MonKeyArtAwards

A Reader Writes

One of our readers wrote to tell us that a certain big name in entertainment advertising is "canning all their old AD's and replacing them with young, nubile, cheaper refugees" from a recently folded agency. (At first glance we misread this as they were caning all the old art directors and we were shocked, we tell you, shocked!)

Sadly, it is a common practice in businesses all across our once-great nation to replace experienced workers with newer, cheaper models. A twentysomething still living at home is willing and able to work an 80 hour week for a fraction of what a grown up with a mortgage and a family demands. And don’t get us started about the joys of running an unpaid intern into the ground.

That being said, we know nothing of a specific incident of canning - or caning - of old art directors taking place in our industry, however, we will leave it open for our readers to discuss this topic in their usual folksy, good-natured way.

The Sincerest Form Of Flattery

While trolling the Internets we came across the DVD packaging for Fringe - a show about investigating "The Pattern", a codename given to a series of unexplained incidents occurring around the world. 

We, too, noticed a pattern which we traced back to the website of a certain designer and digital surgeon.

 

You Don't Need A Weatherman To Know How Much It Blows

A reminder to our readers to be sure and check in daily with Nikki Finke for the big picture.

When Key Art Isn't Everything It's Cracked Up To Be

If you’re like us, nothing gives you the heebie-jeebies like seeing one’s venerable calling fall into the filthy paws of the hoi polloi. Which is why we recoiled in horror when one of our readers sent us this link to Cracked’s Rejected Ideas For Disaster Movies. (Although,we must admit the copy on number 13 is Key Art Award winning material.)

 

Bend It Like Bullock

If you’re like us, the last place you want to see your anatomically incorrect finish is on Photoshop Disasters. The commenters on that site are so viscous - unlike the gentle folk who post remarks here at MonKeyArtAwards.

Perhaps our readers will remember we briefly posted the theatrical one-sheet for this madcap comedy about an umbrella named Steve.

Crew: LinkedIn. LuckedOut.

One of our readers sent us this link to LinkedIn's status report on Crew:

Crew Creative Advertising was a full-service Ad Agency specializing in the entertainment industry, servicing clients in theatrical releases and print network campaigns. They had over 150 employees until layoffs and re-orgs started in October 2008. They tried working out of a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy situation last spring, but the bank supposedly pulled the funds and closed the doors on 11/19/09 at 6:16PM. Company is no longer in business due to the greed and inexperienced leaders. 

Just Ask Pee Wee Herman

When it comes to inappropriate touching, there is no better place than a movie theatre. At least that’s the thinking behind Hewlett-Packard’s decision to roll out an in-theatre lobby campaign for their new Photosmart web printer.

Gaga Bold Italic

A reminder to all you self-unemployed freelancers: send us a link to your website or your email address to be included in our Entertainment Advertising's Finest Freelancers column.

Become A Better Surfer?!!

 From Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood:
 I've learned that Stephanie Allen, EVP of marketing at Fox Searchlight Pictures, is leaving after a decade there promoting Slumdog Millionaire, Sideways, Juno, Little Miss Sunshine, Napoleon Dynamite, and other pics. "Stephanie has decided to take a break from the movie business. She is already enrolled in graduate school, pursuing a Masters in Fine Arts, and also wants to become a better surfer. We will miss her mightily," an insider tells me. Fox Searchlight is in the process of finding her replacement.

Ask Yourself One Question: Do I Feel Lucky? Well, Do Ya, Punk?

Dear Edwina,

Just downloaded a special app for the new "Interactive" Avatar trailer and noticed, before clicking to install to my operating system, that the app's publisher is "Crew Creative." 

 
Should I be concerned about any unfortunate surprises programmed into the app by a disgruntled ex-Crew staff? Or, being myself a thoroughly gruntled James Cameron fanboy, should I trust the Gods and proceed?

 An opinion, please! 

 Signed, A Concerned Reader 

The Finest Freelancers In Entertainment Advertising

One of the many self-described studio creeps we count among our readers has asked us, in the interest of what we in the blogosphere call “community”, to offer to post the websites of any of you self-unemployed freelancers out there looking for to earn big bucks* in the  world of entertainment advertising. 

The links will be featured in the top right column of our blog every day under the banner:

 Entertainment Advertising's Finest Freelancers

If you are an experienced (and by “experienced” we mean this ain’t your first time at the rodeo and yet, somehow you are still brimming with joyful enthusiasm) art director, editor, digital illustrator, finisher, copywriter, account exec, assistant or whatever the hell it is you do, send us a link to your website or your email address and we will post it.

Cordially yours,

EdwinaTrout@gmail.com

*No mention was made as to when freelancers could expect actual payment of those big bucks.