A few months ago I heard that Steffan Postaer's book was being shopped around for a possible film deal. Today Lewis Lazare reports the story may be made-for-TV: Euro RSCG/Chicago Chief Creative Officer Steffan Postaer's first published novel, The Last Generation, has reportedly been optioned by the Touchstone & Medavoy producing team as a possible project for NBC. Postaer said NBC execs envision it as a series that …
Virgin Reinvents Wheel
Net Imperative: Virgin has unveiled plans for its own digital music service to take on the likes of iTunes and Napster, set to go live in the UK on 2 September. Powered by technology from MusicNet, Virgin Digital will be promoted via a multi-million pound investment campaign covering advertising, in-store marketing and online spend. Working with the firm's entertainment retail business Virgin Megastores, the service …
Google Not Talking To CNET
New York Times: Google says its mission is "to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful." But it does not appear to take kindly to those who use its search engine to organize and publish information about its own executives. CNETNews.com, a technology news Web site, said last week that Google had told it that the company would not answer any questions from CNET's reporters until …
Ranch Rules
Slate: There is a great Simpsons episode in which Homer, overcome by carbon-monoxide fumes, hallucinates that he is an Ottoman sultan. Though he is surrounded by gyrating concubines, the Simpson family patriarch is not satisfied. "I grow weary of your sexually suggestive dancing," he says. "Bring me my ranch-dressing hose!" Within seconds, the women are blasting him with a geyser of gooey ranch. Homer's tastes are …
Race Ya
Promo Magazine: Crown Royal is partnering with NASCAR driver Kurt Busch this month to remind young people of drinking age that getting home safely should be a top priority. A fleet of purple and gold Crown Royal No. 97 Ford Taurus' (replicas of the official race car) will offer bar patrons around downtown Indianapolis rides home. Some will be surprised to find the NASCAR champion Kurt Busch himself behind the …
Pineapple Baron Builds Spa
USA Today: A giant in the produce industry has planted the seeds for a ground-breaking California spa complex. Dole Food of pineapple and packaged-salad fame is building a wellness center, spa and 270-room luxury hotel on 20 acres next to its headquarters in Westlake Village, Calif. The complex, about 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles, is due to open next summer. The spa and medical facilities — a pioneering venture …
“Pick Me” And “Radical Careering”
Two new books tackle the delicate art of getting and keeping a career in the advertising industry. I haven't gotten a copy of either of these (according to Amazon, they'll be available soon) but I plan to. From the available-on-August 12 "Pick Me: Breaking Into Advertising and Staying There" by Nancy Vonk and Janet Kestin: Making it in advertising is tough. Even with a degree and a terrific portfolio, it's hard to …
Get Real. Be Real. Stay Real.
As we examine Hugh's latest creation, do we find truths neatly revealed? Or clever obfuscation? First, terms need to be defined. "Madison Avenue" is an actual place, but it's also a blanket statement for any big, powerful ad agency. There are maybe 100 to 200 such shops in the U.S., of the 10,000 agencies in business. "Real blog" is problematic, becasue what's real to one is fantasy or spoof to another. I can see …