News
by Adam Flynn, D/C brand strategist
A few weeks later, and we’re still reverberating from this season of Game of Thrones. Acclaimed as the capstone to our current “golden age of television,” Thrones soaks us in thousands of years of fantasy history, four religions, foreign languages with 14 words for “horse,” and yet we are still able to recognize, love, and mourn a vast assortment of characters. This is all the more ironic given that George R.R. Martin began writing Thrones after half a decade in Hollywood, determined to craft a story nigh-impossible to film.
He was right. By the standards of late 1980s television, GoT was completely untenable. It was too big, too complex, too expensive, and too explicit. Part of the reason for the golden era we’re in is that the experience of watching and following a series is fundamentally different from what it once was.
In 1990, if you were following Twin Peaks, you had to watch every episode exactly when it came out, or hope to pick up a bootleg VHS tape of past episodes for the then-princely-sum of $20.
Today, things are different. Starting with torrents and wikis, and evolving into our current welter of second-screen references and on-demand, over-the-top, timeshifting, watch-anywhere offerings, it’s become immensely easier to catch up and join in on a show with water-cooler momentum. In terms of our ability to pause, repeat, compare, and look up past moments, TV is now closer to text than it has ever been, and it’s no wonder we’re seeing an uptick in the complexity of storylines, bringing it closer to the sprawling casts and twisting plots of novels. (The bigger budgets don’t hurt, either.)
When it’s easier to catch up, writers create more to catch up to. And we’re all the more grateful for it.
Work + News
Jay Chiat Awards
Duncan Channon’s "Nicotine Equals" campaign strategy, intended to awaken parents to the teen vaping epidemic, got the judges attention at this year’s 4A’s Jay Chiat Awards.
“We’ve changed!” says Big Tobacco
Guess what, all? The industry that’s responsible for more death and disease than any other and continues to peddle six trillion cigarettes a year is now your friend. Go figure.
A wanderlust-worthy rebrand
Inspired by the shapes and colors of dream destinations, DC rebrands Viator for a new wave of planning-adverse adventurers.
A new spin on IPA packaging
Most IPA cans today look like they were designed by the dude that did the Iron Maiden albums. All skulls and green lightning, giving full testosterone and acne vibes. So when tasked with driving a new look for Golden Road’s Ride On series, we banged a uey.
Kona Big Wave goes even bigger
After a decade of leading creative for Kona Big Wave, DC’s “Bring the Aloha” campaign relaunches the brand for a broader audience, moving beyond its craft roots to a priority position in AB InBev’s premium beer portfolio.
InnovAsian finds balance, and big results.
A blend of content creators and traditional photoshoots was the perfect recipe to increase InnovAsian’s engagement on social – without breaking the budget.
DC appoints first Managing Director, Kumi Croom
A game changer since her arrival six years ago, Kumi will lead account and project management and continue to shape DC’s culture and client relationships.
Empathy over stigma
DC is honored to have been selected by the state of CA to tackle one of the most challenging issues of our generation. And to be covered in AdAge.
This Golden Road work isn’t good
People always ask: You good? But that indicates a pretty baseline, “just okay” type of good. DC’s new campaign for Golden Road asks a question that aims a little higher from a city that does the same.
El Secreto esta en el balance
Nuestro nuevo comercial para la cerveza Mango Cart de Golden Road establece una conexión alegre entre la tradición Mexicana de bailar mientras se equilibra una cerveza abierta en la cabeza con el sabor de la deliciosa cerveza con infusión de mango de Golden Road.
Drink to the future
Organic wine industry pioneer, Bonterra Organic Estates, bolsters brand leader status with a future forward, fashionably chic campaign from DC.
Test it. Treat it. You can beat it.
COVID fatigue is real, but so are the treatments. Pushing through that barrier with a sing-along? Now that’s contagious in the best way.
InnovAsian finds balance, and big results.
A blend of content creators and traditional photoshoots was the perfect recipe to increase InnovAsian’s engagement on social – without breaking the budget.
TikTok campaign breaks records
e.l.f. celebrates self-expression and individuality with beauty products for every #eyeslipsface through the most viral organic TikTok campaign ever created.
When the clinic’s a carnival
How do you convince a particularly hesitant group of Californians to get vaccinated for Covid-19? With free games, music, food, slushies and a great big Ferris wheel.
Brow besties, IRL
To re-energize their brow line, e.l.f. rolled out a digital campaign with real-life besties and beauty influencers Roxette Arisa and Yesenia Hipolito, and celebrated with a fabulous dinner produced by DC.
Coachella x Tattooed Chef
DC’s experiential team partnered with Tattooed Chef—bringing the brand’s edgy, purpose-driven ethos to life at Coachella’s 2022 return.
Beautyscape in the Bahamas
Created by DCLA for e.l.f., the fifth installment of the award-winning influencer program is now underway in the Bahamas. And garnering more heat than ever.
CBS x Alfred Coffee · Emmy Awards
DCLA partnered CBS Studios with Alfred Coffee to reach Emmy voters and garner support for Star Trek: Picard. The timely work tapped into the diversity and inclusion central to Gene Roddenberry’s original vision.
Gap · Dress Normal
Gap asked us to build consideration and generate trial for their newly launched “Dress Normal” brand platform. Thirty influential Instagram photogs helped us do just that.
Nabela Noor for e.l.f.
DCLA created a can’t-miss launch event for Bangladeshi-American sensation Nabela Noor’s collaboration with e.l.f. Cosmetics.
Gap
With the Be Bright campaign, we secured the rights for Gap to be the official concert tee at the summer’s hottest music festivals.
Universal Orlando
Universal Orlando leveraged DCX’s stable of influencers to reach the difficult-to-reach teen and tween audience — and succeeded 40 million times over.
e.l.f. 2020 Halloween activation
Duncan Channon’s LA team kept the halloween spirit alive by bringing a spooky holiday pop-up straight to beauty influencers’ homes.
