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 FOX29 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 our 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 our 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.
I've won some awards, Strategy Marketing Awards, ADCC's and Applied Arts. Still swinging to get that Lion under my belt, 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.
I've won some awards, Strategy Marketing Awards, ADCC's and Applied Arts. Still swinging to get that Lion under my belt, 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 working at Saatchi & Saatchi as an ACD team, pushing for award winning work and having a blast while doing it.