mind, the imagination is limitless. It brings us to places we have never been; it has created objects which have never been made or seen. Statistics and facts are important, but there must be a happy medium. Facts can only take one so far until emotion, compassion and empathy must kick in.
Unfortunately, I believe, as do others, that the developments in technology have made it somewhat challenging for children to imagine. I believe they limit creativity for the users. In a video game the world and characters have already been created. There is no need to turn your backyard into another dimension where you're all alien fairies anymore. My niece and nephew never want to go outside and just play. She needs to being her Gameboy and he just wants his Leapfrog. It's already started to happen with my generation and will continue to happen in the future that we learn to repeat. We stop analyzing and questioning and just say, "OK." Memorizing information for a test, only doing what we need to do to get an "A" is not helping us. It is a very passive way of educating ourselves.
Memorizing and learning rules only gets us so far. The statistics can only get us so far. "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus."

Feeling under the weather :'-(.....but speaking of weather..how bout the Blackberry Storm!

Under the weather is such a silly yet fitting description of how I feel. I'm sick. Go figure right? As soon as I get back from New York I'm feeling horrible. The crazy part is that before I went to New York I was sick (sniffles..coughs..missing voice..typical cold symptoms stuff). I got better in time for New York and felt FANTASTIC the entire 5 days I was there! But of course as soon as I'm boarding the plane in LaGuardia, I feel it. Its as if New York was the medicine I needed and as soon as I left all the symptoms...and worse.. came back. Either that or I just never fully got better.

Well I just wanted to say the while in New York I got to see a really cool promotion from Verizon Wireless. On Thursday, they had one of those glass boxes ( I have no idea what it's actually called) that you step into...and there's' papers circling around you and you try to catch as many as you can. They were creating a 'storm' with that in the middle of Times Square. If you were able to catch 7 of those swirling papers you got a free BlackBerry Storm. Thats crazy to me. The lines were nuts. There was a lot of buzz about the phone because of that event and people got to learn so much information on it as well. I couldn't get a great pic of it but if I know someone who did I'll post as soon as I can.

Interesting..

Billboard statistics..
91% of all people notice billboard advertisements
75% reported that they developed a favorable impression of the company when graphics were used
75% surveyed say truck advertisements affect their buying habits
29% said they would base a buying decision on these impressions.

When Advertising Met Art...

One of my favorite quotes about advertising goes something like, “Advertising is art for someone who doesn’t want to starve.” Granted, I can’t remember exactly how it goes or who even said it, but I like to think that it's a bit true. For a (brief) amount of time I was an Art major...and a bad one. I feel like a lot of others in the advertising industry are artists who just couldn't pass Human Life Drawing. And while some "artist" would scoff at the idea that something so commercial is art, they have obviously never heard the saying "Art is in the eye of the beholder." Or better yet, "Advertising is art of the money holder."

This brings me to why I love advertising. There's something about thinking outside of the box, or outside the building, that blurs the line between art and advertising fabulously.


Made With 7,563 dice.

Six Flags Rolls Out Viral Game to Hype Superman Ride

Just another example of Viral Marketing...


Six Flags Rolls Out Viral Game to Hype Superman Ride
Its Stock Plunging, Theme-Park Chain Turns to Guerrilla Marketing

By Claude Brodesser-Akner

Published: November 13, 2008
LOS ANGELES (AdAge.com) -- Three minutes, 22 seconds.

That's the brief, adrenaline-squirting time span in which riders of Six Flags' "Superman: Ride of Steel" roller coaster get to scream themselves hoarse at 77 miles an hour.
Six Flags, the world's largest theme-park operator, is embracing Hollywood-style guerrilla marketing to relaunch one of its flagship rides, 'Superman: Ride of Steel.'
Six Flags, the world's largest theme-park operator, is embracing Hollywood-style guerrilla marketing to relaunch one of its flagship rides, 'Superman: Ride of Steel.'
Photo Credit: Newscom


But by the time a new viral marketing campaign from Six Flags wraps up, executives hope "Steel" riders will have spent several hours hyperventilating over the property -- even before they strap in and drop 221 feet.

Misery at the funplex
Saddled with $2.3 billion in debt, Six Flags has little choice but to get creative (and frugal) with its marketing: An index of amusement-center and theme-park stocks compiled by Revere Research has the sector down 44.8% in the past year. But Six Flags' stock has fallen 87% in the last year, and that's despite third-quarter profit rising 64% to $138 million compared with the year-earlier period and revenue climbing 5% to $489 million.

And so, the world's largest theme-park operator is embracing Hollywood-style guerrilla marketing to relaunch one of its flagship rides: It's deploying a new, wide-ranging ARG, or alternative reality game. Typically used in the service of drumming up fan interest in motion pictures such as Warner's "Dark Knight" and Paramount's "Cloverfield," or in TV shows such as Fox's "Fringe," an ARG is an interactive fusion of creative writing, puzzle-solving, team-building and role-playing.

Industry insiders say the "Ride of Steel" ARG campaign is the work of an old hand at viral marketing of DC Comics characters -- and at running theme parks: Susan Bonds, the head of the Pasadena, Calif.-based 42 Entertainment.

Ms. Bonds did not return calls seeking comment, but insiders say the "Ride of Steel" project is clearly her handiwork: She designed the massive, international ARG for "Dark Knight." And prior to forming 42 Entertainment, she worked for 10 years as creative director and senior show producer for Walt Disney Imagineering, handling the design and development of major attractions, themed architecture, internet entertainment projects and proprietary rides such as the "Indiana Jones Adventure" at Disneyland.

A treat for fans
The overwhelming popularity of those viral marketing tools -- and of the global properties they hyped -- has made ARG an appealing tool even to regional attractions such as Six Flags' New England park. (In the case of "Steel," oblique website ARGs Clawshun Industries and Metropolis Stock Exchange.com already are drawing in coaster and Superman enthusiasts from around the world.)

Of course, whether viral marketing can inoculate Six Flags from the global financial flu very much remains to be seen.

Six Flags is not facing the downturn alone. Reservations are off 10% for Walt Disney theme parks too, both this quarter and next quarter when compared with the year-earlier periods, CEO Bob Iger said during the company's third-quarter earnings call. But while both Disney and Six Flags are offering discounts to hike attendance at their parks, only Six Flags appears to be mitigating those discounts by using a worldwide ARG.

It might be overkill, but CEO Marc Shapiro has little choice but to increase attendance if his company is to survive the downturn. In his own third-quarter conference call with analysts this week, Mr. Shapiro insisted boldly, "We're going to put value on steroids. More hours, more days, longer days, longer season, in every park than ever before."

Going all out
He then added, perhaps alluding to the new ARG, "I'm not going to get into what our specific advertising creative is going to be but ... we're going to be out early in our advertising. We're going to continue to diversify the way we market, really on all platforms and through all vehicles and using all tools, specifically on the digital platform."

Mike Antinoro, Six Flags' exec VP-entertainment marketing, was traveling and unavailable for comment; a spokeswoman for Six Flags, Sandra Daniels, declined to comment on the new ARG.

Total Finale Live

Sunday night, while flipping through channels, I stopped on MTV because I noticed there was a show airing called Total Finale Live. It was the final episode of Total Request Live (okay, so I caught the repeat, but that’s because I was at a group meeting earlier)! The original host of the show, Carson Daily, was there VJ-ing, as well as other VJ’s. Remember Jesse Camp? That guy was nuts. Even though I had no clue TRL aired these past 5 years, it was sad to watch the last show. I feel like MTV was all I watched in middle school and I had to be updated on the countdown, even if there were just slight changes to it: Britney and Christina competing for the number one spot. On the finale, they counted down the top 10 videos that defined TRL:




10. Outcast - Hey Ya
9. Blink-182 - What's My Age Again
8. Usher ft. Ludacris and Lil Jon -Yeah!
7. Beyonce ft. Jay-Z - Crazy In Love
6. Kid Rock - Bawitdaba
5. Christina Aguilera - Dirrty
4. N*Sync - Bye Bye Bye
3. Backstreet Boys - I Want It That Way (They actually performed..without Kevin though. Maybe he felt too old? I mean, it wasn't a secret.)
2. Eminem -The Real Slim Shady
1. Britney Spears - Hit Me Baby (She was named the Queen of TRL)


TRL was a platform for artists to promote their material. It launched the careers of so many people! What an impact it had on pop culture!

Things Are Fine

I just came across this website & ad campaign that focused on encouraging people to vote. I know the election has already passed, but these print ads are worth looking at. They are eye-catching... and they even made me check out the website!













The website is thingsarefine.org

I'm always one step ahead. . . Like a carpenter. . . that builds stairs.

25 seconds ago, Tallahassee, Fl
Tony Luciano,20, completed a crucial step in his self action plan or Sap (tastes like syrup). He has just purchased the domain name for his blog/personal site/creative platform, Imonsoon.net. He really wanted .com, but some opportunist(idiot) squated on the site (squished the dream out it). Therefore the net it is. For 12.99yr Antonio has committed himself financially to the idea that he can be world famous.

News from California

So I was just talking to my niece out in California, she goes to school in San Fransisco and she was just telling me her story about meeting the guy who is going to play Edward Cullen (the leading man in the Twilight series). I recently got caught up in the book craze, I'm not sure if I intend on seeing the movie but it is still pretty exhilarating. I'm trying to coax her into sending me pictures, but I'm the embarrassingly cool aunt who doesn't get pictures. If I get them I'll share them with you!!

My weekend

I hope everyone's weekend was good. Homecoming is always a fun time. I went camping at St. Joseph Peninsula with a few friends. Its only about 2 1/2 hours away so its not that far. We hiked in 2 miles and stayed near the beach our first night then hiked a little further in and stayed further off the beach out second night. I love camping so this was a really relaxing weekend for me. I wish everyone could get a chance to get outdoors and experience it! We were the only ones on the peninsula so it was really awesome to know that. Saw a few deer wandering about and we hiked the whole 8 miles to the tip of the peninsula our second day. What a beautiful place! its only 4$ a day per person and you can rent gear from the FSU res if you ever want to get out and about! Here are a few pictures.

What's in a name?

As many of you know, my name gets mis-pronounced all the time. I've had to deal with it and correct people ever since I was a young lass. I understand it is confusing so I try to work with people and help them out! : ) The thing that bothers me, however, is when people say to me, "Ughh, why does it matter? 'ANN-drea' is the same as 'On-dri-ah', just get over it".

Seriously?!? This got me thinking about the importance of names. I personally love my name, and get frustrated when people mispronounce it. It's unique, I've never met anyone else who pronounces it the same way I do. (That is, of course, besides Andrea from 90210). I've never been a person who likes kids that much and one of my apprehensions about even the thought of children is the name decision. I'm sure this seems silly to some of you, but think about it...the name you chose for a children will stick with them for the rest of their lives. That is the association people will have with your offspring. You don't want to pick a super common name, yet you don't want to pick a name too out there or the child will spend the rest of their live correcting people. Talk about pressure!

The thing that puzzles me about my name is this...I understand when it is written it looks like "Ann-drea". However, when I meet people for the first time and verbally tell them what my name is, what is the excuse for the mispronouncing? Maybe I'm being too hard on people but I don't think my name and the traditional Andrea sound alike at all. "Ann-drea" has a very harsh sound associated with it and I personally dislike that.

Maybe I'm making a huge deal out of nothing but listen to me when I say it STINKS having to correct people your entire life...especially when you actually enjoy your name! The next time someone asks you, "What's in a name" the answer should be this...A LOT!

The screen moves in front of me and I see...

Movies are pretty important to me. Not just because I'm a film minor. They're important because they say a lot about life. To me they are the highest form of art (When done for art's sake instead of entertainment.)with the combination of sound, motion, and visuals. It's incredible to me every day I log into IMDB and look through the movies that have been made and are being made to see the progression of the art form. From King Kong to Lord of the Rings we've come a long way (Though in my opinion King Kong has aged very well considering it was made over 70 years ago.) So I decided I would create a short list of some great movies that you've probably never seen. They either didn't get a lot of press due to being overshadowed by a blockbuster, being independent releases, or being older than most college students will watch, but they're all great movies. Some can be considered art, but for the most part I'm just sticking with entertainment here.


1. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou









This is probably my favorite movie. It's incredible. In his 4th film Wes Anderson follows the
story of a down and out oceanographer (Modeled after Jocque Cousteau)out to avenge the death of his closest friend Esteban. The killer: A Jaguar Shark. Soon Zissou's son (Maybe) and a journalist join the crew as they search for the Jaguar shark that killed Esteban and we watch as Steve rides out his midlife crisis. This movie is visually stunning with claymation special effects for the sea creatures and incredible cinematography. Easily one of the funniest movies on the list, but also the saddest.


2. Death to Smoochy

I don't understand how more people have not seen this movie. This is my favorite comedy of all time. Danny DeVito brings us a story of corruption in children's television. In the staring slots are Robin Williams as Rainbow Randolf a crazy children's T.V. show host who loses his show and Edward Norton as the soy dog eating Sheldon Mopes who is Smoochy the Rhino (A drastic change from his two previous roles in Fight Club and American History X.) who Randolf frames as a Nazi. This is one of the best dark comedy I've ever seen and has some great one liners.


3. The Abominable Dr. Phibes



















I can't have a list without one of my favorite actors of all time Vincent Price. Most of you may know him as the guy who did the spoken word part in Thriller. In this film Price stars as Dr. Phibes renowned doctor, scientist, organist, and biblical scholar who survived an accident which claimed the life of his wife. Now Phibes is extracting his revenge on those he deems responsible for his wife's death. His preferred method of murder? Nine Biblical plagues from the Old Testament.



4. Magnolia



















This is the movie that made me respect Tom Cruise as an actor. It has an all star cast: Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tom Cruise, William H Macy, John C Reily, and Alfred Molina. Magnolia is a tapestry of intertwining stories including a child game show prodigy, a former child game show prodigy, a loser cop, a gold-digger and her dying husband, a male nurse, a dating guru, and a aging game show host. A great film by P.T. Anderson (There Will Be Blood, Punch Drunk Love, and Boogie Nights).


5. Planet of the Apes (The Original)






















Sure there's a remake, but do yourself a favor and skip it. This is Charlton Heston in an incredible performance in one of the most important Sci-Fi movies pre-Star-Wars. The idea is incredible especially given the time (1968) taking a middle-aged white man and making him a minority. Give it a chance and be ready for that classic line: "Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!"


6. Vanilla Sky


















What?! Another Tom Cruise movie? Yes, and it's another winner. Vanilla Sky is based on the Spanish film Abre Los Ojos. The other connection between the two films? The beautiful Penelope Cruz. Vanilla Sky follows the life of a millionaire who is forced to choose between two women (Cameron Diaz and Penelope Cruz...poor guy.) and after making the choice suffers its consequences. I love the use of music and keep an ear open for The Beach Boys' Good Vibrations. One of my favorite uses of music in any movie.


7. Night of the Living Dead (The Original) and Dawn of the Dead (The Original)






















Do you like horror movies? How about zombies? What about social commentary? Well then these movies are just the ticket. Two of the greatest horror movies ever by George A. Romero. Avoid Romero's latest attempts and check these two out if you want to see truly great zombie movies. Night follows a group of survivors who struggle to survive in a secluded farm house and find that their greatest enemy is themselves. Meanwhile in Dawn a group of survivors hole up in a mall (The movie was shot when malls were rare with only a few in America) and attempt stay sane while living in a consumer paradise. If you need any extra incentive, there's actually a pie fight between zombies and a group of bikers...I'm not making this up.


8. The Last Waltz



















This is the only documentary on the list, but it's one of the movies I've seen the most and my favorite documentary. A documentary of The Band's last performance featuring performances by Neil Young, Neil Diamond, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Joni Mitchel, Van Morrison, Evangeline Lilly, Ron Wood, Ringo Star, and Bob Dylan. You may have also heard of the director, he goes by the name Martin Scorsese. The concert was actually performed on Thanksgiving day and those who went were treated to a full meal before having some of the biggest names in music performing on the stage together.


9. Once Upon a Time in the West






















I'm going to say this once and for all: Once Upon a Time in the West is the best western ever. There I said it. Now with that said I must acknowledge that there are dozens of other great westerns out there, but this one really does take the cake. Sergio Leone truly pushed himself to new heights with this nearly 3 hour epic. Married perfectly with a score by Ennio Morricone Sergio tops his most acclaimed film The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly on all fronts. The performances from Henry Fonda and Charles Bronson really shine and Sergio is able to actually shoot in America for the first time giving an even more authentic feel to the rugged west landscape.


10. Almost Famous























Another Cameron Crow movie. Yep, he's a good director and no not in a Jerry Maguire kind of way. Almost Famous follows William Miller as he follows his dream of becoming a music critic and gets to tour with Stillwater. The journey gets more than a little complicated when William breaks the number one rule set down for him by legendary music critic Lester Bangs: Don't make friends with the rock stars. This is probably one of the most authentic movies I've seen dealing with this time period pulling from inspiration such as The Allman Brothers Band, The Who, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Cameron Crow's own time writing for Rolling Stone magazine as a teen.


Honorable Mentions:

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

King Kong (The Original)

The World's Fastest Indian