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Happy Non-Discriminatory Identification of a Certain Day In the Middle of the Workweek (Happy Hump Day)
The Huffington Post, in its infinite wisdom —
Sorry, I can’t even finish that sentence without bursting out laughing. Let me try this again.
The Huffington Post, in its infinite absurdity, has introduced a new catchphrase to the world through Millennials. As DJ Khaled would say, it’s a phrase that the world is “catched by.” And that phrase is “woke.” Generally (key word here), woke is “A state of perceived intellectual superiority one gains by reading The Huffington Post” (Urban Dictionary).
During SNL’s 43rd season premiere, the writers took this new catchphrase (and, by association, the Huffington Post) to task through the avenue of fashion.
Joke: The Huffington Post and gender non-identification.
When Will VR’s Player One Be Ready?
How will customers be marketed to in the future?
Marketing, in the traditional sense, is two-dimensional. The next natural progression is three-dimensional marketing. But wait, that’s not new and exciting. That’s simply reality. The next progression from three-dimensions is four-dimensions.
Or a tesseract.
I would love to visualize a tesseract for you, but no spoilers on Jimmy’s Daily Planet (bonus point if you got that). Marketing’s next dimension is 4-dimensions in a way, in that it’s something we can’t see with our own two eyes alone. We’ll just need a helpful pair of special lenses…
Think I’m crazy for making this prediction? Think it’s absurd and foolish to make a connection between marketing real products and VR (virtual reality)?
I say think again.
Some of the most effective marketing is experience-centric. Regardless of industry, if a company is trying to sell people something by evoking an emotional connection (the “I have to have it” reaction), the ideal strategy is to personalize the sell to provide a dynamic, customizable experience. How about showing consumers what something will look like or be like in various situations as programmed by the VR experience team of each company?
Somewhere between the near and distant future, we may very well enter the next dimension of the classic “show, don’t tell” expression. Abercrombie & Fitch (or A&F), for example, is currently using interactive dressing rooms as part of their re-branding effort, in which the consumer can play music and change the mood lighting when trying on clothes.
Escapism isn’t just for the movies, it’s usually a primary driver of our emotional connection to buying all sorts of things, practical and impractical/the fun stuff.
And what better escape in the 21st century than virtual reality?
This Is Us
How can we best tell our story to the world?
According to Steven Spielberg, we can best tell our story by projecting it with the people in it…along with a little imagination and uncertainty.
Spielberg, a forthcoming HBO documentary, is a double-edged sword.
On the one hand, I (and most likely everyone else on the planet) cannot wait to see this in-depth look into everything Steven Spielberg. The man is a cinematic and storytelling trailblazer. On the other hand, the fact that an in-depth documentary about Steven Spielberg’s life has been filmed, produced and is ready for showtime HBO means that he’s lived a full life and that it’s now time to just reflect…?
Fortunately, the greatest filmmaker in history (my humble opinion) isn’t slowing down one bit.
Ready Player One, directed by the man, the myth and the legend, is set for release with high-anticipation next year. Then, of course, the famed director has another Indiana Jones film. Plus, he has at least a couple more Jurassic World’s to produce and guide during the next several years.
That’s the good news. Now here’s some more. We won’t just be entertained by Steven Spielberg’s imaginative movies about virtual reality, genetically modified dinosaurs causing chaos in the modern world or an adventurous professor from the mid-20th century. Moreover, we’ll be entertained by stories about, well, ourselves. That’s the true storytelling genius of Spielberg.
He suspends focus on himself in order for all of us to believe in ourselves in ways we never thought possible.
And an accompanying John Williams score doesn’t hurt either…
Spielberg premieres on HBO on Saturday, October 7th.
It’s Monday…
Today is one of those days. It (as a wise woman once told me) inhales profusely. We’ve all had them, we’ve all become stressed because of them and we’ve all just wanted them to end.
Except me and except for today.
I want to remember this feeling equally comprised of anger, depression, hopelessness and, oddly enough, reassurance. If you’re doing something and/or are around someone who is constantly making you feel under-appreciated, unwelcome and miserable, then a change, however painful, is necessary for basic human happiness.
Life is too damn short.
And while I am not in the mood for levity at the moment, Chuck Lorre may be the only person who just might get me to achieve this impossible feat today. Not out loud, but inside, where the fire burns. And, apparently, that place deep down where the fire burns is precisely where Chuck Lorre “amateur comedy writer” slowly evolved into Chuck Lorre “sitcom king.”
From feelings of upchucking to Chuck lifting me up a little in a single bound interview.
That’s a super story of winning made for TV.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 