The mad rush to the AICP Show in Los Angeles was imminent. Wednesday night was only a few days away and I was already dreading the drive east at 6PM [those in LA know exactly what I mean, as those elsewhere can only imagine]. I had seen the screening in all its glory in New York, so I wasn’t anxious to get there when the doors opened, but honestly this is the one and only thing of really any consequence that actually takes place in Los Angeles. Not New York. Not Chicago. Not Toronto. Not Cannes. It’s right here - albeit one large parking lot away [that's another jab at our horrendous traffic predicament] - it really is right around the corner. And, honestly, it is a pretty good time. The LACMA is a great venue. The food is really quite good. And, surprise surprise, the outdoor event is always blessed with beautiful summer weather.

So, here I am anticipating the crawl from Venice Beach when it hits me. Lets do something nice and relaxing and lovely before the show this year. Again, how often does our industry actually come together in Los Angeles? That being said, aside from some form of after party, why doesn’t anyone do anything before the show? They do in New York. [LA take note]

The LACMA is in town so to speak and conveniently located near some of the very best restaurants in the city. At this point we are T minus 2 days and counting until the big event. I run down my mental list. AOC. They have a fabulous wine selection. They have a cheese and charcuterie ‘bar.’ Their menu concept focuses on small plates. And, I think I recall a small outdoor patio space just removed from the main dining room. Perfect for a small but intimate cocktail hour.

We traveled in fine carpool style, renting a hybrid Toyota Highlander from the newsworthy ECOLIMO [of Leo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz Academy Awards Red Carpet Fame]. Our ECOLIMO came complete with a very knowledgeable driver who magically transported us from the West Side to the East Side in 25 minutes at 5:30PM. Truly amazing.

We enjoyed a really pleasant start to the evening filled with good wine, good company and great bacon-wrapped roasted dates. I think the great turn out was testament to the fact that we are ready for a more LA-centric community. We do all live here after all. [Well, most of us]

So, a call to arms : Let’s take advantage of the fabulous things LA has to offer and cut down on our travel, carbon footprint and once yearly meetings [that's in reference to Cannes].

If anyone is interested in traveling responsibly and in style from the West Side to the East Side in 30 minutes or less, please call our friends at ECOLIMO.

ECOLIMO
(310) 450-7100

-Claire

Wow… this afternoon I just saw a mini tornado roll through my neighborhood in Malibu! At first there was a nice light rain and then an instant change to the largest downpour I have ever seen. Then the storm cloud reached down and touched land, forming a spinning tunnel of darkness that managed to lift a lawnchair (or something looking like it) 150 feet into the air! The funnel weakened as it made its way up the hill and finally softened to a white twisting puff of smoke that wanted to start up again.   The whole process lasted for just a few minutes and was truly crazy. I guess you don’t need to be in Kansas to experience that any more!

Last week Becca sent around a link around the office to the Story of Stuff (www.storyofstuff.com), a compelling 20 minute piece written by Annie Leonard that tears down our cycles of consumption. The simple animation style, clear storyline and Annie’s gentle delivery puts the Story of Stuff message in the same league as Sara McLachlan’s World on Fire and Al Gore’s masterpiece, edited by our friends at Cut+Run. Although her simple description of our consumption problems been criticized on the web for not providing equally simple answers, I believe that Annie is proving that the power of phrasing an issue well combined with the power of the internet can spread awareness better than ever before.

Annie places advertising close to the center of the dysfunctional cycle, focusing on the basic message of “You suck, so buy something new to make you better (temporarily)!” There is an interesting question here, which is how can Advertising make an impact for good? Over the next few weeks, we’ll have some ideas to share on this topic

Stay warm and keep away from tornados,

Bill

I remember the first post on Wheresspot where someone asked when agencies would start accepting DVDs (as opposed to 3/4″), somewhere back in 2000. At that time, home-burned DVDs still didn’t play reliably in DVD players, so the best way ways to replicate 500 or more. I also remember in 2003 hearing about the first agencies that stopped accepting 3/4″ altogether. Within 1 year, 3/4″ quickly disappeared… because NO ONE wanted to keep sending and schlepping those big ass tapes around anymore. But until that day, everyone kept saying “But agencies won’t accept anything besides 3/4″. Well, I believe we are in that transition period again. Recently two major agencies have declared that they will no longer receive DVDs and want ONLY online reels. Two years ago, the mix was 90% DVD and 10% Wiredrive reels. Now it’s 50%/50% and within 2 years it will be 10% DVDs and 90% Wiredrive Reels. Mark my words! All it takes is a few brave agencies and the rest will follow. We have seen this shift accelerate within the last few weeks - people who three months ago were wondering why they needed online reel delivery capabilities are now calling for favors to get work sent immediately.

We recently heard from a client this great story regarding the change in messenger vs. online reel delivery. His Messenger Service called him a month ago, wondering if he was using another competing service?

——

Client - What’s bothering you?

Messenger Service - From last july to this july your business has dropped 50%. Have you started using someone else?

Client - Well, I’ll be honest with you, you are still our only messenger. In the last year we are sending out materials online a lot (using Wiredrive). People don’t want to wait for hard copies. They’d rather forward an email, especially so THEY don’t have to pay for FedEx. Right now, we are about 50/50 in links vs. DVD, so it makes sense that business has dropped by half. 

This isn’t just for clients in Europe and NY. It’s some place that is 3 miles away who would rather have it in a more convenient form. Our clients want to send the Wiredrive reel to the Agency and the Director and they don’t want to pay for FedEx. The only guys who want DVDs are picky directors looking for the full quality image. 

Client - The messenger wasn’t happy to hear that. 

——-

The last thought on the matter is our old, poor environment… why send your printed, stamped and FedEx’d reel to an agency when you can post it online? No jet fuel expended. No plastics used for pressing disks, packaging materials and other soon-to-be-landfill stuff. And a bonus kicker… you get your work there in time in the format the producer WANTs to see it in and maybe land a new job. What’s not to like

Till next time,

Bill