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HIATUS23.12.09
The last couple weeks has been really slow, kind of went on a hiatus, apologies to friends who I have taken forever to get back to. Just wasn’t in the most sociable shape and really wanted to focus on the job hunt. Anyway, its all better now, here’s what’s new.
I interviewed at a couple agencies in Toronto, saw a couple really cool offices and met a bunch of people from the industry here. Saatchi Toronto was an interesting one, my interview was on the day after their christmas party, so when I showed up, the receptionist told me I was expected and to go down to the Jack Astors downstairs. Nonetheless the interview became a recovery happy hour where I got to meet Basil (Art Director who I had the appointment with, nice guy, he’s got really cool work, interned at Ogilvy several years ago), Brett Channer (the ECD), and possibly half the creative department. Not what I expected for an interview but it was a good time, definitely cool culture in the creative department. Plus, it was nice to finally have some ad people to drink a few beers with and shoot the shit.
(on a side note, I also bumped into Ciara who waited our table. Ciara and I use to lend each notes and answers for an online class at York)
Another place I was super excited to talk to was Ogilvy Toronto. And I was lucky enough to even get an interview with Janet Kestin and Nancy Vonk – JANCY of I Have An Idea’s “Ask Jancy”, also a Clio judge, One Show judge, list goes on. More importantly, they were the ones who made this little viral video, and the whole campaign that followed. Anyway, I got unusually nervous for the interview, probably cause its JANCY, and cause it’s almost been a month since I’ve interviewed in NY. Hence I was mediocre, but they liked my book, so they offered me an internship (like many other agencies I’ve seen, because they can’t hire right now). And this is it, I’m on board. Just seems like Ogilvy has the most to offer in opportunities for creative work, and it’s a huge network which might help me transition to another city a couple years down the road. Last last year, Ogilvy Toronto had an intern by the name of Hunter Somerville, he’s pretty good, he’s at DDB London now, just read a little about him and you’ll get what I mean, I’m hoping I can do the same. So, yes, starting January 4th 2010. Hello Mr. David Ogilvy.
Aside from advertising, I got to think and figure out a lot of things over the weeks. I realized I’m going to be having some sort of stability in life, therefore I’m going to get a chance to really explore some of the “I want to”’s I couldn’t do for the last 2 years. This will be a sort of a new years resolution I guess:
1) Produced my own art exhibit (or at least get a start) – it’ll be a collection of everything I found to like over the last 2 years (photography, type, painting,…) – might just a site where I scan in all my work, might be a small studio/gallery space.
2) Go to Spain – I want to see Barcelona especially – my friend Maialen is working in Madrid, and I’m hoping she can bring me to visit her home town San Sebastian and the Basque country.
3) Get money/my own place – it just makes sense to do so.
4) See LA – this won’t be hard, party.
5) Learn the Toronto city – since I lived in the heart of Miami and Minneapolis, I see cities in a more proactive light now, I want to figure out where the Toronto hipsters are.
6) Find microbrews - breweries here or places that import from other places.
maybe 7) Get an IPhone, it’s a maybe cause I don’t have to, but I want to be cool and Tweetpic/Four Square shit. (I realized I can do this one and the one before anywhere, whatever, I’m gonna get it done this year)
actual 7) See more shows – really hoping Broken Social Scene or Metric would come back and play at Toronto again.
Ok cool, that’s it, happy holidays. Cooking Christmas dinner this year, pictures to come.