I am Thompson Boy

So I have been quite busy and away - the painful part is that I can't leave my job early enough to escape a month or two of torture which entails a pitch for the current account that I am working on. That's the thing about advertising and big account, every 3-5 years there will be mandatory pitches or in other industry they called it tender to ensure fair play. The good thing about knowing that you won't stay long enough is that whatever the results, it doesn't bother you at all. Not to be selfish, I know that many people are counting on this and heads will roll if we were to lose this account. All said and done, I still gave my very best and hope that everything will be ok. After all, we endured weekends after weekends and coming back to work on two consecutive public holidays. On a much brighter note, everything will be over by today and there's the Chinese New Year holiday around the corner to pig out and rest. Also, my iPad Air is finally here and I've b...

Misunderstood? I don't think so. Trying to justify and give phone addicts a reason to be more anti social. Please, capturing the moments my ass! I have seen so many people who were so engrossed in capturing millions of pictures during travel that they forget to live and enjoy the real moment happening in front of them. Whats the point of trying to relive them through a screen? Not to mention them spoiling it for others with that damn flash and clicks. I have the luxury of sitting next to an annoying woman who rotates between her compact camera and DSLR during a performance. I hoped she will enjoy watching the whole show (finally) at home when she could just get the DVD. Note: And it seems like I am not alone - http://gizmodo.com/seriously-enough-with-this-apple-holiday-ad-1485051176

In life, we are usually defined by the final outcome, success or what you manage to get at the end are the measures of what you put in. Though that might not always be true, to a certain extend some sort of rewards will come one way or another. It's good if there's money involved but for people who are tad passionate about the things that they do, winning an award is like the right icing on that damn cake that you worked so hard on. When I started out in this industry, just like everyone else, winning an industry award is something that we (secretly) hope to achieve. Not sure how or when but it's something to look forward to. Be it a creative or marketing effectiveness award, it all seem so glamourous. Though I have yet to be in Cannes for the award of the awards, I've managed to finally snag my first two Effie with my team last week - it is 4 years in the making. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride, I have been trying to win this fella for awhile now. There was...

...I sure sucked at talking about it. It's not always like that, you know. Maybe the love is gone or the love is somewhere, I just need to find it. But having said that, I am still (I like to believe) in tune with what's going on in the industry. Anyhoo, I have been seeing some LGBT related ads lately done by some retailers in the states and while some of us might praise them for taking that small step forward, I think it is still very very small step ahead. But of course the pink dollar is huge, it was reported that gay couples spent millions in New York alone for wedding when it was deemed legal (if I am not mistaken) last year? I quite like the version done by Target. I don't think alot of people have issues with the ad so to speak (yes there are some major bitching here and there but) because it doesn't relate to them. I mean it's the mentality of whatever lar, gay is fine as long as it's my son or daughter who is gay kinda thing. Then I will have issue....

“Mad Men” returned to great fanfare last night. The nostalgic look at the advertising business in the early 1960s is nothing short of a cultural phenomenon. Those in the ad world are as obsessed as anyone with the series, while often ruing the fact that the agency business is far less glamorous and swashbuckling today in an age of procurement, discount creativity and heightened financial pressure.- Confessions of an Agency CEO For those who aren't in the business, this could mean nothing more than just blabbing over the good old days when things are so called easier, with slower pace and greater budget. In fact I couldn't really see the appeal of Mad Men even though I can throughly understand the industry, maybe it's because I am doing all the nasty bit that at the end of the day, I wouldn't want to spend time watching it all over again, albeit more glamourous. It's true though - in fact in the 80s, even here in Malaysia, advertising was quite glam. There'...

So the week has been quite eventful in more ways than one. I don't talk much about work these days because I have mix feelings about them. On one hand, I am doing great and working on something that is more memorable and pack enough stories for me to look back when I am old and yet on another, I felt like it might eventually drive me to my own death and that is only because I can't let go and I like it too much for it to fail. The next best thing is then to look else where so that I can rediscover what I love about it and instead of habouring ill feelings towards all the problems that exist. And hence I decided to skip this year's industry award show and even though I knew that this will be my first time in my short-long career that a few of my works will be winning awards. My ex boss told me once that everyone, not limiting to just creative should strive to walk up that stage and I finally did, albeit missing from stage. Of course I am proud of the work and I can add that ...

Dear Malaysians: Official Video The "Dear Malaysians" campaign was created to help Malaysians say "I'm sorry" and seek forgiveness from one another during the festive season. Hopefully, it'll teach us how to brighten someone's day, one apology at a time. Spread the joy of forgiveness at www.dearmalaysians.com

Right now in town there is a couple of pitches going around (technically one just ended but) and these are big accounts - one Telco, one airline, one fast food and one media channel. So nearly every agency is working on it and trying to get some in the climate that is spending less and depending on global work and adaptation (recycle from other country). All these doesn't go to feeding us and also funding my bags. While I am already working on one of the biggest account in the country, I have been pitched in to help in one of the pitch. Oh well. It will be over soon. I hope we'll get it...not as though the money is rolling into my pocket but hey, more bags!!!

He is my inspiration. He is the reason why I came into this line of work. And stayed as long. He is the person I have the utmost respect and yes, love for. Sorry Mad Men but this is the real deal. The real McCoy. He is David Ogilvy. *lights up a ciggie*

I can't help but watch the video that has been circulating around my FB (I am not sure if everyone is turning liberal or that I have too many gay friends which I am sure I don't but aaaaanyway)and I have to say that despite everything, I don't like it at all. Don't get me wrong and give me the "I am gay I am supposed to be supportive argument". I don't question the intent and content of the video but I am very much against the creative expression and execution. It's almost corporate bank/insurance commercial like, which makes it very ad-landish (a term used for the typical look and feel of ad which has become so generic like for eg: using good looking models only or in the past, pan asian). I wished it was more real. The passing of balloons, the pink shirts and come on, how many parents would be happy to see their son putting on makeup? They skipped all the dramas and go straight into happy days. It's abit too Utopia and happy happy joy joy me...a ...

Over the years I have seen cringeworthy stuff from marketeers..either no thanks to their agency or just plain stupdity of the brand custodian. Collect all here and laugh over it, no? why so serious lar But for the 1st edition, it's hardly a laughing matter. Certain subjects are delicate and should not be tread on without thinking which why I've reserved my comments on what recently happened . I am not clever enough to say anything so I've avoided saying anything at all - the golden rule. More often that not...this kind of gimmick, trying desperately to tie it back to a product end up leaving a bad taste, more than anything else. So marketeers...beware!!! Stop it!! Stub it!!

It's so funny to see things on the other side as I was just reading my last year's blog entry on Kancil awards (it's basically the only local advertising excellence award night)and my oh my, the table has turned. Last year I was determined to make award winning as part of my KPI (Key performance index) and I indeed tried very hard but nothing really came out from it. This year, I watched the accounts that I used to handle win this and that and I was thinking, if only I have stayed for awhile more. Another bitch (ex colleague) who is also known as My Girlfriend was sitting not too far from our table has the cheek to come over and told me that I could join their winning table if I wanted to. Thinking about it all over again, I am so much better off than them. Sure they are winning some Kancils but that's about what they have to cheer about these days. People are leaving, the accounts are shrinking, times are getting harder and there's little to be happy about. I am ...

Managed to come home early yesterday and while sorting out the mails, I noticed the usual credit statement and to my amazement the amount was higher than usual thanks and no thanks to my supplementary card for my sister. I was also amazed at how little things here and there can easily contribute to a couple of hundreds just like that and I am not even talking about high end shopping. Just the usual DVD here and there or CDs. Thank God I paid cash for my books else it would be another heartache to bear. I must say though while it sounded like I am a train running wild without control – I am still far from it. After all, I settle the whole amount on a monthly basis. But that’s the thing about life. Everything you say or do paint a different picture for different people. Once you read or heard of a person buying these and that thing you will automatically assume he is a nut. Then there’s this new guy at work who dresses well (my hunch is that he’s gay) and there was gossip circulating tha...

I must say that it's been quite an experience to actually talk to people and see those that are actually quite out out there. Out out there being these are the one who actually frequent drinking holes and this and that party. Normally I don't see myself having to indulge in such talks because as much as it shocks you, my previous agency cares more about doing and finishing their work and then have quiet private life instead of drinking and doing something noisy. It seems that the routine here is drinks. Drinks and more drinks. Drinks with the client. Drinks for dinner. Drinks after 6. Drinks at work (hidden stash of emergency vodka). And drinks for all occasion. For me, I do enjoy a drink or two or three or four but not that often. First of all, it's really expensive. Then my friends are not really mad about them. For me, it's something you do with the company of your friends. I would all rather spend all my money as you would have guess on more loot. Not that I can aff...

After a week of less than satisfactory sleep, I have finally felt that I rested just enough. It’s not like I don’t sleep, it’s typically a minimum of 8 hours a day but somehow I ended waking up feeling more tired than the night before. Well, of course this is usually the case when I have so much on my mind. It’s normally work related but I am surprised actually because I don’t really worried and cared for them as much as I used to. Somehow, it lingers on the corner of my mind. A close colleague and I was talking about quite a lot of stuff and she mentioned to me that people were talking behind me about my suicidal move to another agency to handle a telco account. Everyone is convinced that I am out of my mind and she told me to go and prove them wrong. That was before she went on telling me her own experience in working on telco account as well. I know people has been nice enough to pre-ampt me the situation but honestly I told them that I can never be prepared for it. Imagine this sce...