Cars, advertising, and podcasts about cars and advertising
I just wrapped a three-month freelance contract making ads at the agency whose sole client is Mazda. Having spent a longer stint as a creative director at the same shop last year, I have an affinity for the brand. I got to know it so well. And I was a creative director on their largest campaign launch in Mazda USA's history. This brand took me to the foothills of the Andes, and through downtown Santiago (and Chilean wine country, among other places) for a pretty robust production as well.
Despite a lot of usual backstage drama and bullshit, or maybe because of it, this shoot produced a spot that has become one of my favorites. When I look at my career so far, I'd put it in the top ten. Ironically, the CMO and second in command lasted a little over a year before they bounced. Like they were put in place just to enable the brand to do something different.
As a side note, Chile is a spectacular country.
Throughout my career, I've been fortunate enough to work on a lot of globally recognized brands. Apple. Mazda. Toyota. Activision. adidas. Gatorade. AT&T, to name a few. With the exception of Activision and Apple, I wasn't necessarily a brand aficionado when I went in, but I ended up becoming one after creating work, or managing others to create work for them.
Advertising is a weird business in the sense that they are always searching for the new and trying to find creativity in unexpected places. I applaud this idea in theory as the idea that someone with no training can come in and kill it is totally appealing. At the same time, I worked with a clown (literally) from Cirque du Soleil on an an ad campaign and the person was so arrogant and so horribly untrained for conceptual thinking that it was a waste of two weeks. The idea that creativity can "come from anywhere," is wishful thinking at best. More importantly it kind of undermines the skill and craft it takes to do what we do. It would be the same as saying "anyone can be a racecar driver." No, they can't. You absolutely can and should find someone from a completely different background or culture who is untrained and train them to do an amazing job. But this notion that you can place someone in a situation where they don't have training or the tools to succeed is a fallacy.
Anyway.
When it comes to cars (and more specifically gear and specs and whatnot) I'm not a car guy. I am a car guy in the sense that I appreciate style (especially distinct style) and the history of a car as a brand. For instance, Mazda weathered serious storms because of the Second World War, pivoted several times and became a juggernaut in Japan. I also appreciate how certain models have fit into pop culture, while others have fallen by the wayside.
For the record, if I had "F U" money I would totally buy a Fiat Dino. I love the brand and I own a Fiat and I love their history, too. That's what I care about. Well, that and how it drives.
One of my friends launched a podcast recently called Best in Class, which is essentially he and his friend choosing one car model and going back and forth about what generation is better and why. Since my friend has worked in advertising, he brings in the pop culture side by playing and critiquing some of the ads, too. What I love about it is how accessible it is. Even when they get technical it's still within reach, which isn't easy to pull off.
Highly recommended.
I would also recommend the Adland podcast. Not just because I was on it, (even though I was) but if you have ever wanted to get a deep dive on the advertising industry by some of the most respected people in ths industry. this is the place for you.
