About Ads for Ads

Post 361:

            Before I get into whatever the heck’s on my mind this week, I want to get a recommendation out of the way. So… if you ever watch videos online and have to sit through ads, maybe you’ve see the Masterclass spots. You know, pay some dumb amount of money to have a “master” tell you things that you could read in a book (or in a free blog). That said, I might have to say that David Mamet’s trailer is freaking outstanding. He’s teaching dramatic writing.

            For those who don’t know, he’s written tons of movies and plays. A ridiculous amount. The Untouchables, Glengarry Glen Ross… it’s in the hundreds. The guy is probably richer than Croesus, and I guess he’s looking to impart a little wisdom to us little people.

            I love some of the stuff he says about drama and writing in the ad. The following are all paraphrases: To write, I need a blank piece of paper and a pencil might help. If an idiot like me can do it, give it a shot. You have to be willing to totally suck, and trust me, you will. When it comes to dialogue, this guy says one thing, then another says something else. He also quotes Hemingway saying something like, To write well is easy: all you do have to do is sit down and bleed.

            I love this frigging commercial. Am I going to buy his class? No, not right now at least. I’m too busy bleeding and being an idiot, giving it a shot.

            There is something cool about a person that’s worked in an industry I admire for so long, being so matter of fact about it. A lot of these Masterclass ads are people talking about all kinds of high-minded crap that won’t help anybody. I could be totally unfair with this analysis, but I want nuts and bolts, a point in the right direction, someone to tear down the great gods of art that we set upon our own manufactured Olympian mountains.

            It’s just people hitting and missing, like anything else. Think that’s why I like the dude. He’s a workman, and through all the success, he seems like he’s still willing to admit that he doesn’t know much of anything. It’s kind of a Socratic way of teaching; Socrates is my dog, so I’m down.

            Anyway, watch the commercial. When it comes to spending your money, I’m not sure. No need to bleed cash when the real thing is all that’s required.

            Cheers. See you after.