Joan Ellis's Blog, page 8

VFringe – flushing loos and flashing lights

First night of the VFringe was a blast. Loved every minute. Big thanks to the friends who turned out and some strangers too, including the unsuspecting people I hijacked at the Ventnor Carnival and invited to my show: I am Ella. Buy me. One lady even came on crutches – quite a feat given the venue was up a hill in the Scout Hut at The Woodland Bar. It’s an idyllic setting. A place where magic happens.

Last night I conjured up the ad industry in the 80s. I could smell the smoke in the bars in Soho and taste the one too many wines that got drunk in those heady, hazy days. I was an advertising copywriter and back then advertising was a showy, sexist but spectacular industry. It gave me the opportunity to work with advertising greats like Tony Kaye and Trevor Beattie as well as amazing talent like Penelope Keith and Harry Enfield. 

At the start of the set, we had an unscheduled light show. Luckily the unflappable Jack was on hand to sort it. In the middle of reading from my novel: I am Ella. Buy me, a toilet was flushed in the adjoining hut. It was the longest, loudest flush I’d ever heard. None of that mattered. What counted was the laughter in all the right places and the people I’d never met before saying how much they’d enjoyed it.

Thanks to Jack (and his lovely Mum), Mhairi, Jo and the whole of the VFringe Volunteer Team. I salute you.

Tonight, I’m at The Exchange, formerly, the Ventnor Telephone Exchange. Let’s hope nobody rings in.

 

 

 

IOW Radio – Ventnor Fringe readings

Listen up! Here I am banging on about the Ventnor Fringe. I’m there 14/15/16 August reading ‘I am Ella. Buy me’ and talking about my life in mad, bad Adland in the 80s.

Surreal experience hearing myself on the radio – they describe me as a ‘local’ author – yet I sound like Shirley out of Eastenders!

Hope to see you in the Woodland Bar. Mention this blog and I’ll buy you a drink. x

Carol Piner review: I am Ella. Buy me.

Joan Ellis’ “I Am Ella, Buy Me” reads like the life a lot of us have lived

and some of us have yet to live. By that, I mean our so-called professional

lives. The life that feeds us, runs our cars and pays our mortgages. Yes,

that one. The one that drives us near insane or it would if the people that

pepper our professional lives don’t first.

Ellis’ book reads like it could have been her diary encompassing all the

messes of every day life. All the jerks we all have to deal with. Assuming

we aren’t the jerks, that is. I recognized every single personality that she

dealt with and you will too. Some of them we’d love to kiss, some we’d love

to smack and yes, some we fantasize over but never do anything about.

Ella is in Advertising and is surrounded by Peter, her boss who thinks she

owes him quickies or longies or whatevers. He is a downright snake. Sweet

Wally, the caretaker who is always there for her when she needs him. The new

kid on the block, Chloe, who takes Peter off her hands, as well as her desk

and office. David doesn’t know how good he is. Jill who becomes better than

she was and there’s Adam who was always there to feed her a sweet or two

when she’s down. The rocker, Tom, who makes her feel beautiful and then,

well, not quite so much. They are all there. We recognize them amd all the

others that make up Elle’s life.

I liked “I Am Ella, Buy Me”. I recommend it highly if you want to read about

someone’s life is very similar to your own; just so you don’t feel alone.

Carol Piner

The Kindle Book Review

Noel Fielding – Adland’s loss, comedy’s gain

Noel Fielding: Adland’s loss, comedy’s gain

By Joan Ellis, campaignlive.co.uk, Friday, 01 August 2014 08:33AM 3 Comments

As the second series of Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy gets under way, Joan Ellis, the author, copywriter and advertising lecturer gives her view on what might have been.

Noel Fielding: stars in Channels 4′s Luxury Comedy

Noel Fielding, award-winning art director?

Twenty years ago, he was set to seize the title. I know, I taught him advertising at Bucks College. Now famed for Never Mind The Buzzcocks and being one half of the comedy duo The Mighty Boosch yet back in the 90s Noel wasn’t just a bright spark, he was spontaneously combusting.

From the start, I could see he was an original, a one-off – just like the very best ads. His work was raw, fresh and exciting. Thankfully, he didn’t know the meaning of the word “safe”.

That was the problem. It needed a brave client to run one of Noel’s brilliantly bizarre ideas.

Yet, I had no intention of reining him in. Who cared if his ideas were off-the-wall? Not me. It was my job to teach him advertising but it was my duty to get the hell out of the way and let him fly.

 

I wasn’t the only one who knew Noel was special. John Fairbanks, the college principal, also had him earmarked as one-to-watch and it seemed, one to listen to.

After my first term, I was summoned to John’s office.

“Noel says we should keep you on.”

“‘Noel?” I asked, confused.

“Noel Fielding, he thinks you’re great.”

He was a first year student yet already, his opinion counted. Even then, the Boosch was mighty.

When Noel discovered that as well as being a lecturer and copywriter at London’s top agencies, I also wrote and performed sketches, he asked for the inside track on the comedy circuit.

With his rock-star looks, affable nature and ability to conjure up new worlds out of nowhere, he was keen to follow in Eddie’s Izzard’s stiletto shoes. In preparation, he once wore a pair of heels to college. Luckily, it wasn’t the same day as he mounted a pogo stick and bounced into class claiming to be Jesus Christ.

After that, he was unstoppable, less of an adman, more of a madcap man.

A few years later, I sat in the front row at The Hen and Chickens in Islington, a venue renowned for showcasing new talent. As the house lights dimmed, there was Noel where he belonged, in the spotlight.

He invited me to his West End debut at Her Majesty’s Theatre. The place was packed with fans loving every idiosyncratic moment.

Noel is a stand-up with standout in spades but I’d still give anything to see what he’d do with a brief for soap powder. I imagine it would feature a spotless unicorn.

Joan Ellis’ first novel, I am Ella, Buy Me, is out now

 

This article was first published on campaignlive.co.uk

Article tags:

Noel Fielding, Joan Ellis, United Kingdom, Europe, Media / Entertainment

Here’s Ella

My first novel, ‘I am Ella. Buy me’ hit Amazon’s virtual bookshelf yesterday.I was so excited, I cracked open a packet of Bourbons.I told everyone I know. And everyone I don’t know.

Ella is a lot like me. Loves cake. She doesn’t so much go to work on an egg as travel in on three almond croissants. (If you’ve ever been to Patisserie Valerie or Maison Bertaux in Soho, you’ll know why. Sublime.)

Ella works for a bad boss and falls for a bad boy. Sound familiar? Shake hands, sister! Been there, done that, got the nervous tick to prove it.

Her boss, Peter is a chauvinist pig and proud of it. Well this is the 80s when men where men and women were well, just women. His criteria for hiring and firing girls is based on bust size and believe you me, his cup is overflowing.

We’ve all met his ilk. Hopefully, you handled them better than I did. One charmer actually asked: I’ve never had you, have I? It was the unnerving level of uncertainty that got me. Obviously, I was just one in a long line of blonde copywriters. For the record, the answer was ‘No’. Not hard, his open sandals and hairy toes didn’t do it for me.

If you’ve had similar experiences, I’d love to hear them.

In the meantime, meet Ella. You’ll like her. She’s probably a lot like you.

Nothing sexy about sexism

What does Hillary Clinton have in common with the Buffalo Bills cheerleaders? I doubt she’s planning on donning a ra-ra skirt anytime soon but they are all chanting the same thing loud and clear: No-No-No-Sexism.

Can’t believe it needs saying in 2014. When I first saw an article about the ‘Jiggle Test’ (and we can all imagine how that went) former Buffalo Bills cheerleaders claim they were subjected to, I thought I’d been juggernauted back to the ’80′s.

Back then, one boss thought it was okay to look at me quizzically and ask: I haven’t had you, have I?

Nice.

I think he meant it as a compliment. Either that or he had bedded that many blonde copywriters he genuinely couldn’t remember.

 

Hillary Clinton’s best advice on succeeding in a man’s world http://ti.me/1luxe4w via @TIME

Ella David’s reference from Peter

CBA ADVERTISING

100 Dean Street, W.1. Telephone: 01 734 1000

20 November 1982

To whom it may concern,

Re: Ella David reference

My name is Peter Richards, Creative Director par excellence of CBA Advertising.

Ella David has been my copywriter for some years and has written a number of award-winning campaigns. She will work her arse off for you – believe me, there’s enough of it so you will get your money’s worth.

She seems unable to keep a boyfriend so no worries about her getting knocked up and leaving you in the lurch

If you’ve got any female accounts like chocolate, fashion and tampons, she’s your girl.

Ella is moving on as I have just hired a very attractive copywriter who is better suited to our client roster.

A word to the wise, Ella has recently developed worryingly altruistic tendencies. Can you believe, she has written a charity ad for nothing?!!!! Ergo, you may well be able to get her for a knock-down salary.

I would be eternally grateful if you could take her off my hands. If I can be of any further help, don’t hesitate to contact me or simply cash the enclosed cheque.

Yours in eager anticipation,

Peter Richards

Creative Director CBA Advertising

Two of the oldest and best patisseries in Soho are Ella’s favourites. And mine. I discovered them in the ‘80’s. Thankfully, they are still there, magical places, serving up the most authentic croissants in town. Why not pop in next time you’re in town?

Maison Bertaux: 28 Greek Street, Soho

Patisserie Valerie: 44 Old Compton Street, Soho

Absolut D&AD

absolut xray

You know what it’s like when you really want something – you work for it, strive for it and then it happens. Hurray! You’re thrilled. But it’s taken you so long to achieve your aim, the timing is all wrong.

My poster for Absolut vodka, ‘X-ray’ made it into the 1995 Design & Art Direction Annual.  As if being part of D&AD wasn’t reward enough, my work was included at the Private View of the 1995 Festival of Excellence Exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery.

When I turned up at the venue, awash with Adland legends, I was beyond excited.

I was pregnant.

I was also nauseous, bloated and bilious.

My work was on a plinth in the middle of the room. I loitered beside it, looking like I’d mistaken the Saatchi Gallery for the local anti-natal class.

Exhausted, I plonked myself down on the stairs.

‘You can’t sit there,’ said the security guard.

‘There are no chairs.’

‘You can’t sit there.’

‘But I’m pregnant.’

‘You can’t sit there.’

I got up and caught a cab home.

D&AD was a dream come true. The real challenge was becoming a M&UM.