Shaq and United Nations SG Slam Dunk Malaria

Working through North Jersey ad agency SGW Integrated Marketing Communications and Niles Wolfson, Chief Creative Officer, I just completed directing a Malaria Day 2012 PSA at the United Nations. The video featured NBA legend, Shaquille O'Neal and UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, and will make its debut at a gala United Nations' fund-raising event in late April.

Stills Run Deep For Penske's Worldwide Meeting

Putting the finishing touches on three videos I'm directing through NFL Films for Penske's worldwide meeting in Scottsdale, mid-February. Still photographs were shot in 5 Penske cities documenting the company's charitable involvements. Andrea McArdle, of Annie fame, will be performing live at the gala presentation as the videos are shown on a giant 26-foot LED screen. Should be a great night!

Opening Soon

Awakening The Direct Response Market

From the SnoreNoMore logo design, to copywriting for the web site and all sales materials, to writing/directing the :60 TV spot, all was accomplished over a sleepless two-week time span. But the client anticipates eye-opening results from the test market before a national roll-out. Click on the link and check out the web site and TV spot.

Symbol of The New American Revolution!

Seymour Chwast's New York Times column about logo designs for the "Occupy Wall Street" movement inspired me to try my hand at designing a symbol. That's how uninspired I was by the featured designs. Can my logo become THE symbol of "The new American revolution?" Sure going to try and make it happen.

Victor Sonder's Demo Reel

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The Wallet and Rubber Band Are Dead.

I've recently developed a stem to stern branding package for a new, ingenious, patented minimal wallet. MiniMax will put an end to overstuffed wallets and cheesy rubber bands forever. From the name and tagline -- The minimal wallet with maximum capacity -- to the logo, web site, animated 3D video and sales materials, HOT Productions was there. Can Brookstone, Macy's and the rest be far behind?

Amoroso's 0rders A Complete Overhaul.

From the logo and brand positioning statement-- "Why Philly sandwiches are world-famous." -- to the delivery trucks. From the fresh, new look of the advertising and trade show booth to the in-progress web site redesign. HOT Productions is in the process of completely overhauling Amoroso's brand as the iconic Philadelphia bakery takes the national stage. With its burgeoning frozen capabilities and expanding presence in the food service industry, Amoroso's is now a recognized brand coast-to-coast. No, make that an international brand with sales to steak shops, supermarkets, grocery stores and corporations in all 50 states, as well as in Bermuda, Canada, Dominican Republic, the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico. Please excuse me but I just can't help myself ... We're really on a roll!

From Iconic To Comic.

. Norman Carpet One wanted a billboard promoting the carpet retailer's penchant for saving customers money. Through the magic of Photoshop, Benjamin Franklin's iconic portrait on the $100 bill was transformed into a comic "Norman the Floorman." And a memorable, hard-selling billboard became money in the bank.

Steering Penske Truck Leasing To Scottsdale.

The music videos and award pieces I directed for Penske Truck Leasing brought the crowd to its feet and helped launch a thrilling kickoff for the company at their annual meeting held Feb. 21--23 in Scottsdale, AZ. Working with Jim Feenstra, Penske's Senior VP Marketing and Don Metcalf, Director of Product Marketing, the videos were produced through NFL Films and shown on a huge 24 ft. LED screen to an audience of nearly 1500, including company founder and racing legend Roger Penske. The event opened with a live performance by Nikki Yanofsky singing "I Believe," the song she performed at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The screen was filled with dramatic black & white still photographs of Penske employees captured during a two-week, cross-country odyssey to 7 of Penske's major facilities. Ken Kauffman was the still photographer, George Pilhuj handled editing, Michael Ventresca was the AE and Marie Patriarca produced for NFL Films.

An Oldie But Goodie

It was time to write the Pennsylvania Lottery's first TV campaign and I decided to demo a spot, save some money and use myself as on-air talent. The Lottery Director said he couldn't have cast a better street hustler himself and insisted my acting debut appear on-air, along with four additional spots. To view the entire campaign, check out the Lottery article in the right-hand column of this blog.

House Calls Are Making A Comeback

I've been hired as a marketing consultant for a startup specializing in conveniently treating seniors in the comfort of their own homes. The first task was to name the new venture and design a corporate identity. We are now in the process of putting the final touches on a business plan and drafting the marketing plan. Housebound seniors  will soon have expert and caring medical treatment right at their doorstep.

Motorola's Getting Ready To Party!

I am currently in the process of writing and directing two short programs for NFL Films which will kick off Motorola's Super Bowl party in Miami. The first piece will open the festivities with a review of the NFL season and Motorola's critical role as supplier of in-game communications and headsets. The second piece will introduce party-host Michael Strahan with a look back at his illustrious career. Proud to be doing my part in letting the good times roll.

Ready For Some Hot Music?

As part of HOT Productions' ever-evolving platform of creative services, we are now representing TOM HEDDEN MUSIC. A 5-time national EMMY award-winner and 6-time nominee, Tom is the former head composer at NFL Films and is responsible for the company's signature sound for the past 20 years. But please don't categorize Tom's work as "sports only." Mr. Hedden is a multi-faceted composer with tremendous skills in many different musical genres and film/video formats. From full orchestral works to rock, country, electronic, R&B, even hip-hop. From :30 TV spots to longer-form corporate pieces, episodic television to film scores ... Tom Hedden is a brilliant composer with a unique lack of ego and a particularly affable personality. He listens intently. He responds quickly. He's got the marketing savvy and creative resources to express your vision in compelling, memorable and innovative ways. Please check out Tom's work by clicking here. And then call HOT Productions for your next music project. Tom's response will be music to your ears.

"Nothing as close comes close" is close.

After postponing the shoot three times due to bad weather, I've just completed post production on the 2009 TV campaign for Lancaster County Tourism. Based on the strategy and campaign theme I drafted -- "Nothing as close comes close" -- the four :30 and four :15 spots are aimed at vacationers whose tight budgets and curtailed travel plans make Lancaster County's proximity, affordibility, unique PA Dutch character and myriad attractions more compelling than ever. Supervising for the client were Christopher Barrett, President and CEO, PA Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau and Deb Sellers, Director of Marketing who said, "When I am dealing with Victor Sonder, Marie Patriarca and Cheryl Bohn I know we are getting the best possible product. You guys are awesome!" The campaign launches late June in multiple East Coast markets. HERE ARE LINKS to the four :30 spots as they will appear on TV: "Amish Culture" ... "Family" ... "Couples" ... "City"

No Vacation For Lancaster County

Pennsylvania Dutch Country plans on agressively pursuing visitors this Spring and Summer. After conceiving a new marketing/creative strategy, a new campaign theme line and writing the broadcast executions for the upcoming Lancaster County tourism campaign, I'm currently in pre-production at NFL Films for the location shoot on May 1 & 2. I'll be directing a series of 4 TV spots and 4 radio spots that will feature real people interviews conducted at various attractions throughout the county intercut with scenic footage capturing the unique character of the region. I'll also be supervising post production at NFL immediately following the shoot. The spots will air in June.

Racing To The Finish Line For Penske

After location shoots in Phoenix, AZ and Reading, PA, and a studio shoot at NFL Films, I'm wrapping up post production at NFL on a brand repositioning film for Penske, an international transportation services company with annual revenues of nearly $18 billion. Penske associates from all levels of the company hieracrchy were asked a series of identical questions. Their unrehearsed responses were captured in Hi-Def video utilizing a unique camera set-up which enabled the associates to see, hear and respond directly to me. The final 10 minute film -- emphasizing Penske's core values of "passionately personal" customer service, dedication to excellence and fresh thinking and innovation -- will be distributed on DVD to all Penske employees around the world. My client contact is Jim Feenstra, Senior VP of Marketing: jim.feenstra@penske.com

NOXO Stops The Stink

I've been retained as marketing and creative consultant for NOXO, a new product designed to mask noxious odors when applied topically, under the nostrils. I've named the product and designed the logo, and am in the process of drafting a comprehensive marketing plan. NOXO is a gel, a proprietary blend of 14 all-natural ingredients which blocks nauseating and offensive odors. Invented by Dr. V. Ruth Pinney and based on olfactory perception altering technology, NOXO is anticipated to have far-reaching applications around the world. For governments, the military, first-responders, emergency workers, disaster relief, hospitals and operating rooms, mortuaries, retirement homes, medical personnel and fire fighters, as well as numerous other industrial and consumer uses. Such noxious odors as decay, infection, feces, harsh chemicals, burning and decomposing flesh, garbage, operating room odors and putrefaction -- man, those are stinky! -- compromise human performance. Repeated exposure can lead to loss of appetite, depression, loss of the sense of smell and even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder . The market for olfactory perception altering technology is forcast to be in excess of $1 billion by 2011. NOXO is a division of Adoodle, Inc. (OTC Pink Sheets ADDE)

Web Site Executed With Surgical Precision

Marks Colorectal Surgical Associates, a world-renowned colorectal cancer practice, has hired me to design their new web site. I've partnered with Ron Stanford of Stanford Creative on the project. Though the hectic schedules of both principals--Dr. John H. Marks, M.D. and his father, Dr. Gerald J. Marks, M.D.--have precluded finishing the site, great progress has been made. All of the design elements and page delineations are in place, though most of the copy has yet to be added. We also intend to shoot a video of the Drs. Marks which will be an important feature. Inspiration for the site graphics came from Gerald Marks' masterful watercolors. He's an artist with a brush as well as a scalpel. Check out the work in progress at the temporary site.