umamimedia.com

Do you like Iggy Pop? Do you like to laugh? Do you have a weak Heart?

// May 15th, 2009 // No Comments » // sweetness

As some of you may know, one half of Umami Media is in a band. As such, Mike enjoys things like Lust For Laughs – October 4, 2006 which he found on the intertubes©

It doesn’t have much to do with motion graphics or animation or motion design…or whatever you want to call it. But if you like a good laugh check it out…I know it’s kind of old new but enjoy!

…Like Barry White Gargling Wasps…

// September 30th, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized, sweetness

AixSponza: Red Bull F1 Singapore | Motionographer

I am a hopeless car freak…

OK, I know that it is a bit unfashionable these days to profess my completely unhealthy obsession with all things that reek of gasoline, leave little puddles, and go vroom! I’m sure that it all stems from early childhood memories of coasting down my parents long steep driveway in my Radio Flyer with my older brothers bashed up moto-x gear loosely strapped to my 8 year old frame.

Or perhaps it is because the only way I was ever able to beat anybody in a race was when there were wheels involved….

In any case, when I saw this piece by AixSponza, I was surpried that what really captured my attention wasn’t as much the cars, as it was the design. Stylishly executed in an audience appropriate style, suggestive of video game trailers, polished with a certain techno-realism that I couldn’t stop watching…..

…or maybe it’s just that I am a total car nut.

Why we love The Mill

// September 29th, 2008 // No Comments » // rant, sweetness

Im not talking about the Old Mill, although before it was an REI it was a creepy place to go and hang out from time to time. I am instead referring to These Folks. We could go on about how good they are, but really you should just go see for yourself.

Fugslig & The Mill for Acura | Motionographer

The spot they just completed for Acura is an excellent
illustration of simplicity, elegance, and aesthetic awesomeness,
coupled with mad skills. (Not to mention a hell of a budget to be sure.)

Advertising should always be at the service of the thing being sold, but there is a lot of room for a creative brain in the pursuit of that end. In Bend, or in any smaller locale, we aren’t required to have sub-par ads, but there are a number of factors that contribute this generally being the case. Don’t get me wrong, there is some excellent work coming out of this town, but it is definitely not where it COULD be.

TV ads are mostly at the whim of salespeople who “Just want to get the damn thing on the air” so they can get a commission, or the customer is in a hurry…or whatever. However, in many cases it means the creative work typically gets shorted, which is not good for the client. The spot may be up there, but it doesn’t stand out in any way. It, or the client the ad is for, certainly doesn’t get remembered, which is one of the CHIEF GOALS of a tv ad. It doesn’t communicate the essence of what a client wants people to know about them.

TV ads, like anything else, can be cookie cutter. If that is all the client can afford, that is totally understandable. Knowing what some people spend for running their ads, says generally they should spend a little more to make sure that the thing they put out there really does what it was intended for. Spending even 5 grand a month to run a spot that isn’t doing it’s job, seems like money spent unwisely.

We have had the chance to work with some excellent sales people, who realise the value of the creative process in very real economic sense for their client. We have also had some excellent clients, who realize that while they may know their business, we (Umami Media) are meant to act as a conduit between them and the public at large. These clients LOVE us, because we make them look like what they want to look like, even if they didn’t realize it when we started the process. And we LOVE these clients. They make the process an incredibly fun and profitable venture for us all.

I’ll stop typing now because I should really be WORKING…as usual. And please feel free to leave comments. There are so many talented and creative people in this town, I love it here. I’d love to see what you all think.