Textual Playlists

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Chances are you have a playlist of music you like to listen to while working. Frank Chimero introduces the idea of having playlists of texts, a kind of morgue file “one made of the best writing on the web I come across.”

I love the idea and think of it as a playlist of things to re-read when tackling difficult creative challenges or to regain perspective when overwhelmed by deadlines. His playlist of ten texts includes Marlin Mann’s Better and Kurt Vonnegut’s How To Write With Style and eight more you should check out. 

As if to make the process of starting your own playlist easier we get, via Kottke, this comprehensive list of The Best Magazine Articles Ever. It’s a long list and sure to provide plenty of reading material with classic articles by Gay Talese, Hunter S. Thompson, David Foster Wallace and many others. 

Time to start your own textual playlist. What would you include?

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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.

It's hard to walk in stop-motion time-lapse

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This short video is making the internet rounds this week. Yet another stop-motion animation, this one made special by the very precise technique used to do the ‘walking’. Although it is not evident from the short itself this is a viral sponsored by Levi Jeans. I’m not sure how effective it is in showcasing Levi as I didn’t even notice the brand of the jeans the first time I saw it. But the walking is cool. 



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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.

Old Spice: From Ignored To Cool In 30 Seconds

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I remember when the first Old Spice commercial aired bringing a rowdy room to a full stop and then people asking "what was that?", "I'm on a horse", "the man is on a horse" and on and on. Much has been said about the evolution of the campaign, from the follow up commercials to the current social media campaign where The Man Your Man Could Smell Like personally responds via video to a multitude of comments on twitter, youtube, facebook and all over the web. 

But I just want to take a moment to celebrate the behind the scenes of the campaign, the creative team, the account team and Old Spice for so openly and daringly embracing a sense of joy, wonder and fun. Above all I want to celebrate Isaiah Mustafa. He has gone from complete unknown working actor to being at the epicenter of popular culture. With each new commercial TMYMCSL becomes more engaging, and yet the actor seems to shine through with a glint in his eye. He somehow communicates so many messages at the same time with such effervescence. He has made Old Spice cool again. 

How can you not love a campaign and an actor that bring you this:

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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.

Trend reversal used to promote new tv show

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While book publishers are quickly embracing video to sell books, with movie-style trailers and vook conversions, in a reversal of the trent A&E releases the pilot script of their new series “The Glades” to promote the show. In partnership with Barnes & Noble, you can get a free copy of the script for the first episode at select B&N stores and as digital downloads at B&N.com, the A&E website and Facebook.

As clever an idea as it is, in this case I don’t think it works. “The Glades” is yet another site-specific crime procedural, this one set in South Florida. While some of the many procedurals that are currently on the air are embraced by viewers, they usual do so because they possess a distinctive character and visual style. Reading the script, which features a caiman as a plot device, a predictable twist and an obvious display of product placement, it is very hard to imagine what this show will look and feel like. As written it did not feel enticing enough to make me want to watch it.

On the other hand A&E should be praised for trying something markedly different to stand out. I almost wish that instead of another cop show this promotional idea was used to sell a show set in a bookstore instead.

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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.

Snow White retold by Neil Gaiman in Snow, Glass, Apples

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Continuing with stories told from a new perspective. Here is the full text of Neil Gaiman’s Snow, Glass, Apples - the story of Snow White from the point of view of the stepmother. This will knock the Disney version from your brain. You will never see Snow White in the same way again. Get it for your Kindle here. Or check out the audio drama below featuring: 

Bebe Neuwirth as the Queen
Martin Carey as the Huntsman
Mark Evans as the Prince
Kate Simses as the Princess
Nick Wyman as the King 

Bebe Neuwirth as the Queen Martin Carey as the Huntsman Mark Evans as the Prince Kate Simses as the Princess Nick Wyman as the King PS. I don't own this audiobook

Final part. Thanks for watching, I hope you enjoyed it

 
 
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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.