Expert: Jennifer Goos - 9/18/2001

Question
hi,
i dont know if this question is in your expertise range, but the category you are in, seems to be closest to what i am looking for. Anyway, let me get to my question. I am an bike messenger/oil painter/a person who gets ideas for television commercials. Now, in addition to having the ideas, I also have the artistic skills to draw out the ideas in a story board like fashion. To make a long story short I have complete commercials ready to be shot on film. Where do big companies go for fresh and new ideas to promote their products? Should I contact their advertising department? Will they talk to me?   Now, I dont wanna brag, but i think my ideas and my way of thinking are special. Besides my artwork(http://www.studiomikulasch.com), I have also come up with a couple of nice inventions.
In case you cant help me , may be you could direct me to the right category for this subject.
thanx                   danny

Answer
If a company has an agency to help them, your ideas won't go anywhere. Agencies NEVER look to outside help for ideas.

Even if the company doesn't have an agency I would be very surprised if they took note of your ideas. Nothing personal, but companies take their TV ads very seriously and usually story boards and ideas don't come into play until after budgets, timelines and production matters have been dealt with.

If you feel you really have the creative talents for this, take some courses on TV commerical production and writing (remember, writing is a HUGE part of broadcast) and see if you can get hired in the creative department of a local TV station.

Advertising creative people aren't hired because they have great ideas - we all do. They get hired when they can create good ideas when there is limited funds and a tight deadline - a company you have never heard of needs an idea within 2 weeks and you need to get your stuff on target.

As I said, see if you can get in with a local TV station, that'd be where I would start in your shoes.