HOW TO GET STARTED IN ADVERTISING
Submitted by texanlovemop on Tue, 08/28/2007 - 19:02.
That was Question #1 (the subject line).
I pay the bills working professionally as a screenwriter and script consultant for film & TV, and have worked with some major prodcos, but never in advertising. It's time for a career change and I want to write & direct commercials, mainly TV slots. Call me crazy.
Question #2:
What is the occupational title for someone who writes and directs TV commercials? I'm aware this might be a kind of auteur-ish position that could cover a few titles, but hit me, please.
Question #3:
What do I need to take impress the company I want to work for with? I imagine a portfolio is necessary. What does it need to look like and contain? Any good examples on the net? For some reason I imagine storyboards with dialogue, rather than scripts. Can someone help me out here?
Question #4:
I figure I slant towards the comical and absurd side of entertainment, a bit more than usual, does anyone have any recommendations for companies or companies with branches in Europe that deal particularly with such fair?
Thanks for your time and patience!
TLM
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Question #2 - You either write them or direct them. Directors seldom write the ads but have huge influence on the ads, so if that's your forte, go there. Else, you'll be a copywriter and this will include writing radio, posters, loads of body-copy and everything else as well as commercials. Sounds to me like you'd be a better fit as a director, no?
Question #3 - Eight campaigns is the norm. Or five campaigns and three "One-offs" (that is, single ads not part of a campaign - an ad so good you think it'll impress people even though it's not part of a campaign). A campaign needs to have at least three ads, three posters or one TV, one radio, one poster or whatever combo you come up with - the thing is to show how the campaignable idea is, actually campaignable.
If you aim for being a director what you need is a reel - three spec commercials should do it. Or one really nice executed spec and two scripts?
hey thanks for the info! very helpful.
i've been reading up on about.com in the advertising section. are there any particular sites you recommend that are bit more ...uhhmm..."interesting" and "fun"? :)
by "campaign", i'm guessing we are talking "series", right? so that, say all 3 ads share the same theme, mood or approach in some way, right?
And is there an average amount of commercial ads in a campaign in the real TV world?
All my very best!
TLM
No by campaign I mean = same sender, same proposition.
Examples: spitfire poster campaign, The Gothenburgh symphony and the WWF campaigns here, or hey how about the recent Burger King Simposons campaign which os really a neat co-branding experience since Simpsons and seven eleven got together and did real life Kwik-e-marts for both brands mutual benefits.
Ah, you get the idea. You could also check Ad age lists of the top 100 ad campaigns to see if you recall any but that list has its quirks. For example, the winner "think small" is referring to a single ad not a campaign. (Or did they name that years VW campaign "think small"? Makes no sense.)
Practically every advertising copywriter wants to become a screenwriter, what makes you think the grass is greener here?
it's definitely not greener, just another challenge. another thing to do before i die to make my life alittle crazier.
You are nuts enough to make it, mate.
But what about TeeVee? Skits! Crazy! Fun-nay!
yeah i did skits, variety shows, sitcoms and a few boring co-writing gigs for (melo)drama, in japan. the comedy work there was the best i'll ever have - i'm sure. it's like taking lsd and saying ok, that'll work to everything that comes out of your brain. so much for creativity being fueled by limitations. :)
what's next for team dabitch?
Oh you mean, what's my moves to become a screenwriter? I'm talking to some dudes in Hollywood.. But ssssshhhh, it's all very hush-hush right about now. ;P
oh come on. what genre you writing in? have you got the spec all written out, formatted and sprayed with perfume, so to speak?
No mate, I keed, I can't write to save my life. I can tell a good story over a beer though. Buy me one?
buy you a drink out of pity that you can't write to save your life?
...sur. next time yr in europe, drop me a line.
TLM
I'm constantly in Europe mate. I'm Swedish.
kansje når vi møte vi kann snakke på "scandi-tongue" :) , men jeg bare snakke en lit.
*moahahaha* !
That's great!
As for questions #4 there are some agencies who have a special flair for solving all creative with "funny stuff" regardless of what the client might be. Look into Cliff Freeman.