“Hello Dave,
We’ve not met before. I’m an ad creative too.
I felt compelled to write and tell you how much I’m enjoying your blog. I’ve learnt loads. (Now I’ve started writing this email I feel a bit silly!)
Anyway, keep pumping your stuff from the loft out into the ether.
It’s wonderful.
Thanks,
Oli.”
I got that email in 2013.
I wondered where this charming young man went to college or was on placement, so I googled him: ‘Partner and Executive Creative Director at Anomaly.’
Before that Creative Director at Mother.
Before that – Wieden + Kennedy (where he’d won a pencil, the yellow one, for one of the coolest ideas of that year; The Kaiser Chiefs album launch.)
What an unusually modest guy?
Since then I’ve worked with Oli a few times (once on the Virgin Trains campaign below) he was just as modest and charming as he presents himself in that email. (Listen to the podcast if you don’t believe me.)
But what I found and what I love about Oli, is whatever he touches – multi-million pound ad campaigns, complaints letters or tweets, his humour, intelligence and humanity come radiating out, like he literally can’t help himself.
Psychologists have a term for it – ‘Talent’.
(We had a lovely chat, hope you enjoy it.)
And after an 18-month break…
WATFORD COLLEGE.
Toilet Duck.
Sarson’s Vinegar.
Head & Shoulders.
WCRS.
Brylcreem.
BUPA.
Corinthia Hotels.
OLI DECEITS 1: Darth Vader.
Crunchy Bran.
The Royal Navy.
COMPLAINT 1: Richard Branson.
WIEDEN + KENNEDY.
Nike.
The Kaiser Chiefs.
OLI DECEITS 2: JAMESFACE.
OLI DECEITS 3: OK.
MOTHER.
Stella Artois.
Boots.
Smirnoff.
COMPLAINT 2: Noisy Neighbours.
ANOMALY.
Budweiser.
Cancer Research UK.
Freeview.
Bulb.
McCoys pitch.
Grenfell.
Sexy Jesus.
Anomaly.
Virgin Rail.
OLI DECEITS 4: Chatface.
COMPLAINT 3:
THIS IS THE CEO OF SOUTHERN RAIL…
For a time, whenever my train was majorly delayed, I would photoshop his face and put it on a blog.
POST-ANOMALY.
OLI DECEITS 4: Cameron Book.
Bumble.
Zillow.
PILOT FOR TV SHOW.
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS:
RANDOM TWEET:
The funniest, most inventive thing I’ve seen in years. Ollie is a genius, and so is Dave for putting this stuff up here.
He is definitely talented, but he’s certainly not humble. He’s being deferential. Try being junior to him. Then you’ll see how “humble” he is…not very.
Hey Brian,
I can only imagine it was a while ago?
I always ask people I interview how they coped with suddenly being in charge of people and their work, because it’s a tough transition, sometimes you try to overcompensate, because our role models seem so uber-confident and in control.
Best,
Dx.
p.s. I fear I’ve left it too late to be a junior to him.
Great podcast Dave. Especially interesting to hear another advertising creative’s experiences on becoming a screenwriter.
Thanks Gary, yep, I’ve interviewed a few people making that transition, they all say how impressed other industries are with the skills we use and take for granted. Dx
Hi Dave, which agency was responsible for the Corinthia Hotel print ads? I don’t believe any print ad has made me laugh like that!
Hey Sam, WCRS. He’s a funny fucker that Oliver Beale, isn’t he? Dx
Absolutely! Loved his complaint letter to Virgin – classic! Although I can’t say I am fan of his recent works with Corinthia Hotel – it seems like he has just lost the plot.
Note to self: Write complaint letter to Oli berating him for sub-par work in recent campaigns.