Dangerously sexy: new media producer directs first spot for Smitten Kitten for only $3,000
New Media producer Nicholas Carlton has just directed his first commercial for Smitten Kitten, a Melbourne-based lingerie retailer. The spot was shot for only $3000, and has just gone online.
Carlton is the creator of the feature length web series OzGirl which was released last year to over 25,000 fans. He is speaking at SPAA this week on New Media.
Says Carlton: “What essentially started off as a spec commercial evolved into a bona-fide commercial after I approached every lingerie brand and retailer in the country with a pitch, effectively bypassing creative agencies and established production companies to get the commercial made.
“From conception to completion the commercial was made in 4 weeks with a crew of 30 professionals, all working unpaid.”
Directed by Nicholas Carlton
Director of Photography — Shyam Ediriweera
Produced by Eduard Jakaj
Executive Producers — Nicholas Carlton and Shyam Ediriweera
1st AD — Jacqui Hocking
Original Music — Dmitri Golovko
Sound Design and Mix — Leon East
Production Coordinators — Julian Costanzo and Tom Davies
Camera Assistant — Katherine Schachte
Gaffer — Chris Hocking
Best Boy — Ric Forster
Production Designer — Charlie O’Brien
Costumes — Ella Barton
Make Up — Kat Bardsley
Hair — David Anthony
Data Wrangler — Corey Barnett
Model Photographer — Ross Campbell
Photographer — Michelle Leong
Unit — Darryl Carlton, Alana Carlton and Sasha Carlton
Written, Edited and Graded by — Nicholas Carlton
Models — Jasie Ubels, Nicola Collie, Brooke Sheehan
Cops — Nick Colla, Cameron Box, James Acok, Paul de Dassel
Special Thanks – Susan Carlton, Shaun Crawford and Olga Carlton
95 Comments
awesome, “working unpaid”!
There goes the neighbourhood
sorry why would make ads unpaid?
why is this being promoted as a $3000 ad? There are clearly a dozen people who didn’t get paid for their work, actors who have gone unpaid and a model who has done this for free for her portfolio. Promoting this nonsense just undermines the entire industry. How long can you last creating nonsense like this for no money before the favours run out and you go bankrupt. foolish foolish nonsense
$3000…Ha!!!
Just what we need is for clients to see this article and want all their TVC’s done for 3K…lets all work for nothing…!!!
It’s a Joke….
Foolish? Kudos to these guys for pulling it off. Even factoring in salaries it’s still cheap. And it says that it’s his first spot so clearly they have made it as some sort of calling card to the industry. I hope it works well for them.
I doubt the fimmakers want to be working for free forever. Ever heard of a spec commercial? It’s a calling card.
“a crew of 30 professionals, all working unpaid.””
I think that sums it up perfectly.
Nicholas Carlton, you’re everything that’s wrong with this industry.
BTW: The ad was absolute SHIT. You barely even showed the product, it looked cheap, tacky and the direction was even worse.
We need to be encouraging bogans to procreate LESS, not more! Sorry, but this should go straight to the thingsboganslike list. The overwrought nasty ‘babe’ as hero, the drooling tool guys, the faux lesbian allusion at the end. Just the whole Paris Hilton-ness of it all. It’s kind of like the Pink V8 Supercars ad meets bad 80s film clip. There’s only one real ‘danger’ here, people. Can someone please pass the Femizole ointment!
Good job for getting this done, it is your first spot after all. However this kind of stuff does undermine our industry. The industry struggles already under clients wanting their work done for nothing, stuff like this sets a bad precedent and kills our industry. I don’t preach from a pedestal as I have done the same and worked for free on many a job pulling off amazing things for nothing. But we need to band together and set some sort of industry standard that keeps the industry alive but also give our new Filmmakers the opportunity to create a start for themselves without doing jobs for free.
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend reading the directors statement of intention on his personal website:
http://nicholascarlton.com/2010/11/my-first-commercial/
It clearly explains why he wanted to create the commercial.
You see there you go again. You get what you Actually pay for.
Viz they had to publicise the silly cost because they couldn’t publicise the craft.
The ad is bad. Monkeys, Peanuts etc.
I love Duran Duran.
WELL YOU CAN SEE WHY HE BYPASSED CREATIVE AGENCIES AS THERE IS NO CREATIVE VISIBLE.
AND A WORD TO THE WISE IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO A FREEBIE TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR IN THIS CASE ‘LACK OF TALENTS’ …..WHY BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS.
WHY BOAST OF BYPASSING CREATIVES WHEN THESE ARE THE VERY PEOPLE WHO WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A FUTURE.
NAIVE NOT ONLY IN DIRECTORIAL SYLE BUT COMMERCIAL STRATEGY.
OUCH.
nobs
Regardless of cost, the spot is dangerously cliched in every aspect
Those glasses are a nice comic touch. Subtle.
stay in bed
ok. so…why are we promoting this on the blog?
Cool. I look forward to shooting a 60″ commercial with you for $3000 very soon.
Ok. So this is the dumbest post i think i’ve ever seen on this blog.
Congratulations.
For mine, these are the key points that we must revisit:
1. You are PR’ing the production of a spec commercial, that happened to get lucky at the last minute by branding it with a brand no-body knows of. And then, you spend your time promoting that you made it for $3,000?
Nicholas, ask yourself – what is this achieving? Showing that you got hoodwinked your crew for free? Undoubtedly promising them a credit in the process and give them a little bit of pizza for their trouble…and then promote that you spent money on hiring a camera, a few lights and buying a bit of jailhouse proppage?
2. You are promoting your ad, made without an agency on an agency driven/featured/focussed website. So that…well, that’s just dumb and amazingly ignorant. Simply, there is no idea in your ad, it’s a bunch of pretty ordinary shots with high contrast 90s look and feel cobbled together with cliches in abundance. I did find it interesting reading your website…
“I think this is the primary challenge a director is faced with, to be able to succinctly and economically tell a story in a short space of time. To be able to establish geography and character quickly means you depend on caricatures (nerdy glasses) and a recognizable cinematic vernacular (NYPD cops).”
Umm…yeah….nah. Cliche is code word for lazy.
3. The ad is shit.
4. You made the foolish mistake of having your website posted, which also shows the classic amateur filmmaker pose of holding their hands out in a framing device – to say…”LOOK, I’M A DIRECTOR”.
I agree with “Old Media Producer” who posted above. Stay in bed.
“Says Carlton: “What essentially started off as a spec commercial evolved into a bona-fide commercial after I approached every lingerie brand and retailer in the country with a pitch, effectively bypassing creative agencies and established production companies to get the commercial made.”
The very 2 things you want onside when embarking on a career as a commercials filmmaker.
GENIUS.
Equal and opposite to saying I paid money to go to an Indonesian Gaol. Both really, no REALLY, dumb.
Is this a Saved By The Bell dream sequence?
Another Simpson’s rip-off? Mo the bartender gets arrested and the mug shot turns into a fashion shoot. This is the same idea, but with a more predictable model.
But if you are going to use it as an excuse to show the product, try showing more of the product.
this is singly the worst post in a long while. wtf do we want to promote “a crew of 30 professionals, all working unpaid” so a client can get an ad done for $3K? REALLY struggling to workout why this is worth publicising and why someone didnt tell this client you only have radio money. don’t blame plush, the interwebs or the gfc when your next budget is crap.. blame the people that helped lower the bar in the first place
http://nicholascarlton.com/2010/11/my-first-commercial/
is amazing.
he makes it sound like he just found the cure for cancer.
Rubbish and the $3000 is just depressing
Let’s be fair – it’s not Nicholas’ fault that this article was published on the website. All he did was create a nice little spec commercial to practise his skills and actually get a commercial on his show reel. If he wants to enter the world of commercials, then he needs to practise the craft. No one is going to give him a job straight away, so in order to learn, he just went out there and shot something. This is fantastic, and I encourage every young up-and-coming filmmaker to do the same. The fact that he got the attention of the editors at the Campaign Brief just goes to show he’s heading in the right direction!
However, as he said himself on his website and in the article – THIS IS HIS FIRST COMMERCIAL. It was never going to be perfect. It was never going to be award winning. He just wanted to make something so that he could practise his craft and learn from his experiences. Again, this should be encouraged, not shot down.
I find it extremely disappointing that all of you (most of whom I imagine work in Agencies or Production Companies) are being so abusive and downright rude to such a young, up-and-coming star who is merely trying to find his mark in the industry. If you have a problem with the commercial – then you should be emailing the editor at Campaign Brief – not publicly abusing someone.
Even if you think the spot is cliche, that’s no excuse for a personal attack. I have watched many high budget commercial on this website, made by award winning agencies, production houses, post production facilities, directors and producers, that despite the budget, look bad and fail to make me want to buy or even consider purchasing their advertised product. Everyone makes bad ads every now and again. The point is, if you keep on refining your craft, you’re going to get better and better. You have to start somewhere, and Nicholas has started with this.
Although the ad might not be to my or your liking, I would at least hope us “so-called experts” in the industry would be able to offer CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, instead of offering Anonymous abuse.
I don’t think Nicholas is “boasting” that he bypassed the traditional avenues of agencies. He was just trying to get SOMETHING out there so that he can apply for jobs and get his start in the industry. I would hardly call him a bogan either – in fact his Oz Girl web-series has probably generated as much traffic (or more) as some of the major online campaigns that other Australian agencies and creatives have released in the last couple of years…
Finally, let’s give agencies, clients and creatives some credit. Just because this ad was shot for under $3000 (keeping in mind no one was paid, and it was shot on a still camera!) – I don’t think there really going to think “OK, next commercial we’re only budgetting $3000”, considering it costs over that for one day of offline editing in the “real world”.
I hear what you’re saying… But please, as a regular visitor to this site, and also a working member of the industry, let’s be fair to these kids. In a couple of years, we’re no doubt going to be working with them or even for them.
Nicholas, you would’ve been better off not telling anyone you did this for 3K and ripped off your entire crew.
Now potential clients are going to think you’re a small time shoddy operator who can produce a little spot for them for the same cost.
You’ll never get a budget now. Well done.
Welcome to the industry mate. Off to a good start. Now piss off and get back to posing for the camera with your next series of “I frame shots with my hands just at the exact moment my friend took a photo for facebook”
Jesus what’s with the vitriol? Did he piss in your garden? Does anybody else remember what we had to do when we first started in this industry? Hustle! Hustle! Hustle! Give this kid some credit he’s got great directing chops and has proven he can execute on a miniscule budget. And he got out there and did it. Top marks in my books.
forget the price this kid is the canary in the coalmine – what’s interesting is a commercial with potential characters telling a loose story that could develop into a mini commercial series for a brand if he’d kept it at 30sec – look what esurance did in the US with 2 animated characters.
“Give this kid some credit he’s got great directing chops and has proven he can execute on a minuscule budget.”
Number 1) I’m sorry, he’s not a good director. Sure, he may be one day, but this spot is very poorly directed IMO.
Number 2) The only way he could execute on a minuscule budget is by having people work for free. That’s not sustainable, and I’m sure he’s just used up all his favours for the foreseeable future.
even the models are cheap
http://nicholascarlton.com/wp-content/gallery/dangerously-sexy-shoot/dsc0800_cap.jpg
I could point to ads made by every creative on this website that are derivative in some for or another.
This response is frankly disgusting. Keep up the good work, Nicholas.
It’s neither dangerous, sexy, nor very good.
But if a young guy made it happen – then perhaps we should cut him a bit of slack.
Isn’t making things happen half the battle?
it has been said that there is no such thing as bad publicity, and this entry certainly has got a lot of people talking about what this kid has done … some comments are ignorant and puerile, while others seem to understand that this kid made a TVC on spec with a bunch of friends for a small cash outlay, and then Campaign Brief published it.
Follow the links to his website, he has not yet graduated from film school and has already won a stack of awards for his new media projects.
He states quite clearly that this TVC was done on spec. He has brought together a group of people to see it delivered. He took the initiative to secure sponsorship, and has got it out for comment (you are all commenting on it).
These are skills which will stand him in good stead as he develops his career … what this shows me is a kid who not only has some obvious talent, he also has demonstrated drive and initiative. These are the attributes I would like to see in all of staff.
One last question for all the detractors who have flamed on this blog …. what were you doing at his age?
Long time lurker first time poster.
Was honestly thinking about submitting my spec spots to this blog next month for my friends very small start up alcohol company. Had the notion that it may work as some free publicity for both myself as a young director and the brand that needs all the publicity it can get.
But after seeing the torrent of abuse this guy is getting I’m having second thoughts.
Although most of the criticisms to do with the actual work and it’s execution are spot on, and are totally necessary for anyone wanting to show improvement, the personal attacks are probably not.
I’m guessing most of the posters on these boards are pretty talented professionals, who understand their industry so wouldn’t you’re best bet be to spread good vibes – tough, but good vibes.
I work more in the film industry and you wouldn’t get this backlash, they would just say crap is crap, here is what you could have done let’s move on.
As a well known, well respected producer in your industry told me;
“The advertising industry in this country is a clique whereabouts the film industry is more of a community.”
And from my limited experience in advertising I would have to agree.
what were you doing at his age?
If agencies had more time for people starting out Nicholas wouldn’t have had to go to these measure. I’m sick of agencies putting themselves on a pedestal.
Yes, this ad potentially devalues what we do and gives clients who don’t know better false expectations. It’s not great but, seriously, this brand will make a massive return on this.
However, a bigger client with a reputation to uphold wouldn’t go near something this cheap because it would degrade the brand. If your work delivers more than this spot, then you’ve got nothing to worry about. Otherwise, quit whining.
Nicholas.. you can’t direct for shit. It the most appalling cliche I have ever seen. It’s bad porno.
I don’t think anyone would deny that the lad has chutzpah.
And many of us, as mentioned above, have also done spec work to get a gig.
The problem is what to think when the spec work is so bad it is likely to inhibit a future career. And what this says about the creator’s judgement.
Is there any moderation on this website? 90% of these comments exceed the limitations of professional criticism and are downright immature, childish and disgusting. This is supposed to be an industry blog.
all you people are morons…WAKE THE F**K UP!!!!!
I’m ashamed to be involved in an industry where you f**king assholes operate.
Can someone tell me why is this being put up on Campaign Brief? I’m reserving my opinion on it, but I do want to know what the criteria is.
Too bad the kid couldn’t have done his ‘spec work’ while getting paid as the head of production at an ad agency, or two, hey Sean?
like several other posters on this forum, I find the majority of comments unbelievably rude and offensive. Where does some moron who calls himself “Harry thekingofengland” get off with crap like “you can’t direct for shit”.
These types of comments are completely unprofessional. And frankly, with comments which show a distinct lack of character, I would love to see your contribution to our industry.
This is a kid who has shown initiative and drive. Go to his website and check it out. He has not yet graduated from film school and already he has won three awards in Los Angeles for his new media projects. He got off his arse, organised a crew to donate their time, got a TVC shot and edited with original score, and got all of you talking about it. Instead of criticising him you should be trying to recruit someone who can show initiative, determination and commitment.
This kid has been invited to speak at SPAA …. twice !!!
I for one want to employ more people like this, people who get out there and have a go, people who want to make a difference and will put themselves at risk of failure. Critics are easy to come by, as the responses on this blog have shown critics are a dime a dozen. Individuals with guts and initiative on the other hand are a rare breed, and this kid deserves plaudits for what he has achieved at his age.
If you don’t hire him, one day you will find yourself working for him !
Let’s sit back a moment and take stock.
1.Sean, at least you have posted your name to your post. Good on you.
2. The vitriol above is, IMHO, a sign of desperation in the industry. So many in production and agency land see someone who publicises the fact that he made an ad for $3000 as a real and understandable threat.
3. Nicholas has indeed done his best to produce something at a young age, which is admirable. Many of us have commented on his ‘chutzpah’, while most of us have spurned the process and the level of creativity of the ad.
4. This site has historically shown that it is not editorially controlled. It is a free for all, unfortunately manned by un-penned signatories. On this one I have to say – get used to it, or don’t visit.
5. Our industry (viz point 2) is in crisis, probably due to the massive shift of media, process and changing of the guard.
6. Fear takes over in times of change.
7. We are in a dynamic industry that is historically driven by change and this fear.
8. Unless you take harness that dynamism then you are either on your way out of the industry or not suited to it.
9. This series of posts is not really about Nicholas’ efforts, it’s more fundamental than that. It has exposed many of the insecurities we all live with.
Lastly, again in IMO, you have to ask yourself am I suited to this game?
Hard, fun, creative, infinitely frustrating, tricky, political, rewarding, oh and did I say fun?
Sometimes massively.
Adam
Ahh the slow death of the big agency. Grasping at straws to hold onto your dying world. All those detractors should shut up, the kid never said he was a star, he says he is proud of what he has achieved. The first time I caught a football I was proud of what I achieved, I wasn’t calling the broncos to ask for a contract.
Everyone starts somewhere
You creatives operate like high school children if you say you’re cool and it’s crap hopefully all the other sheep will be too scared to question. As soon as you let others make up their mind you lose your power. If it’s actually beneath you what are you getting so upset about?
You all think you’re James Cameron but let’s face it, he has TiVo and fast forwards through the sh*t you make.
Nice business brains kid, if the creatives on here had guts they’d put their names on the posts so you know who’s calls to ignore in the future. As someone who works client side I can tell you these others have a short life expectancy.
Says the person who calls themselves
“The Old Codger”
Ha..
Sean Ascroft said:
I don’t think anyone would deny that the lad has chutzpah.
And many of us, as mentioned above, have also done spec work to get a gig.
The problem is what to think when the spec work is so bad it is likely to inhibit a future career. And what this says about the creator’s judgement.
It’s not a sustainable model, for Nick or the ad industry, but I think a lot of the comments above are missing the point.
Firstly, this is an online video – not a TVC. Clients are looking for more affordable ways to advertise and online video provides them with that opportunity.
Secondly, this was his foray into directing. He had the initiative and balls to get it made, and a client who was willing to be involved.
I met Nick at an industry conference this year. He’s a talented entrepreneurial fella who developed the idea for OzGirl and made it happen – all 23 eps – for around $7000. That’s more output than most people (above) would produce in a decade.
The Old Codger has a point – people like Nick are a new generation of talent who are going to be sought after by clients, particularly when it comes to video advertising (we’re not talking TVCs here) because…
1) He gets things made, and 2)He makes production affordable.
I doubt he would be too concerned about a lot of the comments here… he’s the sort of guy who will have his own company up and running soon enough. Look out when he does!
51 comments so far.
What’s the record on this site…anyone know?
You people are all suckers. This is obviously some multi channel integrated socially networked 360 degree online outdoor new media campaign.
I think if anyone here had some balls they would leave their name with their posts.
Has anyone thought he might just be building up his reel and was fortunate enough to get a fair bit of attention for it? If you don’t like it, give him a suggestion! Work together to lift the industry to a new level!
I hardly doubt one spec ad for a small company is going to bring down the entire industry. His confident, ambitious and young. Good luck to him.
The ad’s lame, the old rich people are scared, the crews are working for free and some girl with a dream is standing around in her underwear feeling awkward. Business as usual.
here here
That’d be ‘hear hear’, 2:50. But I guess we’d expect that from a supporter of this.
Anonymous @11.30 am, I did leave my name.
The name’s Clam McBeard.
Pleased to meet you.
And your name is… Anonymous?
Yes, everyone has done spec work to jump-start their careers, and Carlton should be congratulated for getting an idea produced and distributed, you say.
The first problem lies with his promoting the work as a major accomplishment for $3K, when it was clearly made only by everyone involved doing a favor for the producer-director at that price tag.
The second problem is the quality of the work. As an idea, it ranks as a poor imitation of any number of music videos over the years with the barest strain of a story line. As a visual experience, it again ranks as a poor imitation of any number of music videos, etc., etc.
In an era in which all of our creative work is reduced to the term ‘content’ it’s not surprising that any number of responders to the blog have commended Carlton on getting something made, as if something, anything, were good enough, irrespective of the quality of the work. The value seems to be in the self-marketing, not the craft, so when Junior Adman talks about those who are “grasping at straws to hold onto (your) dying world”, one presumes he means the world where clever ideas, strong storytelling, beautiful pictures, and moving performances were the object of most peoples’ endeavors in this industry.
The fact that Junior identifies himself as “someone who works client side” should be of no great surprise to any of us, because that’s what’s really happening to the industry that Adam Wells describes as “in crisis, probably due to the massive shift of media, process and changing of the guard”. The truth is that despite the changes in how information is distributed, what medium one uses to do so, it’s still a business, maybe even an art where strong ideas and artistic execution reign. No matter how many channels you have to get an idea to the marketplace, you still have to capture people’s imaginations with the idea.
The fascination with new media has unfortunately allowed people to forget that the idea and the way it’s crafted is key, and in the interim the accountants have managed to take over the process. But have faith, because not every new wannabe director is a Carlton and more concerned with his own marketing than with his art. At least I hope so.
True Clam, mistake on my part. I have no connection to the industry, just take an interest.
It wasn’t directed at you, given that you comment was not personal. Just saying, give the kid a go.
Hey, it’s not as brilliant as a KFC commercial, but it’s not too bad.
He should have told everyone it cost 25k and he would have been fine. The freebie is the bloodied elephants head in the corner. Never ask, never tell…
Whenever I need a reminder of why I got out of advertising (apart from the money & hours), I just pick a random Campaign Brief article & read the comments section.
5:13 – Good riddance, and in case you hadn’t noticed, you’re in the comments section for all of us to read for our reminders as well.
Guys – let’s look at the facts, Nicholas (and I am sure his unpaid crew) are starting out and of course pulled favors and delivered as cheap as they can, good on them – they are trying to get experience and putting themselves out there.
I doubt that industry is going to go bankrupt because of this up-and-comings first attempt at a commercial and I am sure no one in industry would expect a cast of 30 to work for free on a “real job”/clients will pay for the people they know have experience. I would like to see what he can do with some resources under his belt and senior guidance (which I have no-doubt in the next few years we will see!).
A lot of the comments are thoughtful but some are unjust and just rude and uncalled for. Everyone starts out somewhere – we should be embracing this type of stuff, not hating on it. I would like to see some of the “haters” who are experienced respond with their own $3k advert in return and we will see who comes up trumps, a $3k challange if you will. Good luck to Nicholas and the crew – keep up the initiative guys.
Woah, i’ll take the bits out of this thread that best sum up how i feel about this.
@Adam Wells
“This series of posts is not really about Nicholas’ efforts, it’s more fundamental than that. It has exposed many of the insecurities we all live with.”
“The vitriol above is, IMHO, a sign of desperation in the industry. So many in production and agency land see someone who publicises the fact that he made an ad for $3000 as a real and understandable threat.”
@Nov17th 7.17pm
“These are skills which will stand him in good stead as he develops his career … what this shows me is a kid who not only has some obvious talent, he also has demonstrated drive and initiative. These are the attributes I would like to see in all of staff.”
@Junior Adman
“Ahh the slow death of the big agency. Grasping at straws to hold onto your dying world. All those detractors should shut up, the kid never said he was a star, he says he is proud of what he has achieved. The first time I caught a football I was proud of what I achieved, I wasn’t calling the broncos to ask for a contract.”
@Old Codger
“This kid has been invited to speak at SPAA …. twice !!!”
and my favourite…
“If you don’t hire him, one day you will find yourself working for him !”
—
This entire industry is being changed at a rate faster than most of you can grasp, you all know it, but are sh*t scared of actually acknowledging it. Nick’s just made the majority of you who have commented finally face up to that acknowledgment, hence the incredibly abusive and desperate sounding comments.
You all better get your negative, personal, pathetic comments ready en-mass, as I can see plenty more Nicholas Carltons coming to take your over-inflated digital production budgets in the very near future.
Peace!
5:13 – Whenever I need a reminder of why some people got out of advertising (apart from the money & hours), I just pick a random Campaign Brief article & read the comments section.
congrats on getting something made and sold. it’s the still the best way to learn.
the mistake was trying to pr something on the australian industry’s professional website site that isn’t great. not even close. you compounded it by boasting you did it for little money – largely on the generosity of people who have rent to pay and mouths to feed in one of the world’s most expensive countries.
i venture if you go on other industry websites, landscape gardening, banking, accounting, boat building etc and post third rate work and whilst boasting about how cheaply you did it, the response may be the same.
keep making stuff. just keep your head down, realise directing is a learned craft and industry pr needs more than a cool haircut and skinny pants.
Time for some Wikipedia goodness – Tall poppy syndrome (TPS) is a pejorative term used in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand to describe a social phenomenon in which people of genuine merit are resented, attacked, cut down, or criticised because their talents or achievements elevate them above or distinguish them from their peers.
I agree with a lot of these comments. If you want to bake a cake you need to pay for the ingredience.
HOWEVER Nick clearly doesn’t have the money to pay everyone in this commercial. If he is still doing stuff with the same crew for $3000 this time next year then we have a serious problem, and it does happen sometimes (I have been undercut by the same person 8 times this year).
But Nick clearly isn’t doing that, if his work is recognised and he is making more commercials then I have no doubt he will remember the people that helped him out the first time.
I don’t think it is right that so many of you sit here questioning his character. Give him a chance.
most of you whingers and whiners on this blog have probably downloaded software which has been made as a result of open source crews working for nothing, or benefited by volounteers in all walks of life.
Nick has demonstrated that he can sell a vision to 30 people who willingly gave their time to help him make a spec ad. Why? (a) because they believed in him, (b) because they are all trying hard to get noticed, and (c) Nick has a proven track record of getting noticed. This skill, which he has demonstrated in abundance is called LEADERSHIP
And before you start rabbiting on about quality and price (and I have seen your toilet paper ads so just keep your mouths shut) …. Robert Rodriguez produced El Mariachi for $7,000. The studio then spent a further $250,000 on post production to get it ready for release … but never-the-less he made it for $7,000, and Nick made this TVC for $3,000. This skill is called DELIVERY
Oh …. and Nick got noticed. This skill is called SALESMANSHIP. Something you goons are supposed to excel at and extol as a virtue. But your petty rantings show that not only do you not recognise these skills you resent them in someone so young.
And don’t give me any bullshit about the lack of quality of his product. He delivered a product with excellent technical merit. It had good consistent sound, and very good visual quality (whether you liked the story or not). I have checked out the product (both professional and personal) of several of the posters on this rant who criticised Nick and I can tell you that most are derivative, of poor quality (particularly sound) and in most cases very badly acted. So your holier than thou crap is completely hollow.
Get over it …… and take up Melina’s challenge of producing your own $3,000 show. I bet you couldn’t get 30 people to commit to your project.
Hey Anonymous:
1. STF.
2. At least have the courage to post your name if you are going to belittle someone you gutless sack of faeces.
8:43, et. al. – Time for some Wikipedia goodness indeed – Chutzpah is a pejorative term used in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and around the world to describe a social phenomenon in which people of little or no merit are resented, attacked, cut down, or criticised because their talents or achievements distinguish them from their peers only insomuch as they are substandard, and they have the gall, the temerity, the outright audaciousness to present themselves prematurely as something they clearly are not, and then show the further cheek, while falsely touting their talents, to tell everyone how little they spent working on their presentation.
Nicholas,
Don’t waste your time and crew favours producing crappy advertising for a client that couldn’t give a shit. Invest your time making entertainment. You’ll get a break out of that and still have something else. When your hot stack you chips up when your not get the fxck out. As you can see this industry is poison it will eat you up and spit you out.
Their kids… doing cool stuff.. I was busy getting stoned in the McDonalds parking lot.. Most Film people are way overpaid anyway.. very few truly creative.. bunch of winers.. take a que dudes… these are your replacements…
@Old Codger Lol love the comments and yes please to the $3k challange! Put your money where your mouth is peeps! What are you afraid of? 🙂
I think these comments have been less than helpfull for this young man.
It’s quite obviouse nicholas has come from a film background as he has shots in here which are irrelevant to the product but enhans the story line.
This commercial would have been just as effective if it was thirty seconds rather than the full minute as we have gathered the shock of the other officers carrying there reactions Only mad the commercial longer than it needed to be. This advert is about the lingerie he needed to focus on showing the product more.
All in all I think he did a great job for a first timer. This man has a bright future ahead of him
This poorly directed trash looks like the pornographic fantasy of a 21 year old virgin. The editing looks like the kind of crap you’d find on a no-name high school band’s made-for-myspace music video; the direction like that of the non-union Mexican equivalent of Michael Bay. Pass.
Nick, take heed. Don’t chalk these responses down to tall poppy syndrome or the like, it’s not that ANYONE could fathom being jealous of you. This is not something people will tall about in a ‘Look At Them Now’ segment; it’s your whole life. Unless of course you’re sensible enough to try something else.
We
I can’t decide whether I’m more disgusted by the commercial itself, or the preachy, self-congratulatory blog that he obviously spent an equal amount of time on.
Darryl, listing your son’s ‘skills’ in ALL CAPS and then ranting against ‘holier than thou’ posters (without irony) is as contradictory as it is hilarious. Thanks for the lulz.
I’m really proud of us, we are an amazing team – it wasn’t just nick obviously – all of us, all 30 of us – took this onboard over a weekend (actually, just one sunday) to do what we ALL love doing – shooting something cool. You guys can debate that if you like – (personally, I thought it was actually pretty cool – we tried our best to get that non-union mexican equivalent of Michael Bay – apparently IT WORKED!) – but the fact we pulled it off – and got something done – is whats special. Putting it all together.. getting it made.. and out.. I think is pretty impressive.
And the end of the day – it’s just about going out there and doing it. We did it.
And either way – no-one at our age (I’m 21) – should ever take themselves too seriously. Just spend each day learning as much as you can – while surrounding yourselves with the best crew, mentors and friends you can find to help support you. I’ve never worked with a more supportive and inspiring team – so thanks guys!
Exciting times ahead… luckily, I’m not disheartened by this, but truly inspired to get out there keep learning, filming and meeting more amazing people like Nick, Shyam, Eddie, Dimitri, Jules, Tom, Kat……. you know who you are!
🙂
P.S
“…even the models are cheap” – Ally
Jasie, Nicola and Brooke are all extremely professional and an absolute joy to have on set.
This thread is hilarious.
Nicholas, trying to promote the 3K budget angle is totally irrelevant when crew are working FOR FREE. I think that’s why most people here have called you out.
Then you get a bunch of self important digital twats (like the facebook guru up there), trying to say us old media types “are scared”. Umm, of what exactly? Shit work?? No client would ever air that rubbish. It’s not even a TVC for gods sake. Pull your heads in.
The spot itself is bloody awful. Sure, he’s starting out, but CB isn’t a student films forum full of encouragement and fluffy pandas. Its a serious industry blog that can smell shit work a mile off.
I’m not sure how it even ended up on Campaign Brief, but maybe stick to Youtube and Facebook where people on your friends list can tell you how “cool” it is.
Young Nicholas, I’m sorry to say, this is very shit work. Good for you for having a crack, and please keep trying. I’m sure that as you develop your skills you’ll probably be a good director one day. Maybe CB wasn’t the best place to start out, and definitely with a press release like that.
Adios.
Geez,
most people’s first efforts are shit, so I certainly won’t be critical of this dude.
The difference is, most people’s first efforts don’t end up on the CB blog. But if you’re big enough to play the PR game, then you’re big enough to cop some shit when it comes your way.
As others have said, with the wisdom of hindsight, he wouldn’t be spruiking the fact that this cost peanuts because people worked for nothing. If it was just “here’s my first ever commercial, done as spec” it wouldn’t have copped anywhere near the negativity.
Quick tip: once you’re known for making stuff on the cheap, that’s a label that tends to stick for good. We stereotype directors really quickly. If that’s where you want to make your career, great. If you want to shoot with good budgets though, I’d shut up about the money.
@9.18, @9.24.
Thank you. Couldn’t say it any better.
And what’s with the spelling on this thread? That’s as distracting as the comments themselves!
I don’t think you can blame Nicholas for the headline, nor how the article was structured. I would imagine that he contacted the editor of this website, and the editor tried to find an angle. In the end, the story was that Nicholas made it for cheap without paying anyone, and the end result is actually pretty good (despite what some are saying). I’m sure if Nicholas had a choice in the matter, he probably wouldn’t have worded the article like it was – but the editor of Campaign Brief needed to draw traffic somehow! Everyone needs to pay the bills – and in this case Campaign Brief essentially took advantage of a young up-and-coming filmmaker to sell more ads. And what’s worse than that? Every creative and agency producer sitting around in edit suites around the country, eating sushi and drinking fancy coffees, is abusing the poor kid, personally attacking him and his directing style. It’s quite obvious he was going for a Michael Bay look – and he pulled it off, with very little money, and by taking a whole heap of friends along for a epic journey.
Regardless of what you think of the commercial, and regardless of what you think of this article, there is really no excuse to be abusing a student who is still studying at film school, but because he made a go at something. You like and you learn.
Constructive criticism only from now on please. No one forced any of the crew to work for free. They did it because they trust Nick. Obviously he must have something going for him!
Sorry to single you out Sean Ascroft, but I just find it funny that you can honestly say “the problem is what to think when the spec work is so bad it is likely to inhibit a future career”, when not only have more people watched this spec commercial than all of your short films on YouTube, but also the fact that you have even more negative comments about your work (both commercial and short film) scattered around the Internet, than the 40 or so negative comments here. As a Tropfest Finalist, short film director and producer, amongst other things, I would have though you’d have a little bit more respect than personally attacking a fellow filmmakers work in the public eye. Personally, I really love some of the stuff you’ve done – but let’s be honest, looking through your reel, there’s at least a few things that look like a dogs breakfast compared to this funny little spot. Just because you’ve made some garbage in your time, doesn’t mean that you can’t find work. Everyone makes a bad spot once in a while. And remember, the director really has very little control over most commercials. Their vision is normally pushed to aside once agency and the client get their hands on the cut. Again, sorry to single you out – but let’s all just play nicely. We’re all in it together after all…
I would also like to add that I eat my own Poo
Ally I think you could have left that last comment to yourself… but thanks for the heads up!
The tall poppy sydnrome does exist and is deeply ingrained in Australian society… ask anyone who has ever worked in the States and then returned to Australia, like Nicholas has.
This is Jackson Craig by the way, not Craig Jackson.
You ain’t no one ’til you’re flamed on this site.
There’s another great writeup about the spot here:
http://news.tubefilter.tv/2010/11/18/ozgirl-creators-dangerously-sexy-lingerie-ad/
4.21 clearly written by the man himself.
I know for a fact that Nick hasn’t commented on this.
Reminds me of:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmNEG8IFd_Y
This blog is very amusing
This ‘anonymous’ person (or people) writing all the abuse slandering Carlton might be a tad jealous, sounds like jealousy to me.
If you cant say something nice, just don’t say anything at all
I dont really know Nick well, but saw this on his fb page and decided to go to the link while bored on the internet. It just seems to me that anyone who has the time to actually sit there and write paragraphs about how ‘shit’ someones work is, might be a little twisted or jealous…
Heres an idea, shut the fuck up and go do something with your own life, rather than trying to bring someone else down.
Then give us a link which demonstrates your work and see how the general public react.
jealous cunts