Comments on: 3rd Place Godaddy video created by NY Ad Agency

By: david rorie

david rorie — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:32:13 +0000

Hey Night agency,

did just 1 guy write the ad?? did that same guy direct and shoot it also? or was it a team of like 10 people and several re-writes and focus groups?

By: david rorie

david rorie — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:26:31 +0000

give me an F-ing break! an agency producing a contest spot!! that should be illegal!! I am at a loss. they cant play in our sandbox!!!!

By: yesiwatchamericanidol

yesiwatchamericanidol — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:45:30 +0000

This is gonna sound lame but this reminds me of American Idol. Singers can’t try out for American Idol if they already have a record contract. There are probably tons of singers that would really love to get on the show so that they could get even more famous but the point of Idol is to discover new talent. I’d like to see contests enact this kind of “no professionals” rule.

By: Beardy

Beardy — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:30:47 +0000

Shane,

I actually think it’s fine for filmmakers to do contests, even if they already work in the film industry. A person like you might have a lot of experience, but you’re still just one guy and I’m guessing you use your own, personal gear. And most importantly, all of your expenses come right out of your pocket. What bothered me about this story is that an entire ad agency entered the contest and they seemed to do it just so they could prove that they still know more about advertising than guys like you. Unlike all the independent filmmakers that entered, the Night Agency had no skin in the game. That is to say, they creators of the ad could invest as much money and time as they wanted because it wasn’t THEIR money and time. It was the company’s. Shane, even though you’re a professional editor, a guy like you still needs a break as a commercial director. If the Night Agency wants to get into commercials, and if they feel like doing spec ads, all they have to do is call up a client and say “hey, we’re looking to expand and start doing commercials. How about we make you a free one so we can use it as an example of our work?”

By: Shane Free

Shane Free — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:44:00 +0000

I am torn on this subject, I work as an editor for trailers and TV spots, and have been doing so for 11 years and just started doing the video contest thing on the side. I still consider myself an amateur director, but I am a professional editor so I feel I have a leg up in that department. My goal is to have my own ad company doing local advertisements for businesses etc, and I would definitely continue making videos for contests to try and earn money for my company and possibly get recognition which in turn could help my business. Its a tough thing, I kinda understand how people can be upset over this, its not “greedy” though, its the way the world works and you gotta get better as an amateur to keep up, it sucks, but life isn’t fair. I for one want to compete against the best, and to beat a small agency in a contest would be that much sweeter.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:07:35 +0000

I’m one of those “amateurs” that entered the godaddy contest and Beardy, I couldn’t agree with you more. These contests are not just about the money. Having my work air on tv would be enough of a prize for me. Because if your commercial airs on tv you know what hapens? Over night you become credible. You go from being a nobody to a guy with a major accomplishment on his resume. You can get an agent. You can get meetings. You can get job interviews with places like the Night Agency.

Scott, you might not think you’re being greedy but you already have a job a lot of us would love to have. If an unemplyed, aspiring filmmaker had won third place, it would have chnaged their life. So sorry but what you did was pretty greedy.