It’s COLAB Time!

To those of you looking for an internship in the advertising world, guess what? COLAB time is here again…

I participated in the inaugural 2008 group – wasn’t sure what to think going in, but it was the best six weeks I’ve spent during a summer – collaborating with some of the most forward thinking, techno-savvy, inspiring people.

Oh and plus you get to spend the summer in Portland. Which, I would have to say, it perhaps the best places in the States to spend a summer.

Anyway, COLAB asked us to create a video talking about our COLAB experience…check it out, then go apply. Now. Do it!

Heart in Oregon (and Texas!)

When I was in Portland last summer for Portland Ad. Federation‘s COLAB internship-crazy-awesomeness, I started noticing these Oregon-shaped stickers with a green heart within. For the next few months, I took a picture each time I came across one of these stickers and subsequently wrote a post or two about my discoveries.

Fast forward through the details, and I wind up connecting with the founder/brains behind this movement, Chris Bucci – we exchange a few emails as my curiosity and love for this idea grows…Chris sends me a few stickers, which makes my love for this movement even greater. (=

So as I think we all know at this point, I am in Austin. One of the first things I noticed about Texans is hands down their love and pride of being Texan. I was lucky to meet a handful of wonderful Texans with overwhelming Texas pride, and who were willing and excited to include/share that with me (which I thought was incredibly gracious on their end, and made me feel good about settling here)

Anyway, Chris and I connected again – me telling him how much I am impressed with the Texas/Southern hospitality, BUT at the same time, saying how much more pride I have for where I am from now that I am no longer there.  So…a few more conversations happen, a handful more stickers come (of Texas AND Oregon now!) and a project between Chris and me evolves!

HeartInOregonTexas

We’ll see how this project goes, but as you can tell from the Heart in Oregon website, storytelling is HUGE. I love hearing people’s stories and I love that each and every one of us has such a unique and tailored…anthology, really. Also pretty enthused to combine this with a similar project Ashly and I have been brainstorming…

Last night I interviewed my first person – a now friend who I actually (this sounds sketch) met courtesy of Craigslist (NOT missed connections, although I wish! haha) I bought some furniture from him, we became friends, I found his story interesting and voilà!

Not sure the format or how these storytelling pieces will manifest, but regardless, I am extremely excited to see what’s to come! (and equally excited for my new slew of Oregon/Texas heart stickers!)

the things you learn when videotaping yourself…

When you start watching yourself on  tape – wow.  This summer during COLAB, I recorded a number of video blogs, and through these, I’ve realized a few things about myself – and of everyone really- the way we THINK we present ourselves, and the way we actually appear are frequently different…

When conducting an interview, who is doing most of the talking?  Unless it’s a conversation, you already know what you think – let the interviewee speak.

Facial expressions (do you look bored when others are talking??)

Silence is just as important as dialog – give time for thought and processing

Overused words/expressions

Are you speaking succinctly, or are you using too many words to say the same thing? (yes, that was intentional…)

Are you feeding answers in your questions?

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