September 2014

It’s time to talk about Mad Men. After all, how can I write about stories and advertising without mentioning one of the most famous stories about advertising? I know, I know. Hard-nosed direct response marketers often have less than flattering things to say about Madison Avenue advertising methods. No accountability. Entertainment but no sales. Limp, milk-toast […]

Okay, I admit it. I’m a bit of a geek. I know what the “T” stands for in James T Kirk and it’s not the same as the “T” in William T Riker. I can recite Green Lantern’s oath from memory: “In brightest day, in blackest night …” And, if you care to bend me your

Yup. Because that’s exactly what helped Disney acquire the hit-producing animation machine known as Pixar. Now, these two companies – Disney and Pixar – are both master storytellers. In film, print, and in merchandise. Disney we know about. Mickey Mouse. Snow White. The Little Mermaid. And maybe you know that Pixar was born from a

The STORY Last night, when I settled on the couch to relax in front of a movie from Netflix that I hoped wouldn’t suck, I picked Bloodsport, the 1988 film that catapulted Jean-Claude Van Damme’s career. Unless you’re a 10 year old boy, or a grown man who watched it as a 10 year old

Sometimes we don’t feel comfortable telling our story. And other times we just don’t have a story to tell. But fear not, friends — we can still capture the persuasive punch of a good story. How? We lie. Now, before you get the wrong idea and go tattling on me to Kevin … I’m not

Do you remember the last battle sequence in Star Wars? Luke is strapped into his X-Wing, racing down the narrow metal canyon in the Death Star … … Darth Vader and a brace of TIE Fighters hot on his tail … And Luke is about to fire the missiles that will either hit the target