27.12.06

London 085


I feel a character in video games.
Not sure what tasks to be given next.
Not sure what will happen and who will come next.
All I need is to follow the instructions on screen. I'm so excited!

London 084


When I'm waiting for the third tall person,
there is a notice popping up on the screen.

London 083


The second one is PA Louise,
she comes to show me how the email system works.
Extremely tall and beautiful!

London 082


The first person I've met is the art director sitting next to me.
Extremely tall, he looks as if he can kill people.

London 081


Tour guide Sophie shows me round the office after
picking me up at the reception.
The first point is the kitchen in the basement. precisely,
the shelf with different kinds of spreads and bread.
She brings me here before letting me put down my bag somewhere.
it must be very important! Are they manna for creativity?

London 080


A tour of W+K starts here. ( Highlight : Culture Shock )

21.12.06

TAG - about me 5


I always don't touch in with Oyster card unless I see a ticket officer getting onto the bus.

TAG - about me 4


I like reality TV shows. Apprentice, Big Brother, Super Nanny, Property Ladder...

TAG - about me 3


I don't enjoy Turkish Bath.

TAG - about me 2


I use Deep Hydrating Mask from Neutrogena.

TAG - about me 1


I farted in front of Qin Shi Huang's Terracotta Army in Xian in 2002.

(I'm tagged by onewomanrunning , so I have to tell five things that you don't know about me. Here you are!)

19.12.06

London 079


He asks whether I'm interested in a project for Yakult,
see whether I can make something new, for two or three weeks.
We agree on the pay.
Then he suggests me to go at 9:00am the next morning.

Chinese like to internalize our emotions more.
It's not easy for us to say this out.
But I screw up my courage and tell him how I feel.

London 078


The next day, at around 3pm, I get a phone call when I'm waiting for
a friend in Oxford Circus.
It's like regards from a caring old friend which I need it badly on the
cool street in London. ( though we've met once only )

London 077


They've just won two pitches. They may need more people.
I feel the need to email Michael as a follow-up.

London 076


I long for good news from Michael, the first creative director I saw.
It's mid August now, where is the Yakult project he mentioned?
I find this from the blog of Wieden + Kennedy
when I surf the internet in mid-night as my usual habit.

London 075


motto: When you don't know what to do, just do nothing!

I need a break. Then I start a lifestyle like those
who have migrated to Canada after retirement.
I do nothing but watching 'The Greed of Men'
(old Hong Kong tv series) while drinking coke and eating crisp all day.

London 074


caption: Self-accusation, self-pity, self-encouragement

It led to a period of gloomy introspection.
I tried hard to find out what I've done wrong.
However, I can't stand it any longer.
I feel that I'm going insane!

17.12.06

London 073


The packet is returned from Mother,
Such a rejection being delivered by this postman,
it's too cruel to me!

London 072


*RECONSTRUCTION

Actually, I heard someone knocking on the door
when i was sleeping, I just can't be bothered.
Together with the 'fuck' with disappointment that
I heard a few second before the big boom...I guess....

Crazy postman! He must have thrown the packet
from the ground floor through the window
into my room which is on the first floor!!!

Firstly, didn't he need me to sign to confirm the delivery?

Secondly, there are four people living in this four rooms
shared house, how did he know that this is my room?

Thirdly, what if my bed is beside the window?
Such a big packet can kill me!

London 071



Things are normal in my room,
except an unknown packet is found on the floor near the window.

London 070



8:00am on 12th August 06,
I was woken up by a sudden loud sound.

London 069



Meeting with Steve Henry who has started at TBWA finally,
is postponed again, to september.
I've been waiting for 4 months already,
there is no difference for another month.
Sigh...it makes me feel like a VUP, very unimportant person!

MSN Conversation with Spencer,
he was the ECD when I was in Ogilvy Hong Kong.
(He claimed to fire me when he saw this portrait of him that I made,
for not qualifying to be an art director.
haha...my dear Spencer, this is the reality, nothing to do with art direction.)

8.12.06

London 068


In western culture, I think they are more generous to praise
and encourage others, they show their appreciation more easily.
That's why I don't dare to be too optimistic.
They said they may find me some projects or
freelance jobs to work on if suitable. Hope so!

I treasure honest comment more now,
I would rather know what am I lacking of.
I wonder how to convince people that I'm a good creative,
I'm more than an illustrator , I'm not a wanna-be-artist!

London 067


Head of Art, such a title isn't commonly found in Hong Kong,
I don't know what he actually does even after meeting up with him.

London 066


At the end, Richard suggests me to call Mark to make an appointment,
he is the Head of Art.

London 065


Juan then calls Richard, Executive Creative director,
to come to see my book. Same same,
he seems to be entertained by my work, he seems appreciates it.
However, there is one thing that I don't understand, why are we stuffed in the corner inside such a big room with such a big table?

London 064


He said if I push further, some of my personal projects are arts.
I randomly say something to response.
To be honest, I've done even more work in advertising,
most are just so crap that I don't want to show him all.

London 063


Juan said he doesn't know what to say after seeing my book.
He said it's culture shock.
He put his hands on head with a sigh, he looks really shocked.
He asked whether I find the big difference between my work and theirs.

Of course! There are mostly one-off jobs in the assembly line method
we use in Hong Kong agencies. Everyone is in such a hurry that they
have no time for concept or brand building.
The only thing you can do is to deliver the promotion message with
some eye-catching executions.
Also, The criteria to choose work to be put in my book,
not because they are big campaigns from big clients, they are just work I like most.

He talks a lot, but I can't understand all. I hear something like
"... to protect you from the world ... keep you fresh ... better not to give you job ... "
what???

London 062


Wow! Handsome guy!!

London 061


Pilgrimage 5

27.11.06

London 060


Juan is the creative director who did Sony Bravia
'bouncy balls' commercial. I really want to tell him
that LOOK ALIKE tv commercial from a SIMILAR product
by another brand from Asia was the CREATION done
by a creative director who comes from England
(and looks exactly like Homer Simpsons).
Such a COINCIDENCE is nothing to do with us (Asians)

I search this from internet. Someone has disclosed the sin.here

London 059


Then I spent certain time to know more about those big names,
and to find out the ways to contact them.
I still prefer to send emails.
Only one of them has replied me at the end, it's from Fallon!

London 058


I become more eager to see how they work in advertising agencies
here in London. It seems that the names in the list are quite important!
As what that nosy man I saw in Tesco said,
I really need energy to keep going.

London 057

21.11.06

London 056


They advised me not to try those big companies,
those we call 4As in Hong Kong,
those where I've always been working at.
I can imagine that they are more or less the same everywhere.
It's also so easy to see crap campaigns when you are watching tv,
reading newspaper or going into the street here.
However, I'm just curious.
No matter it's good or not, it's an experience to me.

I'm meeting kind people again.
I really appreciate their honest opinion.
But I feel even more uneasy now... 'UNUSUAL'...

It's not bad to know how others see you,
to make a self-examination then.
You'd end up being the one knowing yourself most!!

London 055


I think to myself: You're joking!
Your yellow pencils are taller than me when putting together.

London 054

London 053


They said they have never seen such 'unusual' work.
Again, they thought my personal projects are much
stronger than the advertising portfolio.
The problem is that I'm looking for job in advertising.
After a lot of thought and discussion,
they work out a list of names of people who may be interested to see me.

London 052


Skinhead twins?
They seem to enjoy reading my new story so much.
It makes them laugh, though they are in Chinese without English translation yet. I'm ignored. I just stand there all the while as I'm given no seats.

London 051


Pilgrimage 4

London 050


What's more amazing is...
I'm stunned when I see the title from Sarah's reply email the next day.
I take out the leaflet of D&AD congress.
oh, no, this guy was one of the speakers of that president lecture
I went last time, the H of BBH, one of the founders!!!!!!!!

London 049


I'm so nervous. I've got a reply from most people's dream company - BBH. 'Gwen, thanks for sending us your work.
At the moment we don't have any vacancies.'
I think it's another email showing rejection and wishing you good luck.
However...

London 048


This Adam who is going to a factory tour seems to be quite friendly!
We? Will I meet Eve too?

London 047


House hunting and moving have kept me busy for almost a month.
After going to the talks organized by D&AD,
I feel like showing my book to more creative directors now.
I hear from someone again after sending out some more emails...

London 046


A pair of senior creatives replace Tony McTear as the speakers.
When they ask how many people are looking for job,
everyone there raises their hands. Wah! competitors?

London 045


Thick skinned + my eyes are telling 'I AM SINCERE',
succeed!

17.11.06

London 044



It's too dangerous to stay home anymore.
I stay with different friends during this period of time.
But I keep making nightmares, poor me!

16.11.06

London 043


woo woo...
He even asked me to think about the pay, but the door is closed now.
I can't go home either as there is a mad dog (the landlord) barking.

London 042



I get this email one week after meeting up with Gerry.