You're not alone

I've been struggling a little trying to figure out normal life stuff. While I've been going through this, I've found how easy it is to want to run away and not deal with it. Yes, it's very cowardly. And, no I haven't been running away. I'm just stating if I wanted to, it would be an easy option.

My dad is big into sci-fi movies, and he'll sometimes quote the cliche lines in those movies, "You're not aloneeee." Even though that line usually refers to aliens, it's a true statement. We're not alone. We when go through difficult times and situations, Jesus is right by our sides. We may not notice because we're too focused on our situation, but trust me, He's there...Just ask for His help.

Frederick Douglass quote

A good friend of mine sent me this quote by Frederick Douglass yesterday:

Those who profess to favor freedom, yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightening. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. -- Frederick Douglass

"Sometimes it'll come to you, and sometimes you gotta put on the mask and go get it." - One of my non-violent friends

Stanley Chow - caricatures

Breaking Bad is one of my favorite shows on television. So when I saw this illustration of Walter White (Bryan Cranston), I got a little geeked up (excited). Check out similar renditions of Stanley Chow's caricatures here.

The birth of notebook #4

Notebook #3 was able to get my very first commercial produced, and it may have conceived 3 other spots too (hopefully). However, this isn't about #3. This is about the birth of #4. The fourth born of my notebook chil'ren. I look forward to seeing what my offspring, offsprings.

Jay-Z and Kanye "Watch the Throne" Documentary

Go 'head and get inspired real quick.

SVA: It's never too late to get where you're going.

I took a picture of this poster in the subway awhile ago, but forgot to post it. Being familiar with the NYC tile subway signage, helps to appreciate this. Nice poster designed for my alma mater.

The Manual of Detection: 2nd Chapter intro

Objects have memory, too. The doorknob remembers who turned it, telephone who answered it. The gun remembers when it was last fired, and by whom. It is for the detective to learn the language of these things, so that he might hear them when they have something to say.

My first TV Commercial

After countless beads of blood, sweat, tears, and mountain dew to keep me awake, I present my very first tv commercial. Hope you guys like it:


Art Director: Jelani Curtis
Copywriter: Chris Stephens
Creative Directors: Kris Wixom and Alisa Wixom

Breaking Bad: Season 4

Yessir. 'Breaking Bad' will be back on air July 17th. If you haven't watched seasons 1 through 3, you've got about a month to catch up.

Jay-Z: Rap is Poetry

Some new commercials

Just saw these commercials done by Wieden, NY (SportsCenter) and Y&R, NY (Land Rover) over the weekend. Check them out:

Fan

I thought about writing this post back when the NCAA tournament was happening, but a mix between too much work and too much laziness prevented that. The NBA playoffs is going right now however, and it re-sparked this thought: What team are you a fan of?

If I had to answer this question, I'd hands-down say, University of Miami Hurricanes; and I wouldn't think twice about it...I might even throw up the U while saying it. However, if someone asked me what I believed in, I'd definitely say Jesus Christ, but there would be a caveat; like, "Oh but I'm not one of those super religious types." Why? Because I don't want to offend anyone. But Jelani, what if the person asking you what team you're a fan of, was a Florida State Seminole fan (Miami's rival)?...

Over the years I've noticed, whenever TheU plays, people text me, "Curt, yo boys on," "J, what you think them Hurricanes gonna do today," "I know you locked into this game. I hope they pull it out." They knew where I'd be on Saturday afternoons. And I started to see that because of my die-hard "fanship" and unwavering stance, people almost became fans of Miami too.

I think if we voice and show what we believe, in a firm way, people will not only respect what we stand for, but some will actually embrace what we stand for.

NBA Playoffs commercials

I like this NBA Playoffs campaign.

ESPN: Opening Day

Adidas - All In

Adidas doesn't do many commercials that I like, but this one was good. Well put together.

Conan O'Brien's Farewell to NBC

via Jacob Gilbreath

Creativity magazine: February 2008

I was just looking through a bunch of my old Creativity magazines, getting some inspiration, and I came across one of my favorite covers which is below. Until this issue, I only knew of the Scott and Ians, Randy Krallmans, and Tom Kuntzeseses of the world by name and by their work. This issue named, who Creativity thought to be, the 50 most creative people in the last year; and I learned a lot about all of these individuals. This magazine allowed me to get a peek into the ad business before I stepped foot into one.

iPad 2: Smart Cover

Seriously, the Apple people are some evil geniuses. They know what you want before you want it. And once you buy it, 6 months later a newer version will come out. And you'll buy it. And the cycle continues. And you get mad. And you still love them.

K-Love

Enjoy:

"Branding comes from the practice of singein a cow's hide with a hot iron stamp to distinguish one rancher's herd from another." - Debbie Millman

Interview with Roy Eaton

Roy Eaton was one of the first African American creatives in the advertising business, and he was interviewed by an African American creative director, Geoff Edwards, who's most known for the Halo advertising that was done at T.A.G., SF (and who happens to be from my hometown, Detroit).

To me it was a good interview because it's rare hearing about, let alone seeing other African American creatives in the ad business, and it's aspirational knowing that creative advertising isn't just a white guy's game.

here's the interview (via Creativity-Online)

here's a blog post I wrote a while ago about a few African Americans that I know of in advertising.

Chrysler 200 - Motor City commercial

I just watched this again. And got goosebumps, again.

Movies, movies and more movies

I've seen a lot of movies over the last couple months, and I just wanted to give you my top five, of what people think will win big in the Oscars this year.

1. Inception (visually insane, but a very original storyline that inspires)
2. King's Speech (the screenwriter found a nice kernel about King George VI to run with)
3. The Fighter (good story and great acting from Christian Bale)
4. Black Swan (eerie movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat)
5. True Grit (a classic western, that's very to the point and understated)

I suggest going to see all these movies.

My little brown notebooks: The Birth of #3

I'm not sure what ideas will get produced in notebook #2, but I'm hoping 3 times a charm...c'mon #3, make me famous.

notebook #1
notebook #2