Monday, November 26, 2007

Don't quote me boy, I ain't said sh*t

That lyric has been stuck in my head for the past few days, but not the N.W.A. version... it's the Dynamite Hack remix (yes, I had to Wikipedia the song to find out who sings that folk/rock version).

The PR Week issue that I am quoted in arrived today and of course I'm nitpicking about the single sentence they used, just as I knew I would. I was very curious to see what they would choose to quote me on, since I was asked about 20 questions during our 5-10 minute phone conversation. I'm fine with the quote they chose, however I'm irked at myself for saying "they're positioning themselves" in reference to our client's plan of brand positioning, rather than "we're positioning them". I feel like I should have taken more credit on behalf of our agency's plan of attack. But in the end, I guess our client was in fact the one who decided how they want to market their new product, so perhaps I'm being too hard on myself.

However they did cite something incorrectly. They said our client was present at the Grammy's, when really they were at the Golden Globes. Hope there are no repercussions on that one, since you know who will be taking the fall.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Writers Strike Provides Distraction

There are 10,000 writers marching in front of my building right now, making their way west on Hollywood Blvd.

It's times like this that I wish I had listened to Josh when he said, "you should really go with a digital camera that uses AA batteries, rather than a rechargeable. You know that when that crucial photo-op comes you're camera is going to unexpectedly die." He was right. I got about 4 crappy pictures before I was instructed to change my battery pack.

I was first disrupted by multiple long, deep train-like horns. I thought myself, "hmm, that's odd. There are no trains on Hollywood and Cahuenga." So I went out to investigate. The horns I heard were actually coming from 4 or 5 eighteen wheelers which were ever-so slowly paving the way for 10,000 picketing would-be writers dressed in red and chanting, "when I say 'union' you say 'power' 'union'... 'POWER', 'union'... 'POWER'!!" There were people on stilts, in costumes, helicopters in the sky and more camera crews than I could care to begin counting.

But alas... my attempt at amateur journalism is halted by the fact that my camera is out of batteries. That's not a good sign.

Well well well

Guess who's going to be quoted in Monday's issue of PR Week. Go ahead, guess!

Monday, November 19, 2007

Just a little something

So I have a big event for work tonight: High School Musical 2 DVD red carpet/screening/press junket/release party. These HSM movies (as we call it in the biz) are wildly popular with the media, which is a little surprising to me considering that it it began as a made for TV movie. It obviously helps that the original film's soundtrack was the bestselling album of 2006 - a stat which shocks me, but then seems pretty logical once I think about it; there isn't much to compete with in the category of children's music. I figure, if you estimate that 15% of the entire population are between the ages of 6-16 and they are all listening to the same thing, then that single musical phenomenon is already making a huge mark by affecting 15% of the population. Now, the other 85% of the population may not even include active music listeners, and for each age group and demographic there are multiple categories of music interest, plus multiple bands in each category. Oh, and the immense media interest has also probably been aided by the fact that one of HSM's hot little underage stars has had nude pictures circulating. I'll let you know how she looks in person and whether or not she lives up to all the hype.

But in reality, I think the only people who care that I'll be among all these young stars are my little cousins, who are obsessed with all things Disney. Unfortunately, and as pathetic as this sounds, I won't even be able to brag to them, my only interested audience, about my shoulder rubbing because if I do I will never hear the end of it: 'why didn't you take us!! You HAVE to take us next time!!' And no matter how many times I explain it they won't understand what 'work' actually means.

So check out Access Hollywood, Extra, or E! Entertainment tomorrow night and you might catch a glimpse of me in the background on the red carpet. It's sort of inevitable when working the carpet for these events - since there isn't much space to work with you always end up in the back of the crews' shots. It's kind of fun. Tell me if I look professional.

That's all. I didn't really have much to say, I just hadn't written in awhile. I've been lagging on posting my most recent round of nieces/nephew photos from last weekend. But there ARE new ones, and they ARE just as adorable as ever (naturally).

Friday, November 9, 2007

Sooo....

Being the stereotypically over-excited aunt that I am, I have more pictures for you, dear readers. The last round that I posted were of my nieces in their Halloween costumes. Well, after two pre-Halloween parties in those costumes, I guess they got tired of them and decided to dress themselves for trick-or-treating on the actual big night.

Elise (right) said she was a “Cowgirl Princess” (she was obviously channeling memory of her original cowgirl costume, though this new one doesn’t really scream either cowgirl or princess. Still adorable, of course.). And Celeste (left) declared herself to be a “Fairy God” (yes, fairy GOD. I wonder what sort of religion my sister is practicing that house; I’m pretty sure the one we were raised with would consider that blasphemy… well, at least she’s encouraging open-mindedness.) Oliver, the bebe, was dressed as an octopus and apparently remained in the costume without fussing for a few hours.

These children brighten my world:






Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Where does it go?

It's funny how some days you think you're on top of the world. You start your day off right: wake up early, make a delicious batch of whole wheat pancakes, have time to relax and drink your coffee at home, feel great in the brand new cozy sweater you chose for a cloudy and cold Autumn day... all those things prepare for what will come next in your day. Before even leaving for work you feel great about the tasks that lie ahead of you, you feel excited and motivated to go into work and conquer, produce. You know you're on top of all you projects and you think you're doing a great job.

And then a bomb drops. And it makes you feel like crap. Makes you feel like the little seven year old boy who trots home from school and can't wait until his dad gets home from work to tell him about the A++ he got on his arithmetic test. Daddy get homes. But when little Joey, bursting with excitement and pride, gushes about his more than perfect grade, daddy, wreaking of dissatisfaction, gruffly remarks, 'now if you can only learn to hit the ball at t-ball practice.'

That's how I feel.
I hate trying to salvage a lost sense of worth and motivation. I want my morning back. Wah.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Our plight as writers

I've officially decided to pledge my allegiance to the writers strike. Sure, I realize I'm not actually an employed writer and thus not legitimately striking from anything, but I just want them to know where my loyalty lies. And yeah, it's not like I'm going to stop writing blog entries or anything because let's face it folks, this is the only creative outlet I have left... for the moment. So I'm really just joining the writers strike in spirit, I suppose.

But now that I think about it, I'm not going to get to watch new episodes of my favorite shows. They're sort of betraying me, as a fan and supporter of their work. Come to think of it, maybe this is my opportunity to strike! No no, not 'strike' like I was talking about before; 'strike' as in lunge, attack. Yes! Here's my window to get noticed, amidst lack of true professional talent... THAT'S IT! Fuck the writers strike! The fair weather is shifting my way!!

BUUUAAHAHAHAA!!!