Top 10 Flight Tips for a Portfolio that Soars! #02

02: TRAVEL LIGHT

Consider the logistics and practical nature of effectively showing the work in your portfolio. Larger cases are great for posters and oversized magazine layouts, but these gigantic cases are also more prone to damage and can often scream amateur or student work. Travelling sleek and light demonstrates the careful editing of a seasoned artist and conveys a breezy professionalism.

Peek Inside the Menagerie Craft!

Today we find an eclectic mix of Sci-fi Classics meets Marketing Strategies 101 on the desk of Creative Director Cheryl Savala. Click below to discover more about what makes this business owner tick.

• Menagerie Creative Recycled sketchbooks

• 40-Year Evolution – The Planet of the Apes Blu-ray

• Obsessed with Star Wars

• Strengths Based Leadership

• Tickets to Ride

• Peleg Top – Marketing Mentor

Masters of Advertising Honored in Film “Art & Copy”

If you haven't heard about the new documentary Art & Copy by Director Doug Pray (Surfwise, Scratch, Hype!), then let me tell you, it is amazing! And, a must see for every designer and business owner.

Remember the legendary ad slogans: Just Do It, I Love NY, Where’s the Beef?, Got Milk? and Think Different ? In this film, Pray captures the work and wisdom of advertising greats such as George Lois, Mary Wells, Dan Wieden, Lee Clow, Hal Riney and others behind these memorable campaigns as well as some of the other most famous campaigns ever known. Watch as they share their stories in the most inspirational hour and thirty minutes you will ever experience. Of all the points these masters of creativity made in the movie, two really resonated with me – the effectiveness of truth, and emotional connections in advertising.

As technology and our society continue to evolve, these two things are more important than ever. Consumers are much more sophisticated and have become more immune to the tricks of advertisers. They now have even more media vehicles for which to receive advertising. Thus, making it more challenging for advertisers to effectively reach their target market. Having said that, by watching this film, I have learned that to effectively embrace these emerging media vehicles, it is important to remember where you have been to know where you are going. As these top ad professionals have proved, no matter what vehicle you choose, good advertising comes from finding the truth and the emotional connection between product / service and consumer.

Rich Silverstein demonstrates this with his Got Milk? campaign. In his interview, he claims his inspiration came from sitting down and really analyzing the Milk, it does a body good campaign. He says, “if you really think about it, that campaign really wasn’t true. Would you really go out and chug a ton of milk after a run? Probably not. It really wouldn't be good for you.” However, with the Got Milk? campaign, the focus is on what could happen without milk. For example, the famous "Aaron Burr" commercial. For anyone who doesn’t remember, the commercial shows a guy listening to the radio and eating a peanut butter sandwich. Just as he takes a bite, he gets a call by the radio show to answer a trivia question. With the answer staring him right in the face, he is confident that he has won. However, with his mouth full of peanut butter, the announcer cannot understand him. So, he reaches for his glass of milk and discovers he is out. Naturally, he runs out of time and loses the contest. True, simple and brilliant!

Advertising has also proved to be effective when there is a connection between the ad and its creator. After hearing these countless stories behind the campaigns, you really look at advertising in a different way. Hal Riney became famous for creating really emotional commercials, particularly Ronald Reagan's re-election campaign. He said in his interview that often times he finds himself creating scenarios that he would want for himself or missed out on in his own life. It is through this emotional connection that he makes with himself that gives his feel genuine and trustworthy and provides comfort for consumer.

Mary Wells too, expresses how her theatrical upbringing led to the first ads painted on airplanes. Interview after interview, I saw how the greatest creativity came from being yourself. Not trying to imitate someone else and not settling for something when you know it could be so much more. She proved that determination, research, and harnessing your own unique characteristics are the keys to success.

These are only a few of the brilliant examples discussed in the movie and don’t even scratch the surface. This is a film that really has to be experienced. It is truly inspiring to glimpse into the lives of these courageous artists. To hear their passion for effective communication and their fight against mediocrity. To witness their strength and see them dare to be different is such great motivation to push on in a time where our industry is so dramatically changing and reminds the audience that when done correctly, advertising is one of our more beautiful art forms.

Written by Michelle Manley

Menagerie’s Paul Newman Tribute Collection featured on The Ellen Degeneres Show!

His looks were devastating. His charm was legendary. His legacy is astonishing. 13 of Paul Newman’s films from the FOX and MGM libraries come together for the first time in one collection this Tuesday, 9/22. Collection includes an exclusive 136 page book full of stunning images of Paul some of which have never been seen before.

This morning the box set was featured on The View as a Hot Topic and audience giveaway and this afternoon, Ellen De“generous” gifted it to her audience as well. The crew here at Menagerie is so proud to have worked with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment to discover the perfect package to personify the class and charm of one of the world’s most charismatic actors of all time.

Click HERE to enter and win your own copy!

Top 10 Flight Tips for a Portfolio that Soars! #1

01: BUILD A SOLID CRAFT

Your portfolio has the potential to soar above the complacent and
predictible to reach destinations far beyond your expectations. Its only
limitations or boundaries are the ones you define. It’s far more than a
collection of varied projects – consider it a work of art. Anchor it with your individual personality, then build structure and order along every page, around every corner, and across every platform. From the exterior shape & material to the interior structures & labeling captivate your audience by immersing them in every sensation.

ROCKY™ packs a punch on Blu-ray!

Visualizing the awesome might of the greatest boxing films in one Blu-ray collection is no simple feat. The inspiring three decade saga of Rocky Balboa demands a concept both distinguished and rugged – just like the legend himself. By means of thorough research and creative exploration we developed two distinct packages for domestic and international markets – each featuring a powerful single image and an appropriate collection name that sums up his journey. Rocky™ is near and dear to the hearts of most of the designers here. We grew up watching him battle each new challenge with respect, fortitude and unrelenting determination and are now very proud to present to the world, The Underdog. The Champ. The Icon. Rocky™ The Undisputed Collection.

Available on Blu-ray November 3, 2009.

Reinvigorating Motion Picture Film Catalogs

While search engine optimization can be applied to nearly any media and market, potentially using this technology to rejuvenate the deep film catalog can become a key factor for the motion picture film industry.

Anyclip, and other similar SEOs can open the doors to not only revitalizing interest in the world's rich movie history, but could also reinvigorate the film libraries of studios like Warner Bros, Twentieth Century Fox and Sony Pictures, ultimately inspiring more in-store and online sales.

Click HERE if you would like to learn more about this.

500th Download!

It’s official, today marks the 500th download for Menagerie Creative on istockphoto.com. Graphic explosions, holiday ribbons & bows, and our illustrated trains are the most popular. Be sure to check out our portfolio, we add new illustrations and photography every week!

Menagerie Creative istockphoto Portfolio

Team Imagine... reaches the finish line and soars high for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer!

We did it! After six months of fundraising, Team Imagine.. raised a grand total of $11,410.00 and still receiving donations. Well surpassing our goal of $10,000.00 for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

The time finally came for us this past weekend to set out on our journey in joining together with over 2000 participants from 33 different states and four countries to walk as one spreading awareness and taking one step closer in ending the fight against breast cancer. As a whole, we raised over $4.6 million, which was immediately distributed to local organizations specializing in advance access to care for those without health insurance and research to find a cure for breast cancer. These organizations include Project Angel Food, Northridge Hospital Foundation, Council of Community Clinics, University of Southern California, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Starting out bright and early day one, we set out from the Queen Mary in Long Beach on a course of 26.2 miles across Belmont Shores, Seal Beach, past the 22 and 405 Freeways and ending at El Dorado Park in Los Alamitos. Along the way, we were greeted by cheers from hundreds of supporters who could not make it on the walk, but took the time out to show their support of all of us and for this wonderful cause. In addition to our supporters, we were also blessed to have hundreds of volunteers catering to our every need. Everything from snacks, drinks, medics, massages, security to even ice baths to soothe our aching feet. They were truly an amazing crew and we were so lucky to have them.

The second day, tired and sore, we set out one more time, this time from El Dorado Park 13 miles back to the Queen Mary for a Closing Ceremony we will never forget. To look back over the two days, the distance we traveled, the stories we heard, and the experiences we had, it is truly a moment of pride and motivation to keep on fighting. To see these men and women that have survived this awful disease and hear their stories brings hope that with a continued effort, we will beat this disease. To top it off, special guest Patrick Dempsey, Actor and Special Ambassador to the Avon Foundation closed the event with a congratulatory speech and raffled off his racing suit and opportunity to attend a 2010 race with the Dempsey Racing Team.

It was a fantastic event and an even more amazing experience. This was one of those life changing event which restores faith in humanity and we encourage everyone to experience it first hand. If you are interested in helping this cause, donations are still being accepted. Please visit our team’s page HERE.

Furthermore, in celebrating this wonderful event, we have a limited quantity T-Shirts designed in support of Team Imagine... and the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. For $15.00 plus shipping and handling, you can own a Team Imagine... T-Shirt with all proceeds benefiting the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. If you would like to purchase a t-shirt, please email engage@menageriecreative.com and we will gladly follow up with you.

Inglorious Basterds – No, that’s not a typo!

Quentin Tarantino returns to the world of cinema with all barrels blazing in Inglourious Basterds, the tale of a group of Jewish-American Gurellas on a mission in Nazi-Occupied France during World War II.

If you’ve seen Tartantino's other films, you'll know that he is amongst Hollywood’s most intriguing director’s. The tagline for the film is “You haven't seen war, until you’ve seen it through the eyes of Tarantino.” A little boastful perhaps, but truer words cannot be spoken of the film itself. This is ultimately a revenge fantasy that celebrates what cinema is and why it is so beloved. A world where everyone has a reputation,a role that they play like an actor in a film, and how they exploit that role to their own gain. The Basterds themselves, set out to terrify the Germans with their cold-blooded antics, making them highly feared amongst the soldiers of the Third Reich. The SS Colonel that builds a reputation as “The Jew Hunter”. The innocent girl who becomes a cinema owner, misguiding the villainous Germans into her trap. This is a film that puts on a show for us to watch, and gives us an unexpected ending. And QT rewrites the rules with a masterful grace.

Like his Cannes Festival winning classic, Pulp Fiction, Inglourious Basterds is split up into five seemingly unconnected chapters that ultimately build up to one grand event. As with Pulp Fiction, QT’s strengths shine in his dialogue. QT literally makes us sit down with his characters and have a nice, long talk (and in this movie, mostly in another language). What director has the guts to do that today? One that defies convention. One that wants to give us an experience, not just glamour. One that knows that movies need to be more than just explosions. If any of this sounds boring to you, you really don't know what you are missing, the dialogue in this film is spot on, pulling you into the scenes as if you are there with the characters, whom, by the way, all give stellar performances. The film's tone is typical of QT, satirical, whimsical, brutal, but never too serious (which is apparent in the fantastic finale).

Amongst the standout performers are, if you haven't heard by now, Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo “The Apache” Raine, and Christoph Waltz, as the film's central villain, the genius Nazi detective known as SS Col. Hans Landa (“The Jew Hunter”). While Pitt is outstanding and hilarious in every scene he has, the true show stealer is Waltz. Here, we have a complex, riveting, despicable and above all, charming villain that you love to watch and fear for what he might do. The opening scene of the film has him searching out for the remaining hiding Jewish in the French countryside, at a farmer's home. The way Waltz slithers into the scene and how he obtains his information is mesmerizing, despite the results. If he doesn't receive an Oscar® nomination (or even the win), then I want to see the performances that beat it, because there has not been a better one this year. The character of Shoshanna(played by (Mélanie Laurent) is the films tragic character, her Jewish family taken from her in an instant, and she is helpless to stop it. She runs and hides from it all, playing her part away from the dangers of the war, but when the opportunity falls right into her lap, she seizes the moment to strike back, and the audience will cheer and shudder at her vengeance. Laurent takes that innocence and uses it to propel her character into World War II's greatest fictional (and unknown) heroine.

At 153 minutes, the film does seem a tad long, and a few of the long scenes of dialogue could have been trimmed down, but the film never ceases to be an entertaining and is by far one of the best theatrical experiences that has come out this summer.

Written by Jeff Butler

Summer Discoveries

It’s back to school time once again for consumers,
but for Menagerie Creative, we've soared far beyond the basics.

From the promise of treasure in the Mississippi bayou to the advances
in television technology right around the corner, come along as we
share a few recent destinations our crew has ventured to over the summer.

CLICK HERE to download our most recent discoveries!

10 Essentials Every Design Student Should Know