Be kind Rewind

Alma:"Are you in love with me?"
Mike:"No."
Alma:"You know your in love with someone when you spent at least 20 minutes 
a day talking to them in your head".

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seolah imej diri di tentukan opini orang lain.

The opposite of fear (THANK GOD!)

It's been a bizzare several months since I've joined my current advertising agency. And one heck of a ride! Finally working as one of my dream job: an Art Director!

It took me a lot of searching and struggle, and learning that the all the events that happened to me and people I've met post my acceptance to this agency, were like a strange weave of path to connect me here. haha. I know that sounds very gay but it is strangely true. I truly believe now anything you strive for in life, whether it is only wishful thinking, the smallest effort can bring you closer and closer to that something. I know cause I'm living it!!

Not all is sunshine and lollipops. Heck, I'm surprised at how I've managed to keep positive with some "POLITE" personalities I have to work with. One week into it was like adapting to a new school, only it wasn't school where I can "choose" my friends, and I happened to experience a culture shock - in my own country.

IThere are plenty of things I learn on a daily basis. Everyday is trully different, I never know what to expect which is exciting. The first day I joined, I've already blended in easily like everyone was an old friend. Everyone in this field is crazy hehe. One thing I haven't forgotten the day I joined, I was immediately introduced to the project the team I joined were handling, with my colleague, a very down to earth and nice Art Director ( who isn't here anymore :() and senior copywriter (who happened to work with my sister before!)I didn't stop asking questions, one of the questions I asked was about the storyline. I thought it was too direct and they all replied " well because this is Indonesia. We cannot create something so freely."

That line punched me in the face. I was a newbie and yet I asked the most ignorant question. But it also made me a little sad. Is this a problem? Is it a question of accommodating the audience? Indonesian audience? The clients? or are we as the "creative thinkers" the ones responsible for the limitations?

An Art Director isn't just a fancy title. It's role differs according to which field you are in. There are Art Directors for film making/production houses (setting the look and feel of the film - correct me this is only to my understanding), Art directors for Graphic Design (less strategic oriented than in advertising, they usually require high crafting skills, but also brilliant conceptualizing), there's also animation, magazine layouts etc.

My job offers a lot of learning experience whether it is refining your crafting (skills), managing a team (whether your own, or working with other people outside the agency - such as photographers, directors, clients) and creating a communication strategy for a brand. This includes the whole campaign that a client requires you to develop for their brand.

The technical side requires us to own not just good designing skills, or drawing skills (and that is an ongoing debate these days, since it seems like rarely do art directors have to own this ability) but also:

* Strong communication skills: We receive a brief from a client. So far I learn it goes in this order:
Research Asking Who?
understanding Who the client is, what they want. "Who" the brand is, "who" are the target audience, by interviewing people, reading, asking, anything.
Strategy -> Solving the problem. Positioning, where we all as a team decide to take the direction of the brands image & product.
Conceptualizing -> Combining "a plan of attack" Gestalts Theory, to interpret the communication strategy. Whether is it the essence of a story line, a layout etc.
Ideas CRAZY IDEAS are welcome!
then Parlaying those thoughts into a thorough presentation
-> Verbal Communication
Execution & Aesthetics the best part! Visual Communication.

MAKING THE STORYBOARDS!! (which means myself with help decides angles, storylines )
SHOOTING!!! PHOTOSHOOTS!! DESIGNING!!! All of this requires technical skills, but also having a good sense in aesthetics that isn't specific to our taste, but according to where the whole direction is going.


Lastly: ENERGY

Anyone, whatever the role, as long as they are a part of it is going to need that. And alot of it, cause none of those things above are done from 9 to 5. Nope. You work irregular hours, and if needed spend the night awake for it. Time speaks differently for people in this industry. It's shorter, and faster!

Of course I've learned that, because I live in Indonesia, specifically in Jakarta now, there is a need to understand the "culture" we are communicating to. Working in the creative field automatically directs you to be a part of the pop culture. We ARE pop culture. So its a very interesting challenge to learn about who we are talking to. There is an idealism to pursue what we want - both personally or as a team, but then there is almost always intervention from the client's side. Which is where we need to give a smarter conviction or compromise or try and pray.. for a miracle hehe.

It also means everyone has to adapt, not just myself (who literally had to 'adapt' :))

“Cinema is a personal pursuit,” Apihcatpong said. “To present my point of view is to present a different kind of cinema, to push the boundary and to see what cinema can do.

“Everywhere in the world now, even in Cambodia or Laos, we’ve become something like a monoculture. We have the same logic about narrative, and minority culture has been prevented from being expressed. Cinema is one of the components that can foster the understanding in the culture. I hope that makes sense.”

Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul on the Palme d'Or top prize at the Cannes film festival

Aakash Nihalani

Lollipop Lollipop LaLaLa Lollipop

Never thought finding genuine happiness in my simple life could be so easy.
I've always had a difficult relationship with my MOOD, its like its got a mind of its own or that it's swelled up so much that it had sprung into life and became a separate entity than that of yours truly. So much..maybe TOO much there is I have to thank for starting from the start of this very year. My new job, my new life, my new acquaintances (which happened to be "important" people to me!), and friends that are brilliant workers/ talent. My new adventure!
I haven't had the need to go shopping anymore for a long time, I work more, and work that I enjoy, I learn more, I read more, I EXERCISE more (I've joined the gym!) I spend time with family more, I pray more, but most of all I get to do interesting projects, and create more. Which is by far very crucial :)

Who says you need to be in a state of prolific "darkness" to find "artistic depth" whatever the heck that means :)

His health

Wish my dad could go on a vacation!! throw off the bowlines, have fun, go on a yacht or something with my mom. I want him to be healthy - both in the mind and body. I want him to stop working - whether he loves it or for the sake of us - it doesn't matter. Just enjoy life, Dad! Those regular throbbing sounds from his throat that aches my heart, are like an constant pendulum of an inevitable painful reminder. What I'm going to do as a material token, (and when I've saved up), I'm definitely going to give back something,we are all trying to show our worth through this. But in the meantime, try to let go, and believe in us! We can survive on our own, we are all trying to be..

Thoughts when I see magnificent artwork, videos, ideas - whatever form:

I have always wanted my occupation to be more than just a job, but a learning experience,
the things that form an extension of the content inside this "container",
something to live for, something born of necessity, and passion. Something to connect myself to the world as a unity.

Insya Allah, I feel I'm heading there day by day :)

Magnum

I'm waiting for something
To put these foolish things to right

Protected accepted
I need it now I need it right

I'm feeling so empty
In this old lonely world's tonight

I'm restless defenseless
In this unholy world tonight

For love we burn
We never learn
We'll never learn 

O lonely night

Disappear

O lonely night
Don't you come around here

"Matthew Lyons Illustration" by inksurge

"Matthew Lyons Illustration" by inksurge

bzzt

Showreel from Nurul Ibrahim on Vimeo.

leading a double life

foto: Anne Lebowitz

.....

Dear Nurul Ibrahim, below are your Personality Tests result:
Who is your true self: You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.
Yourself: You are really hiding your true self.
Girlfriend/boyfriend: You like serious, smart and determined people.
Relationship: You prefer to get to know a person very well.
Love: Your have very sensible tactics.
Education: Education is very important in life.
Job: You're a practical person and will choose a secure job.
Success: You are afraid of failure and scared to have a go.
Afraid: You are concerned about your image.

if we are all formed by information of others, location, physical and mental experiences in the past
than what are we?

I could be blob in the sky
I could be a bubble gum
if someone/something hadn't make me believe i wasn't
what if we are all a phantom of substance?

I wonder if i wake up tommorow and be able to explain who I am free from my understanding of my past and background.

One sided monologue days

A: So what do you do on a regular friday night?
B: Howl at the moon.

Max and Mary is a beautiful tale of friendship about two people from two different countries who found solace with each other as pen-pals. Sounds typical? They fall in love? I myself am shocked to learn, No. This is far from typical. This story unfolds the journey of true friendship, even as physically distant as they were.

Both are united by their utter confusion with the world. Mary is a young Australian girl living with an unorthodox drunk of a mother and a father whom makes a lifetime career in a factory as the person attaching strings on tea bags. She is a curious, brightminded girl whose confidence is shaken by both her mother's nasty upbringing and ill mannered boys making fun of her looks. One day she decides to send a letter to a random person on the other side of the world, to learn where babies come from. That random letter and question was received by Max, a Jewish New Yorker, who is overweight, and has fear of being in contact with people. Following this the years and contentment in both of their lives were flourished by their friendship, love of chocolates and The Noblets.

Watching the trailer you might think its a comedy, and although it is wrapped by the hilarious thoughts they share, the circumstances Mary had to face growing up are the most unthinkable horrid events one could not even think of surviving. In short their love for life was saved by their friendship..

This story is deeply moving. It also contains profound words that make me started to reflect on my friendships and the people that have always looked over me in my darkest, most unbearable hours. It made me ask myself who my real friends are? What they see me as? Or who are those that have accepted me entirely as an individual? And whether I've ever shown them enough affection and gratitude for this?

I'm always baffled at how a correspondence no matter how short, or whether it takes the form as an online chat or an email, can have a great impact and change everything. It made me sentimental to think how physically apart they all are, and how different the paths we are leading. Regardless how different the culture, the time, the distance, yet they ALWAYS manage to have time be understanding. Sometimes I feel like I have to work on being better at corresponding to them, and not fixate on my crazy little world.

To have someone to listen and reassure you just when you feel you want to jump from the edge of the abyss is an incredible treasure. I cherish everyone who cares in my life. Because I think the most honest facet of a person is when we are young and when we are at our worst. I hope I'll never take any of it for granted!! :))

2010

I'm hoping to see great changes this year. And I feel that I am this close to get there. Good and bad things had happened marking the start of this new year, not just to me but to my sisters. Yet all of them happened trully as a pivotal sign of growth, mentally and professionally. Leaving the past and embracing the new. I just hope all of us have the strength to be understanding with each other. I am afraid to jinx the good thing happening by writing here, but can one ever hope too much? If you are reading this blog, God, I have the same and only request as the lion visiting the wizard oz; I need all the courage in the world!!

tobias-knipf.com
graphic designer/filmmaker