I love advertising... but actually. I think it has something to do with only being allowed to watch TV on Saturday mornings as a kid.
I'd get up at 6am sharp, make a Nesquik chocolate milk, play with our bunny ears antenna until I could get FOX 29 tuned in and then I would be glued to the tube until my parents got up.
And I mean glued - I'd watch everything. And I loved the commercials as much as I loved the shows. Or almost as much as I loved the shows. I mean come on, Street Sharks, Power Rangers, Mighty Biker Mice from Mars, GARGOYLES?! It was a pretty stacked line-up.
I remember watching commercials for action figures and then trying to re-create those environments in my side yard. I always thought, "Wow whatever adults get to do that job have it made."
That sentiment kind of stuck with me throughout my life, all the way until high school when I was introduced to a multi-media class where we learned the basics of film and graphic design. A class that actually held my attention and I excelled at. It was around that time that I started to do some research on jobs that utilized design and film, I think "Art Director" was one of the first things that popped-up. It sounded pretty cool. Getting paid to work with a partner, come up with ads, sell through ideas and work with talented professionals to bring my vision to life? Sign me up.
So I did sign up, I went to Mohawk college for a three year advanced diploma. I followed a Creative Director out to his car after he gave a speech to our class and begged him to look at my book. Within a few months (and many, many emails) I had an internship at Bensimon Byrne working in their digital department. I was 20 years old and had no idea what I was doing. I think it was one of the most exciting, stressful but fulfilling times in my life.
And I mean glued - I'd watch everything. And I loved the commercials as much as I loved the shows. Or almost as much as I loved the shows. I mean come on, Street Sharks, Power Rangers, Mighty Biker Mice from Mars, GARGOYLES?! It was a pretty stacked line-up.
I remember watching commercials for action figures and then trying to re-create those environments in my side yard. I always thought, "Wow whatever adults get to do that job have it made."
That sentiment kind of stuck with me throughout my life, all the way until high school when I was introduced to a multi-media class where we learned the basics of film and graphic design. A class that actually held my attention and I excelled at. It was around that time that I started to do some research on jobs that utilized design and film, I think "Art Director" was one of the first things that popped-up. It sounded pretty cool. Getting paid to work with a partner, come up with ads, sell through ideas and work with talented professionals to bring my vision to life? Sign me up.
So I did sign up, I went to Mohawk college for a three year advanced diploma. I followed a Creative Director out to his car after he gave a speech to our class and begged him to look at my book. Within a few months (and many, many emails) I had an internship at Bensimon Byrne working in their digital department. I was 20 years old and had no idea what I was doing. I think it was one of the most exciting, stressful but fulfilling times in my life.
It has been over a decade since then. And a lot has happened.
I've worked on A LOT of brands: Scotiabank, Presidents Choice, Blackstone, Moosehead, PalmBay, Jackson Triggs, Robert Mondavi, Naked Grape, Government of Ontario, Fallsview Casino, Crispers, Ritz, Oreo, Triscuit, Voltaren, Buckley's and Toyota (probably missing a few but you get the gist).
I've won some awards, mostly Strategy Marketing Awards and Applied Arts. Still don't have that Lion under my belt yet, but hey, I did get "Finalist" in the film category once.
I've worked on A LOT of brands: Scotiabank, Presidents Choice, Blackstone, Moosehead, PalmBay, Jackson Triggs, Robert Mondavi, Naked Grape, Government of Ontario, Fallsview Casino, Crispers, Ritz, Oreo, Triscuit, Voltaren, Buckley's and Toyota (probably missing a few but you get the gist).
I've won some awards, mostly Strategy Marketing Awards and Applied Arts. Still don't have that Lion under my belt yet, but hey, I did get "Finalist" in the film category once.
I also teamed up with my best friend from college (and super talented writer) Luke Skinner. We're currently holding it down at Saatchi & Saatchi as an ACD team, swinging for awards and selling through the best work we can.