I thought this video was relevant to Winnipeg for a number of different reasons. First, we have some great designers (and champions of design) here that are looking to do some amazing things for both our city and the design disciplines studied here. Second, we have a lot of great capital projects that are either underway or about to be announced that will add excitement and life to our city. Coincidentally, many of them are museums of some sort or another. But the definition of museum is changing. They are no longer static exhibits that merely educate. They are interactive experiences that entertain as well. The success of these new institutions rely on the ability to draw back visitors several times a year. They need to educate, entertain, inspire and relate to their audience. We can no longer think of museums as places that preserve history. We need to think of them as places where we can celebrate history and anticipate the future.

Here's a spot from Glasgow's Axis Animation for Dead Island, a video game about, what else, zombies. I thought this was a beautifully created commercial. It's really a short film that engages the viewer and keeps them watching, even though it's pretty evident where it's going about 10 seconds in. Creepy and emotional, two of my favourites.

T'was the week before Christmas and all through our space,
Our staff was preparing to meet clients face to face.
Pictures of stockings were hung above the "fire" with care,
In hopes that guests would arrive, and they'd stop, and they'd stare.
And they'd notice how much time and attention it took,
For us to decorate every cranny and nook.
We chopped, and we sawed, and we cut, and we pasted,
We really hoped all this work wasn't time wasted.
There was last minute prep, and we worked and we scurried,
We set off the fire alarm, and got firemen there in a hurry.
Was it worth it, this work? This Primp and this prep?
We'd soon see as off the elevator guests stepped.
They came and they ate, and they drank and we chatted,
They had a good time, they didn't leave empty handed.
After hours of fun, food, beer and wine,
Everyone left feeling warm, welcome and fine.
There's something to be said for getting together with friends,
During this holiday season, the fun never ends.
So thank you to all of you who came,
And for those who didn't, thanks all the same,
For making this year, one of the best ones yet,
Here's to the New Year, and making it better than best.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

(sorry for the bad poem)

We've just finished a commercial for the Sheps Hair Restoration Clinic and we couldn't be more pleased with the results. Thanks to Stephen, Mark and Chris at At First Sight for the great videography and editing. It's always a pleasure to work with such a great team of people. And a special thanks to Larry Kirouac, an actual patient of Sheps', who took time out of his busy schedule to tell us a little about how passionately he feels about Dr Sheps and his team of amazing people. You can watch out for the spot airing on Hockey Night in Canada on CBC.

 

I love movie trailers that get me all excited inside. I love movie trailers even more when they can get me excited about something I never, in a million years, thought I'd get excited about. For example, when my wife Catharine and I started dating, I took her to see Spellbound, a documentary about spelling bees. I thought the trailer looked really interesting and I wanted to show her that I had some varied interests. She laughed throughout the whole thing, not because it was funny (which it was) but because she couldn't believe I'd take her to a documentary about spelling bees. What really should have been a relationship killer turned into what I like to think was the catalyst for a fantastic relationship, a fulfilling marriage and a beautiful family that I never imagined I could have. Who would have thought anyone could make a movie about spelling bees so compelling, dramatic and entertaining?

Documentaries as of late have been experiencing a surge of popularity, being adopted by mainstream audiences (much to the chagrin of some hipsters I know). I'm not sure why this is but I have a theory. Three in fact: first - the quality of dramas/comedies have declined in recent years. It's harder to come up with original stories and movie studios are relying on the quick buck that sequels tend to bring in. They are essentially dumbing down movies and unfortunately many audiences buy into it regardless. Second - with the creation of "The Internet", YouTube, Vimeo, and Reality TV, people are really digging "fact"-based stories over fiction. Real is the new fake. Third - Documentaries are just better than they used to be. Maybe that's because of the filmmakers, maybe it's because of the technology they're using or maybe it's because the topics are more varied and engaging. Who knows? Maybe it's all of it. Maybe I'm way off base.

Anyway, this brings us to "Indie Game". I don't know how the entire movie is going to turn out but if it's anything like the trailer, I say "game on". I'm not a big gamer myself. I've got a PS3 and some games but as much as I've tried, I've never gotten into any of them. The great thing about the trailer is that in a matter of minutes, it draws you in to the world of game development from the points of view of the developers. It shows just how much of themselves they put into their work and how much is riding on their work's success. Winnipeggers, Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky have obviously put a lot of passion into this film and I for one can't wait to see it.

I'll start off by saying that I'm as far from organized religion as you can get (I'm still spiritual). Almost everyone I know celebrates Christmas and it's pretty hard to avoid the commercialism in general, what with Scotiabank in Winnipeg Square putting it's tree up in September, for example. I truly want to believe that Christmas is a time to come together, to decorate with blinking lights, and Irish coffee season, but today's news out of America regarding Black Friday "Christmas" shopping is just ridiculous. Here's a small overview: someone pepper sprayed 20 other shoppers at Walmart in numerous departments, 2 people have been shot and 3 people have been robbed. This gives "Macy's" a whole new connotation. There's also been reports of crippled websites, with one person commenting on a forum "screw them. I'm not ordering jack if they can't get their system to work properly. Sent off a nasty email which I'm sure they'll ignore." EARTH TO AMERICA: I'm pretty sure you're doing this Christmas thing wrong. I'd be incredibly embarrassed about this international news, just as I was for Canada with the Vancouver riots. I'm well aware Christmas has nothing to do with it's roots anymore—that's not the point of this post. The point is that in an overly-communicated society, this behaviour becomes more common place and sets an example for younger people. Christmas now dominates 3 months of the year and cheap plastic crap will ALWAYS be available on store shelves. At the very least, could we try to be nicer to each other? It really doesn't take much, nowhere near as much as it does to premeditate a pepper-spray attack; it actually feels kind of good. Forgive me for skipping gifts this year. I'll be with my family, in my house-coat enjoying Irish coffee.

The snark, formally referred to as the point d’ironie, deserves serious consideration for a punctuational revival. Originally used in the 16th century, and more recently in 1899 when French poet Alcanter de Brahm suggested its return, the snark signifies what it’s name suggests - sarcasm.

Come to think of it, there are a lot of punctuation needs that have emerged through our increased use of the written word for day-to-day social and professional interaction. It’s not a need to clarify wording, but the need to convey the intended tone.

I would love a visual cue I could use for the follow up email, something that emits the feeling of being desperate to know when you’ll get what you need, understanding of the difficulties the other person faces, but clearly and politely running out of time.

I don’t know what that would look like, but if it’s anything like those ridiculous sideways winky happy faces, forget it. When I was a six year old girl I didn’t dot my i’s with hearts and I’m not about to start now.

So bravo to Henry Hitchings, who, in the Wall Street Journal, suggested revisiting lost and struggling punctuation candidates from the recent and distant past. We need linguists, graphic designers, bored desk jockeys and keyboard manufacturers to suggest and deliver snarks, interrobangs, their cohorts and their offspring to add depth and contrast to the monotone landscape of texting and email.

:) place snark here.