Owenskie's Blog

All the gab about the Oscars the winners, the films, are all almost next to nothing compared to what they are wearing. Yes. Nothing is quite disturbingly popular than who is who or what for that matter. Hours before the Oscars itself, all the preparation, all the excitement are down on the Red Carpet. Maybe it just goes to prove what all the theater arts have been saying and quipping to all actors, actresses, directors and screenplay writers make a dramatic entrance. Nothing truer could be said. The parade of the stars have always been quite intriguing even though nothing is practically new, except for their dress sizes and their dress cuts. My sister, who is casually sitting beside me, can only but utter the words, Ugh. What vanity. Yeah, it seems that whatever you put on television will try to sell itself. And everyone there will be published in tabloids, separated in categories like apples and oranges whos hot and whos not. And those who failed to make it, well, better buy your own publicity stunt through printing services wholesale and come up with your own magazines. Either that or next time, try wearing something that is truly flattering or something incredibly ugly. Your choice. And while statuesque actresses glided down the Red Carpet like the handsome golden statue and the close shaved men casually waved, the real stars were the winners of the night. I think I only watched the Oscars for one reason, and that was to see Juno win the Best Screenplay. Ha! Yeah, I am rooting for this team and you can take that to the bank with my previous post. And so, there ends our story. As the Oscars drew to a close, and the stars went out to party , the pomp and pageantry seemed to have fizzled, only for the meantime of course. Till the curtains are opened once again and the carpets are rolled out, well get a glimpse and a seemingly refreshing look at what the Oscars is all about.

How do I know if a movie is good or not? A good movie can be many things. With the Oscars coming round the weekend, it is quite hard for me to say which ones are just plain good and which ones walk away with the golden statue. A good movie may be anything that can whet your appetite. It is that cold beer that you truly need on a hot summers day. You open the tab and it goes down straight and easy. It is that cold can of beer that hits the spot and you truly forgot about everything else. Juno is more than a good movie. It is a smart movie. A smart movie that does not attempt to be anything else nor does it try to sell anything else. A smart movie that is wickedly witty, original, and fresh you dont even notice it the first time around. A smart movie that truly tells a story without complicating it with anything else. It is as bright and clear as day – thats how Juno is and thats how it tells its story. It is a film that will go down as a classic. If it were up to me, Id fill all the high schools campuses with this film and make everyone watch it like an initiation rite to pubescence. But then, that would be another story. Juno is a craft and you can see it with its screenwriting. It is polished and consistent. No lazy work done here. The telling of the story unfolds with each scene, with each relationship, with each conversation. You, as a viewer, get in on everything. The film isnt played out as though you are cold and distant. So are so close to Juno, you might as well be her fairy godmother. Anyways, if the screenwriting were any different Juno might have fallen into different hands and made into a cheap, cheap B-movie that will go by unnoticed. Thank god for the mind behind Junos insanely strong and witty character – Diablo Cody. Her sharp rumor, her biting honesty, and her no-nonsense attitude won me over. Juno is a character that is in a class by itself. Ellen Page was born into the role of Juno. Who would have recognized her from X-Men – The Last Stand? If this role were given, again, to anyone else, they would have killed it. A blonde girl playing Juno would have just dangerously teetered into making the character a stereotypical slutty girl who also happens to be a bitch. But then again, the wit and the passion for rock wouldnt have fit her too well and they will have to re-write that. (Call me biased, but hey, we are talking about movies here arent we?) The movies gravity is centered on Juno. Everything that talks, moves and breathes defines her. This story is her and the succession of events just shows us this journey in her life. And the slices of her complex and ultimately simple personality, allows us to ponder and reach in to her deeper. And so, if the presses or printing company were to run right now, itd be that Juno won the Best Screenplay for the 2008 Oscars. If it didnt, I think Juno would have gracefully said congratulations to the winner, gotten some good eats and drinks at the party and then get the hell out of there. Shed go straight to Paulies room, kick her shoes off, and listen to Patti Smith.

The Academy Award or the Oscars, as it is prevalently known, is the most watched and highly anticipated event that gives homage to the best of the best in the film industry each year. Now on its 80th year, the ceremony will be held on February 24 with Comedy Centrals Jon Stewart as host. So who is your bet? Shows like this make enthusiasts place their stakes on whom they think will bring home the bacon on the awards night. Such acts are actually done just after the announcement of the nominees was made. Since this ceremony is a red carpet affair, fans need not worry themselves with poster printing services since groupies wont be allowed inside the facilities. Save your pennies for the betting instead because the list of the nominees will surely give you a hard time as to whom will be the rightful one. For the Best Director Award, the choice is among The Diving Bell and the Butterflys Julian Schnabel, Jason Reitman of Juno, Tony Gilroy of Michael Clayton, the Coen Brothers, Joel and Ethan, for No Country for Old Men and Paul Thomas Anderson of There Will Be Blood. The Best Supporting Actress is a close fight among Cate Blanchett of the movie Im Not There, American Gangsters Ruby Dee, Saiorse Ronan of Atonement, Amy Ryan from the movie Gone Baby Gone and Tilda Swinton of Michael Clayton. The list for the Best Supporting Actor category is as follows: Casey Affleck for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Javier Bardem for the movie No Country for Old Men, Philip Seymour Hoffman for Charlie Wilsons War, Into the Wilds Hal Holbrook and from the movie Michael Clayton, Tom Wilkinson. Cate Blanchett is nominated this year for two categories. She is also in the running for the Best Actress Award for the movie Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Along with Ms Blanchett are Julie Christie for Away From Her, Marion Cotillard for the movie La Vie en Rose, The Savages Laura Linney and newcomer Ellen Page for the movie Juno. Maybe one of the lists that youll find hard to pick among for your bet this year is the Best Actor category. For such, the nominees are George Clooney for the movie Michael Clayton, Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood, Sweeney Todds Johnny Depp, veteran Tommy Lee Jones for In the Valley of Elah and Viggo Mortensen for the film Eastern Promises. And the last category and also one that youll need to think really hard before placing your stake at, is the Best Picture Award. This year, it is a close fight among the following: Atonement, Michael Clayton, Juno, There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men. The event will surely be a memorable one not only because of the list above but also with the end of the Hollywood writers strike. Be sure to catch it because this will definitely be a treat for those who love the films and all the glitter that surrounds it.

Is there really a certain formula to create great advertisements in print? I presume there is. But theres no guaranteed format to follow. Weve seen all kinds of advertising and even though these print ads are sometimes geared up with the same marketing tools, the results vary, and we learn everyday from others or from our own mistakes. Well, here are some tips which I think every one should consider first before starting their own direct mail campaign. If done right, direct mail marketing can easily generate you leads and response. But just like in anything we do, theres no exact way to do it, only the proper guidelines to put in mind so you can do it accordingly. Ok, here it goes. 1. Now that people are sooo overwhelmed by marketing advertisements and promotions, the key to get noticed is to get your message personalized. You can increase your response and customer retention rate just by simply putting in your customers first name to the postcard you sent. When customers see relevant or personal information in bright, full-colored mailing piece, they feel special and thats what its all about. We want to make them feel important. The digital printing trends today enable us to achieve this personalized approach through variable data printing. In this process, you can determine the level of personalization on each printing piece. You can customize a certain design, caption, name and address from one printed piece to another which is great. 2. In designing ads in print, you should maximize the ad space by putting your offers, discounts, promos and special announcements on top of the space. Avoid putting your contact information on top. Create a desire first. I can assure you that they will find your number and website once youve captured their interest. I found a good example that can be used in your postcards or flyer here The article is about how to create an effective classified ad but I think it can also be used in direct mail marketing. And make sure you use clear and readable font face and font size in your contact information. If they cant read it, they wont call you. 3. Dont sell your product right away. Most people lose interest on the spot if they see youre just selling some stuff they probably wont need anyway. Create the demand first. Drop the salesman pitch and provide them something valuable that they can utilize. Giving some free stuff wouldnt hurt if that means getting a potential customer. Dont make your customers feel threatened with your overwhelming printed sales pitch. You dont have to sell on first contact. If youre not so sure about using print ads for your campaign, you can start a small direct mail promotion using these tips and other tips you can add on the list. Watch out for response rate, ROI and your customers purchase behavior.

Direct marketing may seem to be an easy task to begin with. You start by formulating your marketing message and then you send it to your target audience in a form of a promotional brochure, a sleek postcard or a glossy catalog. It is relatively simple. At first glance, building your brand through direct mail may seem easy to achieve, given you have the right resources. But when we say the right resources one may fall into the confusion of overwhelming marketing strategies, dozens of direct marketing print providers offering rock bottom printing quotes and prices plus hundreds of direct marketing tips telling you what to do. Its like everything you need is already thrown at you. For most marketers and businesses, it is only logical and safe to rely with what is already proven. They seem to pick up the marketing tools at random and think that all the tools provide the same result. Direct marketing guarantees a good sales activity. Direct marketing increases ROI and so on and so on. But I have noticed that most promotional postcards and catalogs that I received contain almost the same marketing message. I am starting to think that maybe marketers are not trying so hard anymore to make their print advertisements different. I am not here to impart new marketing ideas for marketers. But as for the moment, mild critical knocks might save them from being stuck with the same repetitive marketing adage. Here are some things Ive noticed to some print advertisements that lack that little something: 1. Some print advertisements echo the same message consumers already know. Yawn. 2. Weak marketing taglines. Not too compelling. 3. They all look the same. 4. Poor copywriting. Just a mere jumble of words. 5. No further function after reading the content. There may be no exact formula to avoid these marketing deadfalls but whats interesting about direct marketing is that possibilities are as wide as your imagination. Putting a good content to your print medium is not a wasted effort since you will certainly reap its advantageous results.

I smell the roses as early as today. Soon enough, Valentines Day will be here. And as I imagine it, quite comically, itll be the day when hordes of cupids come raining down from the sky with their bows and arrows ready to gun down any and all unwary targets – turning complete strangers into dumbstruck lovers. Streets will be filled with all kinds of couples making out. It is love-a-palooza time! Look under any streetlight, under shady trees, under a canopy of stars, between dark alleys, into parked cars with their backseats and rolled-up windows, and there you will find what the celebration is all about. Yes, thats how I imagine it to be. And in this waking world, hotels will be booked, tables are reserved, movie-goers are all coupled up, and the most romantic destinations will be flocked to. Not to mention, chocolates boxes, teddy bears, dozens and dozens of flowers, and even greeting cards that are all on demand printing this season of love. And everything will be red and lovely. Like hearts are red, kisses are red, cheeks are red, short dresses are red, roses are red, and strawberries and all sorts of aphrodisiacs are red. The sweet, nostalgic thought of Valentines. Its a crazy love-fest that sweeps everyone off their feet…well, almost. Either way, what have you got rolled up your sleeves this Valentines for your beau? If you havent done the basics, now is the time to do it. By the basics, I meant the things you havent done before for your girl or with your girl. And no, it doesnt necessarily include a huge Will you be my Valentine? billboard nor have the same message scribbled up in the air with an aeroplane doing acrobatics in the sky. Among all the fanfare, amidst the flowers and chocolates, the simplest things would be to: 1. Cook her dinner. 2. Better yet, cook and have a dinner with your parents, where she gets to meet them for the first time. 3. Hold her hand while listening attentively to her favorite music band or artist. 4. Buy her a puppy (if she doesnt have one yet or if she isnt allergic to them). 5. Picnic on a rooftop or any place where you can have a great conversation, staying up late till you watch the sunrise together. The basic works even though it may seem passe. Nothing is as original as doing it for and with the one you love. So go on and get to making your own firsts – be it as big as a balloon ride or as simple as a love letter.

These are for the democrats who are torn between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. And since John Edwards is no longer in the picture, Im sure the same people are concerned as to whom to endorse or vote for. More or less, Americans will mark a significant change in the political landscape of politics with the choice between Obama and Clinton. This is history in the making. This is a statement which will reverberate throughout the world as we decide who will be our First Woman President or our First African-American President. The fanfare with the banners and the posters of both candidates in 4 color printing with red, blue and white, cannot quite capture the proportions this 2008 Presidential Elections has taken. Why not vote Barack Obama who was and is staunch on his campaign for health care services as a priority, for ending the war on Iraq, and the pursuit of energy independence. Why not an African-American president who will speak and address the needs of the diverse ethnic populace, if I am to be politically correct, that has been treated as a minority for long? The same can be said of Hillary Clinton, who as a woman may turn the tides for social change towards women as the only majority has been treated as a minority in the course of history. Why not Hillary Clinton as a vote for women? The pros and the cons thrown about these two candidates are as controversial as they themselves. There are social scientists that recognize that Caucasian women are still divisive from women who are of different ethnic origins, marginalizing and criticizing one of Hillarys best advantages. And then there is of course the issue of another male president, if and when, Barack is nominated and selected. Yes, it cannot be helped that the choice is a politically charged one. But then again, the choices are not as plain as it may seem. The people are not voting towards a political statement alone, but for a president, for a change, for the fulfillment of the people’s best interests, and for a better nation. And while both Obama and Clinton promise John Edwards and his followers to integrate the fight against poverty at the core of their plans, there are still the rest of the America to be won over. It is not just who do you vote for, but what do you vote for? What ground do you stand on? What change do you want? What leadership will steer this nation? Ask yourself these questions. Ask yourself where do you want this nation in the present and in the future? Ask why Hillary Clinton? Ask why Barack Obama? And for the rest, ask yourselves, why not?

Posters are strange things. Sometimes an extremely pretty picture wins all the awards but none of the expected customers, while those tacky posters win more attention that wonderful ones. When I was younger, with my first attempt at poster printing was a recruitment poster for my university organization. Of course, I took it as a chance to show off my design skills and aimed for a professional looking poster that will win admiration. It was professional looking alright, but it looks like every other advertising poster around. I guess my friends at the organization liked it though because they have something to plaster around the booth, and they were extra enthusiastic about it. They even used the slogan to call peoples attention. Our recruitment improved that year, but I doubt the posters effectiveness has anything to do with it. With the popularity of non-traditional marketing, you may wonder whether your print ads are worth printing at all. For retail industries, you think you can always rely on good old word of mouth from satisfied customers to get the sales ball going. I realized that although these posters looked nice, no one bothered to stop and look at them. There wasnt anything in them that communicated any specific benefit to the target audience. The one benefit it served though is at least people are now aware our little club existed. It was a good thing as well that the cheap poster printing didnt dry up our budget. Dont get me wrong, the posters are in very high quality but because we had it printed digitally it didnt exhaust our budget. In the business world, word of mouth is still the most potent marketing tool businesses can use. The thing is though satisfied customers are seldom very good at voicing their enthusiasm about every single product or service that exceeded their expectations. Sometimes a talkative customer can mention your business in passing but has no motivation to pursue the conversation. I think posters are important as a backup marketing material to make explaining a little easier for customers. You can use an interesting and thought provoking poster to give your customers a little more leverage. One of the reasons posters mass advertising is so popular because it gives people a starting point for conversations. A common ground they can use to create a context they can use to clue in other people into the conversation. I guess, if I can do things over again, I would have made the poster less professional and more college student looking, maybe use graffiti art or use a more personal tone in the copywriting. It will make it a little more relatable to, and a whole lot more interesting.