Love will set you Free: Love Messages in Music

The great Stevie Wonder says it best himself, “Music is a World within itself, with a language we all understand”

There is such awesome power in music. It is powerful to see how lyrics and melodies translate over acoustic drums or instrumental strings. When the two forces of love lyrics and music combine it is a force to reckon with. Whether I’ve had a bad day, getting prepared to pray, or celebrate- music is always that one phenomenon factor that can and will take me to that place I desire to be.

Today I want to talk specifically about Love messages in Music. When I reflect on the word  LOVE, I automatically think of Christ’s unconditional Love for the world, and how he gave his life so that we might be forgiven, have everlasting life if we so choose, and live life abundantly. He is the source of Love and he commands all of us to operate, speak, and live in this same manner- LOVE.

Below I have chosen some of my top LOVE songs that I would like to share. I have also picked out my favorite lines in each. Each of these songs have served as great reminders about God’s Love, what Love can do when it is constantly practiced, and how LOVE can simply set you free. Set you free of all bondage, shame, bad attitudes and spirits, and much more. Most importantly it is the LOVE or lack of LOVE that drives our thinking and actions. I encourage you to make a playlist of some of your favorite love songs that will motivate you to live in love each and every day. I hope even some of my song selections can help you on this ever-evolving Love Journey.

LOVE SETS YOU FREE- Kelly Price & Friends

I opened up with my heart
There was no doubt
That hatred pulls you in
And love pulls you out
If you believe in faith you will never fall
Love will take you higher than any wall

LOVE- Kirk Franklin

The nights that i cry you love me
when i should have died you love me
I’ll never know why you love me
its a mystery to me now that i can finally see Jesus

LOVE- Musiq Soulchild

At first you didn’t mean that much to me
But now I know that you’re all I need
The world looks so brand new to me
Now that I found love

THIS LOVE- Mary Mary featuring Fred Hammond

When you say love
You use it so lightly
But when I think of it
This is what comes to me
Loving me, where I am
How I am
Just for who I am
All my good and bad
Sure you think
It’s not a possibility
Something so pure it changes me
When after all these years it’s still
The same
Just as strong as it was on the first day

Play Does Matter: A new way of embracing fun in Animation Storytelling

ANIMATION WORKSHOP CASE STUDY 

Why did I choose the Animation Workshop?

I chose this workshop because  storytelling is now the new buzz word we all hear in the communications creative space, and as a producer you have to be able see the story, convey the story, and leverage it so that it is appealing to those who are going to view and potential sharers. At the Cirkus “My Animation Rules” workshop the company asks delegates to use mix media in a simple production. Me and eight other delegates ignited our imagination with the basics of storytelling and creativity. The workshop generated a number of 3D characters and animated object passes. These can be characters walking, falling over,, running or jumping cycles, rising, rolling over or just solely objects that can be placed in an environment.

Did I receive what I expected?

I went into this workshop thinking it would be great to collaborate with others. It was really my main goal to observe how others reacted to my ideas and how well I reacted to theirs, even if   we did not agree. We were put into teams and asked to create the narrative and environment for the 3D figures to live in. The take-away, was to think beyond one production platform and open my mind to mix the 3D materials with any media; this could be live in action to digital stills.

Perspective Change?

Throughout the entire Cannes Festival, it is evident that storytelling is the current and future of marking, advertising and media. I came to the festival to enhance the storytelling facets within my mind so that I can think outside the box. It was really through the prior seminars I attended earlier in the week that made me think differently about storytelling and created excitement for this workshop. Coke’s seminar really showed how important it is to have values and foundation of culture for your stories to really make the story effective and reach a lot of people.

Below is an example of how Fanta is being fun with their brand. After watching this it was evident to me that brands need some fun and play does matter when brands and companies desire to engage with their audiences.

Interactive designs fans play their own way trough the story

What Now?

We all enjoy a good story, whether it’s a novel, a movie, or simply something one of our friends is explaining to us. But why do we feel so much more engaged when we hear a narrative about events?

It’s in fact quite simple. If we listen to a powerpoint presentation with boring bullet points, a certain part in the brain gets activated. When we are being told a story, things change dramatically. Not only are the language processing parts in our brain.

Some ideas I took away from Storytelling and brand marketing campaign:

 The conventional market

This is your brand’s world — and as you brainstorm your pillars of content, you should know and be able to define the conventional:

• What does your market look like?
• Where are your competitors situated?
• Why do they currently identify with your brand?

Crossing into the unfamiliar

• This is where you burn the ships so that you can’t go back. Ultimately, in your content marketing, your brand must take a definitive point of view that is differentiated — and it will cross into your new “what if?” idea. This is the unknown — and it’s what you are exploring:
  • How will you communicate this crossing into this new idea — this new adventure?
  • How will you lead your audience into this new unknown with you?

Outside the Walls of the Palais- Actually experiencing Cannes

Beyond the walls of the conference there is much solace to find. If you are seeking to be less stressed, get away from the lecture and seminar style of teaching- seeking outside opportunities will help you do just that- because this is what it did for me this past Friday.

Some of the most unconventional and unexpected relationships were formed out of having memorable conversations with people in the advertising, media, and entrepreneurship industry in a laid back setting. And these aren’t just any kind of people. I’m talking CEO, SVP, VP, Chairman and Directors.

 

Ipsos girl’s lounge granted me the opportunity to network with women in the advertising industry who have niches focusing on beauty and wellness as well as entertainment and television. The Ipsos girl’s lounge was hosted on the rooftop of the Martinez hotel and the only word to describe it was, Phenomenal! Upon entering the penthouse space, I was greeted by servers with desserts and sandwiches and was able to get my face made up by some make-up artists. Within the midst of all of this luxury it was awesome to gain connections and insights from women who have been in the industry for twenty plus years.

I was offered information how important it is to stick together as women and create a space to really reinforce how important relaxing and taking care of your physical well-being is. It was refreshing to be in an environment that usually would be high strung because of the various demands these women have on an everyday basis- but this space provided a safe environment to share stories, inspirations, and solid advice.

 

Using YouTube to leverage your company’s brand

You’ve heard it a thousand times…a picture is worth a thousand words. well if a picture is worth that, a video is worth a million and one.

Listening to @YouTube Chairman and brands speak about how sharing their brand messages on the Youtube platform has ignited, inspired and influenced their target audiences. Harvard Professor discusses how to make your advertisements go viral#canneslions @cannes_lions#newhouseidsm #GoPro #Dove#TopShop #Evian #Chevrolet #Video#Youtube #Viral #Brands

Marketing in Comedy and Hip Hop Culture

This morning, Chairman and CEO of Time Warner Inc, Jeff Bewkes brought Anderson Cooper and Conan O’Brien for a discussion about the kinds of digital and social content that connects to comedy.

O’Brien discussed his early adaption to social media. He reinforced the importance of using social media and how it has leveraged his career. For him, it has built awareness around his brand- and he has composed it in such a way where people are drawn to want to find out what he is all about.  Social media has been a great resource for comedy to enlarge the audiences across multiple screens. He offered insightful thoughts on the creative process and tells his unique story of how he has been asked to partner with big advertisers without having to do much inquiry, but solely  because of his humor and personality that translates through social media

Listening to Anderson Cooper and Conan O’Brien speak about what advertisements, social media, fan engagement and production strategies connect in comedy. Laughter has filled the room already #canneslions#occupyconan #newhouseidsm#creativity #show #Television#TimeWarner

What intrigued me most about Conan and Anderson’s discussion was how they mesedh so will together being in such diferent lines of work, however still simulaneously the same when referring to television appearance, just with different approaches. Also, O’Brien was approached by gaming brands to conduct review. O’Brien honeslty told the companies he had never been interested in viddeo games, and the only way he would agree to it, is if he had all the freedom to say what he wanted. Because they respect his work and observed how being authentic can grow your brand . This intrigued me because it taught me that being committed and zealous about your own brand can consequently lead you into other spheres of work- even if you’re not interested or necessarily trianed on the topic. He is making money and building his brand with video games now; something he never enjoyed or participated in. That is innovative and the definition of a Game Changer.

CULTURE AS A CREATIVE CATALYST

(Click above picture to view vine)

Steve Stout of Translation, a New York based creative agency, and author of the Tanning America: How Hip Hop Created a Culture that Rewrote the Rules of the News Economy introduced Sean “Diddy” Combs-one who inspires him to continue in this work and makes him believe that Hip Hop and R&B music does have a story to tell, and he consistently wants to be a part of it. In the vine video above, there are legendary artists like Jay Z who discuss the great marketer Stout is, and how he continues to be the voice of Hip Hop from a Marketing stance

@iamdiddy speaking about the power of music and the inspiration for @revolttv“We need a CNN and ESPN of music, and that’s what Revolt TV is” -Diddy #canneslions #culture #catalyst#brands #generation #empower#beastmarketing #fresh #cuttingedge

Shouting, #YESICANNES: A Motivational Day in the Creative Space

Today’s theme in Cannes can be described as nothing less than motivational.

4 Points of Conflict and How to deal: Learning to Embrace My Creativity

(Click on above picture to view vine video)

This workshop got me drawing, writing, questioning ad assessing. It made me think about why and how creative people like my self are different- and how difficult it can be to judge ideas that clients may be looking for.

Through today’s workshop I was also able to shed light on the problem areas in the creative process. For example how creative individuals perceive others, as well as how non-creatie individuals perceive creative minds. The session provided practical tools to help smooth out some of the bumpy blocks along the way.

Conflict Brings Creativity

The Four Points of Conflict

-Left Brain v. Right Brian

Every picture has a story. The Creative Minority: Learning some people are not wired to be able to make the connection.

Abstract v. Concrete. Learning at times we creatives can be too clever…Your idea of fun and mind are not the same.

The Wood Vs. The Trees. Present the idea rather than the execution

Competing Objectives

What you want to say and what your client wants to hear are not the same. Learning Empathy. Say “yes” and rather than ‘no”, say “but”

The Three Tools for Coping

-The 10 Key Questions. Fire Ready…Aim

-!0 Great Goals. Subjective versus rational responses

-The 10 Best Creative Ideas of All Time: Knowledge and taste are connected

A Chat with Dough Zanger- “Don’t be Impressed, be Impressive”

A conversation with Doug Zanger

I had the pleasure of sitting down one on one with a great voice-over actor and Advertising Mogul. He gave tips on the industry and what it means to be an entrepreneur as a young person in the grind of all of. He offered some solid advice about never losing yourself for money and finding happiness in a midst of a world where there really is no balance between personal and business, It is one entity.

There is nothing like the feeling of feeling overwhelmed with a wealth of new knowledge. Even after a full day of seminars and full night of networking, it makes it all worth it when I came back to the hotel and reviewed the business cards from all the industry leaders I had connecting conversations with. Now that’s MOTIVATING!

The Power of Artist Branding & Advertising with Social Stance

My favorite seminars today at @cannes_lions were #UniversalMusic#Interscope and #CocaCola I was blessed to listen to the SVP of Branded content for Interscope records while learning how they rebrand artists, plus a listening/watching session for one of their new artists #IVY My mind was blown by the amazing social change storytelling in Coca Cola’s advertising strategy. I’m on a high with knowledge and creativity. #YES #Canneslions#MusicIndustry #Products#Advertising #Marketing #Branding#Media

Robin Thicke #BlurredLines

I love Robin Thicke’s latest song, Blurred Lines. It has a Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye vibe to it, that you just can’t help getting out of your seat and partying. This was evident as the video played and everyone sitting in the seminar was moving in their chairs- if they weren’t up dancing already.

I had the pleasure of listening to Jennifer Frommer of Interscope Records at the “So You Want to Be a Rockstar?” seminar. She discussed the rebranding and reinvention of a few of her top artists in the musical industry. It was interesting to hear the different strategies that are used for each artist in order to better develop, enhance, and promote their musical talents and overall brands. Robin Thicke, for example when he first came out his music and personal style was one that wasn’t easily identifiable. Although his voice is undeniably awesome, unfortunately it is the whole branding and marketing package which makes an artist successful. If you look at the picture below, you will see that his image is night and day compared to now.

Coca Cola’s #WorkThatMatters  has Social Stance Advertisements that continue to drive the Coke brand forward. The brand itself is willing to take risks by telling and sharing the the nuances of today’s world.

Coca Cola’s advertisers,  @mildenhall @ivanpollard presented a dynamic presentation at Cannes Lions. It was so profound, and executed with perfection, it has now raised the bar for all the seminars that follow.
#workthatmatters

“We Learn from people like you
Hear our thoughts on how we might use those ideas…”

Each video advertisement that Coke shared in this session ended in a howling whistle and hearty applause. I believe many attendees were touched by the messages that were shared, and more importantly how they were conveyed so confidently and unapologetically. Through these media and advertising clips, I was able to see firsthand that Coke is a brand founded on historic principles and forever striving to reach the masses with their social stance #workthatmatters- conveying that with all the bad happening in the world, there is good- and we should spend more time shedding this light.

Social purpose is the mission
Building social purpose in the storytelling strategy
We can be doing well by doing good
Illuminating how we’ve done it in the past

Starting From the Past: 1955 first African American model, Mary Alexander.
Jamal Booker – film maker

American Trailblazer: Mary Alexander

Segregation Bench Straddling the Borders- Crossing Color Lines-Embracing Inclusion

Love Peace and Harmony: Hope peace harmony all around the world  ” I’d like to buy the world a coke and keep it company…it’s the real thing”
1973 social phenomenon white fright or white flight
Challenges racial prejudices
Single bottle of coke can bring it out in everyone – Have a coke and a smile

Grand Theft Auto- Give a Little Love: Is stubbornly optimistic 2007
Grand theft auto- you give a little love and it all comes back to you

I love you Africa: Gives reasons to believe
Steve, a talented singer who is also blind singing about the beauty of Africa
Africa dances to a different beat

Open happiness

People doing good: Surveillance of people doing good 2012
Lets look at the world a little differently

India and Pakistan

What unites the human race is greater than that which divides us India and Pakistan- Jonathan Mildenhall
Small world machines
Over 60 years of conflict put aside

We don’t have to be so serious

#WORKTHATMATTERS #YESWECANNES

The WordPress.com Dashboard Gets a Beautiful Makeover

WordPress.com News

Every day, you blog, you create, and you make things with your WordPress.com site. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the code that runs WordPress.com gets updated dozens of times a day, as we deploy improvements. While you can’t see the vast majority of those changes, there is one improvement we can’t wait for you to see: a brand-new, redesigned WordPress.com dashboard featuring better contrast and the lovely Open Sans typeface.

Back in April, I shared our goals for the WordPress.com dashboard redesign:

• It should have a simple, uncluttered design; free of excessive decoration and focused on your content.
• It should use webfonts for modern, legible typography that’s consistent in every browser.
• It should have a responsive design that’s tailored to desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones.
• It should do all this while retaining the familiar, user-tested dashboard interface that millions of users already understand.

We’ve redrawn all the icons, opened…

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Films, Celebrities, and Interactive Workshops in Cannes

 When Mr. Toilet first walked across the Cannes Lions Grand Audi Auditorium, I thought to myself, “What kind of funny play-on words is he going to use in order to intrigue all of us?” Not comprehending for one second, the awesome mission, passion, and work he has set forth to change disparities and injustices for human living in addition to changing how sanitation is portrayed in the media.

World Toilet Day  is officially every November 19th- this day has an intentional purpose: it aims to provoke conversation around sanitation and break the unspoken disparities that still surrounds this issue. In addition, it supports advocacy and  highlights the impact of the sanitation crisis, and seeks to bring to the forefront the health and emotional consequences, as well as the economic impact of inadequate sanitation.

I appreciated Jack for his passion and genuine care to better the lives of individuals who are living in unsanitary conditions. More importantly, how he strives to translate this message through film and media. Director, Jessica Yu from GE Focus Forward Films, produced ‘Meet Mr. Toilet’ which depicts Jack just for who he is and what his intentions are as a philanthropist, media mogul, and as Cannes Lions would describe- a true ‘Game Changer’.

Martha Stewart, Melanie Brown (Scary Spice), and Nick Cannon participated in a celebrity panel discussing their individual uses on social media. The resounding theme was simply, “Be Authentic.”

All three renown figures reinforced the importance of being you, being honest, and never apologizing for being who you are. Although my personal thoughts are a bit contrary just because celebrities and ‘regular-everyday folk’ see life through different lenses. Consequently social media networks are filled with facades and sometimes illusions of the ideal life. Martha Stewart however, reeled the conversation back to reality with this statement. “Young professionals should really be cautious of posting questionable things to social media- employers check everything before meeting you.” I was glad she stated this because it created a balance in the room- and gave us the reality check that although we may admire them, we are NOT celebs! The consequences we may face do not measure up to the slack a celebrity will receive solely because of his or her status.

As people who are always in the public eye, being engaged on social media allows us to take our power back from the paparazzi- Nick Cannon

This quote was quite interesting and made me think how far the digital world has brought us. Just five years ago, the paparazzi would be knocking down the doors of celebrities for their pictures, quotes, and video footage. Now, the majority of this information is readily available to the public with blogs, vlogs, twitter, instagram, and YouTube. The public no longer has to go to websites, magazines, or news sources to affirm what the Nick Cannon’s and Mariah Carey’s of the world are doing- it is all voluntary shared images and information that can be attained directly from them. The paparazzi no longer has the power!

ANIMATION WORKSHOP CASE STUDY (stay tuned to for in depth case study during the week)

Why did I choose the Animation Workshop?

Did I receive what I expected?

Perspective Change?

What Now?

I intend to address the following questions in a detailed manner concerning my personal and professional take-aways as well as how I believe my team members perceived me in this storyboard making process.

Here is a Vine  video I tweeted, containing a snapshot of all the elements that went into  the 15 second animation narrative. (Click on twitter picture and it will redirect you to the vine)

What’s Now?-  Stay tuned throughout the week to see if our group’s animation narrative actually get’s picked to be created!

Lions Innovation Kicks off 60th Annual Cannes Festival of Creativity

Here at Cannes, it all starts with innovation. Just on this very first preliminary day I am in full acknowledgement and acceptance that in order to stand out- there has to be something dynamic and different that drives your creative juices to reach the masses.

This was evident in all of the short Lion Innovation presentations. From digital t-shirts to an app for window shopping, the idea, purpose, and the who cares? factor is all a part of the innovation’s success.  Below are a list of presentations and pictures of innovators who stood before the Cannes Lions judges to pitch their ongoing, working prototype in hopes to win and ultimately receive more business exposure. By watching this, I was able to gain an understanding on what is buzzing, wanted, and respected in this social, digital marketing age. Most interestingly, I was able to see and hear first-hand how the Advertising industry leaders in France measure effective versus ineffective digital marketing

Vision Shift System

Click Twitter picture below to redirect you to the vine i produced on the Vision Shift System presentation

 

TshirtOS

Window Shopping App

My all time favorite presentation was Google’s hyperlapse presentation. I believe this idea has the ability to change the world, and this is what being a Game Changer is all about. It’s using what has already been provided and working on changing it to fit the needs of individuals that may not even realize the great benefit of the invention initially. As a young video producer and storyteller, it is always refreshing to see how differently people are using video. Below is a screenshot of the twitter discussion that took place during this dynamically innovative idea. Quite often I observe not only how I react to ideas, but how others react, and their level of engagement towards a topic- this is how I personally decide if the idea has a secure foundation to stand upon and soar. The Google Hyperlapse has just that!