Category: Entertainment

Spring Cleaning, Kondo Style

imcclass March 21, 2019

After Wilmington suffered a rainy fall and a chilly winter, we have finally reached spring. The first official day of spring was March 20th, 2019 and we “sprung forward” on March 10th, which means more daytime! Even though we technically lost an hour of sleep, we have more daylight to do much more than we could during the end of Daylight Savings Time. Since we have more opportunities to tackle responsibilities during the daytime, one chore that may seem daunting to some, but rewarding to others is spring cleaning.

Spring cleaning is the act of decluttering places that you use the most often; whether it be your house, car, office, or any other areas that need some tidying up. Tidying up doesn’t mean just cleaning your dirty bathroom or your smelly car. It could also be the act of putting away those heavy coats and other winter clothes and replacing those clothes with your spring wear! People who usually start spring cleaning, give up because there are too many areas to tackle or realize that there is always next year. However, one woman has made an impact on several lives that not only have organizational issues but can share with the world that tidying up may not be so daunting after all, Marie Kondo.

If you binged watch any Netflix series, then you’ve possibly come across the popular Netflix series, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” In the hit series, Kondo is invited to step into the lives of people who suffer from organizational issues or have a difficult letting items go that give them “joy” even though the items may be a doorstop. Kondo explains her method to her clients and reassures to them that it’s more than just throwing out the things you no longer need; it’s about choosing joy.

So how exactly is the method broken down? The KonMari Method™ encourages that people should tidy by category, not location. Starting with clothes, then moving to books, papers, komono (known as miscellaneous items), and, lastly, sentimental items. To complete the KonMari Method™, Kondo explains her six basic rules of tidying:

Rule #1: Commit yourself to tidying up.

Rule #2: Image your ideal lifestyle.

Rule #3: Finish discarding first.

Rule #4: Tidy by category, not by location.

Rule #5: Follow the right order.

Rule #6: Ask yourself if it sparks joy.

If the item doesn’t “spark joy,” to the client, Kondo asks them to thank them for the joy that they did give them, and then let it go the item that they wish to discard.

Although the KonMari Method can’t organize certain aspects of your life, it can undoubtedly tackle those areas of your home that you’ve been procrastinating for the past year or so. Get started on your spring cleaning, Kondo style.

-Kristian Worthy

And the Oscar Goes To…Advertising!

imcclass February 27, 2019

The Academy Awards were last Sunday, and I think it’s safe to say there were plenty of surprises throughout the night. From the program having no host, to Green Book unexpectedly winning Best Picture, there was plenty to talk over the course of the next few days. Although director Spike Lee supposedly storming out after the Best Picture reveal, and Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s steamy duet made headlines, things that didn’t get as much recognition were the various advertisement campaigns geared specifically towards the Academy Awards audience.

It’s no secret that we are living in an age of recorded television and streaming services, and people have become impatient in general when it comes to sitting through commercials. Much like the Super Bowl, an awards show such as the Oscars are another example of a live televised event people tune in to in real time, and thus present the perfect opportunity to capitalize on viewers’ attention. While the adverts for the program didn’t cost nearly as much as those for the Super Bowl (according to Variety, 30 second advertisement spots for the Oscars cost between $2-3 million), it was very clear through the commercials’ content that they were advertising directly to the Academy Award audience, especially females.

One example of this was with Walmart’s ad campaign. It’s known that fashion and style contribute to some of the Oscar’s biggest moments—both on the red carpet and in the award categories. Walmart, one of the night’s sponsors, seized this night of culture and fashion as an opportunity to advertise their clothing lines, while simultaneously highlighting film crew members and stylists who work endlessly behind the camera to make “movie magic” happen. The various commercials reinforced the idea that if ordinary people such as Julia Roberts’, Rami Malek’s, and Chadwick Boseman’s stylists can be glamorous and creative while wearing Walmart, then you can too!

Another advertisement specifically aimed at women between the awards was a Budweiser commercial featuring Charlize Theron. In the commercial, Theron challenges female stereotypes while drinking her beer in a bar by challenging men to various games (billiards, darts, arm wrestling, etc.). An A-List celebrity, and a beautiful woman at that, was sure to capture and keep the attention of a time-shift-conditioned audience.

Another Academy-specific ad campaign came from Google. The company utilized clips from various iconic movies, such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Lady Bird, The Hangover Scream, Jerry Maguire, Deadpool etc., and depicted how the scenarios could have played out differently had Google been present in each scene. The commercials assume that viewers of the Oscars are movie buffs, and know enough about the films to understand the references within the commercials.

What do you think? Do you believe the advertising efforts between the awards successfully kept audiences engaged? Did celebrities or those closely associated with celebrities influence your opinion about a product or brand featured? Comment below with your thoughts!

-Audra Bullard

Who Will Win: The Oscars…or The Controversy?

imcclass February 22, 2019

Oscars1

First and foremost, we can all agree this past year was filled with its fair share of exceptional movies. However, this has not guaranteed a smooth journey for the 2019 Oscars.

In fact, over the last few months, the Academy found itself entangled in so much controversy, it has many viewers worried for the upcoming awards show. From the Kevin Hart host conundrum, to the commercial break madness, and the immediate scrapping of the new (but not improved) “Popular Film” category, there is a possibility the 91^st Academy Awards will not be one for the books.

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Without a doubt, the largest controversy surrounding the Oscars was the Kevin Hart situation a few months back. All plans were set to proceed for the comedian and his hosting gig, until a homophobic tweet he wrote a decade ago unearthed itself and went viral. Naturally, this left fans divided, and led to Kevin Hart’s permanent removal from the show.

Not long after this decision, the Academy stated there would be no host at all for the awards- a move that has not been done for 30 years.

There was also a public outcry when it was announced that four categories would be aired during commercial breaks. More specifically, these categories are: Cinematography, Editing, Live-action Short, and Makeup and Hairstyling. According to the Academy, the idea was to shave 30 minutes off the original program length of three and a half hours (a choice made after many viewers stated the show was too long).

Only question is, will it be a worthy trade-off?

But one of the most puzzling parts of this year’s controversial Oscars was the announcement of the new category “Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film”. Thinking it was just another way to hype up mainstream films and bounce back from 2018’s record low ratings, the public reacted negatively to the news. This further prompted the category to disappear without a second thought.

Alas, it seems the Oscars has many expectations to stack up to. Perhaps we are the true critics this year.

-Kristen Weiderman

Worlds To Be Explored

imcclass February 19, 2019

Video games…the staple of my childhood. From Banjo-Kazooie to Apex Legends; video games have been a part of my life since I can remember. The stories told, visuals seen, and music heard has all accumulated into the so-called adult writing this.

If you have played video games most of your life you may have heard either a family, friend, or peer say, “Why are you wasting your time playing that game?” Hopefully, this did not result in you quitting spending time exploring the vast worlds video game developers have created. Instead, I hope this made you question why you truly enjoy spending your time racking up gold coins and virtual armor.

For me, it was the sense of accomplishment and escape it offered. During middle school and early into high school I often found myself spending hours playing World of Warcraft. The expansive world and stories that Blizzard created drew me in and I spent six years playing every single day after school and on the weekends. I made a lot of life long friends through the game and created amazing memories. Of course, there are other games worth noting and that is exactly what the DICE awards were made for.

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Hosted by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, a non-profit organization recognizing interactive arts, the DICE awards allow for amazing video games to be noticed. This awards show recognizes not only the game itself, but the people who made it and the development teams who have led advancements in the massive interactive entertainment industry.

It distinguishes the people who have spent years creating this one experience to be enjoyed by people around the world. The artists who pour every resource into this one entertainment piece that allows people to escape and experience accomplishments for a couple hours every day. The DICE awards are important because they recognize the people who take their time to make someone else’s life enjoyable. This year, God of War was awarded game of the year.

They also recognized Bonnie Ross, head of 343 Industries and a strong promoter of STEM and diversity efforts across the video game industry among women and other minorities. You might recognize the name if you are a massive HALO fan.

So, next time someone asks you why you are “wasting your time” playing games, tell them you are experiencing interactive art. Explain to them the work that goes on behind the scenes and about the stories you have experienced and achievements you have made. At the end of the day if you enjoy playing video games as much as I do it will not really matter what others think. If you have made friends online you are surrounded by like minded and passionate individuals, who recognize the enjoyment video games can bring. So, keep on playing and enjoy your time exploring.

– Christian Lombardi

Nobody Puts OBJ in the Corner

imcclass February 9, 2018

The NFL may already be the center of focus during the Super Bowl, but that doesn’t stop them from joining the competition for the most memorable advertisement of the night.

If don’t watch the Giants play, you may be unaware that Odell Beckham Jr. has become fairly well-known for his touchdown celebrations. See the below highlight reel for reference:

In a commercial with the slogan “To All the Touchdown Celebrations to Come,” Eli and Odell take on the epic 80’s classic Dirty Dancing. The two tackled the iconic choreography with near perfect accuracy. Although, admittedly, Odell’s moves are a little more polished than Eli’s, but that just adds to the charm of the ad.

The goal of the advertisement is to market for the upcoming season by highlighting the fact that, for most teams, the Super Bowl marks the beginning of a fresh start. For Eli and Odell, that means nailing the perfect touchdown celebration.

The ad is a mix of surprise, nostalgia, and humor, working in unison to secure its spot at the top of the numerous “Best Super Bowl Commercial” lists for weeks to come after the game–that’s free advertising. The cost to run an advertisement during the Super Bowl is worth it if the ad is successful. Not to mention the fact that several of the ads, including this one, go viral online before the game even airs.

How do you think they did?

-Katie Solinski

Marketing UNCW’s Midnite Madness & Fan Jam

imcclass October 26, 2017

Photo courtesy of the Association for Campus Entertainment.

In the past two years, UNCW’s Basketball program has grown in prominence and recognition, not only on our campus, but on the college basketball scene as a whole. As a former Spirit Chair for the Association for Campus Entertainment, I was beyond excited when the Men’s team started winning. One of the best ways to garner school spirit on a college campus is to give students something to root for. Events intended to boost that school spirit, like Midnite Madness and ACE’s Fan Jam, are not new to UNCW’s campus, but appear to be getting some new—and well deserved—recognition.

Some decked-out fans at Fan Jam. Photo courtesy of ACE.

This past Friday, ACE worked with the Residence Hall Association, Athletics Department, Campus Dining, and more to organize the event known as Fan Jam. The purpose of Fan Jam is to get UNCW fans excited about the upcoming basketball season, while rewarding them with free games, shirts, and food. It is a way to thank fans for supporting UNCW’s sports teams. In the past, this event occurred after Midnite Madness and ran late into the night. However, this year Maddie Driggers, the current Spirit Chair for ACE, moved the event to 8 p.m., meaning it would take place before Midnite Madness. As with all her events, Maddie was tasked with discovering fun and engaging marketing techniques to inform students about the event and its new time.

Basketball cookies made by Campus Dining. Photo courtesy of ACE.

Aside from creating a flyer and posting the event details on social media, Maddie and her committee members tabled around campus. At their table, students could win Midnite Madness t-shirts by making a basket in a child-sized basketball hoop. This technique proved effective because curiosity drew a lot of people to the table. Additionally, the students were more engaged with the information because they were getting a reward. The Athletics Department also provided glowing foam sticks with “Seahawks” written on them. This giveaway helped market the event because they were conversation starters and looked amazing in photos.

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The glowing rods in action at Midnite Madness. Photo from UNCW Athletics’s Facebook.

The foam rods can also be used a sporting events throughout the year and the photos can be used for promotional purposes for upcoming games. On the Tuesday before Midnite Madness, the Athletics Department hosted a Teal Tuesday event where they gave away more t-shirts and free food. They held other events during the week, like an ice cream social. At each of these events, Sammy was present to take photos with students and encourage them to participate.

Sammy at Fan Jam with students. Photo courtesy of the Association for Campus Entertainment.

Overall, the key marketing strategies used by ACE and the Athletics Department for these events were face-to-face interaction with their key public (the students) and freebies. Both groups were also consistent in their marketing in the week leading up to the big day, maximizing the amount of students who learned about the events. In the end, Fan Jam had an estimated 500 students attend the event, the majority of whom went to Midnite Madness directly after making the day quite the success.

By: Katie Solinski

Humans of COM Studies: Lauren Arsena

imcclass September 28, 2017

Photo courtesy of Lauren Arsena.

Lauren Arsena entered UNCW in the Fall of 2014. At the time, she knew she was interested in marketing, but was unsure which major would be the best fit for her. She quickly discovered COM and the potential the department had to teach her, not only marketing, but advertising, public relations, and more.

In terms of campus involvement, Lauren is the President of the Association for Campus Entertainment. ACE is the student-programming board at UNCW; they are responsible for a wide variety of events across campus, including the Jesse McCartney concert in Kenan Auditorium last Friday, September 22. Lauren was an integral part of the team that brought Jesse to campus, resulting in the fastest selling show in ACE’s history. The show sold out in less than 90 minutes.

September 22, 2017: Jesse McCartney at the concert on campus. Photo courtesy of Hayley Kane (ACE Photographer).

Lauren first decided to join ACE because she wanted to have a say in planning events for campus, while still having fun. Before becoming the president, Lauren was the Special Events Chair, now known as the Activities chair. She worked on a few of ACE’s traditional events like Last Seahawk Standing and Speed Dating. She created a few new events of her own as well, including Swing Dancing and Salsa Dancing lessons–both free for students. Last fall, she brought an improv group to campus for a Murder Mystery Dinner. Guests interacted with the characters to learn who the killer was.

Lauren (right) and the Spirit Committee Chair Maddie (left) outside of Lumina Theater before one of ACE’s films. Photo courtesy of Hayley Kane (ACE Photographer).

She has gotten the opportunity to apply a lot of the knowledge from her courses to her position in ACE and vice versa. Lauren states, “I’m on the PR/IMC track, so I’ve learned a lot about how to effectively market on social media. ACE also helps me in my classes because I have experience in event planning, leadership, teamwork, and public speaking.”

Along with ACE, Lauren works as a Calendar Assistant for Campus Life. She uses Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to create the calendars in the bathrooms of the Fisher Student Center and Union. Her experience with the Adobe Creative Cloud inspired her to add a Digital Arts minor.

Two of Lauren’s recent calendars. Lately, she has been hiding a Pac-man ghost somewhere in the design. See if you can spot him! Photos courtesy of Lauren Arsena.

After graduation, Lauren would like to work in event planning for a few years. In the long term, she would like to return to school to work on a masters degree in Student Affairs. Her goal is to work with a student-programming board like ACE.

September 26, 2017: Lauren (far right) photographed here with Brandon Stanton (center), the creator of Humans of New York. Brandon’s work is the inspiration behind this post. Photo courtesy of Stefani Norris (right of Brandon).

“Interpersonal COM, public speaking, and PR have taught me how to market myself better to others so I feel more confident and ready to enter the workforce after I graduate.”

By: Katie Solinski

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