In a secret lair beneath the Williams Helde headquarters...
Artist’s rendering of WH CEO Marc Williams in his secret lair beneath downtown Ballard that just HAPPENS to be steps away from the local Independent Order of Oddfellows Lodge? COINCIDENCE?!?! Yeah, probably.
So, Williams Helde is an agency here in town and they asked Creative Circle to find them a Creative Director. They contacted me and I wrote up a story of how I imagined their initial conversation went down. I’m not sure if I’m right for the job (and there’s a possibility CC may not submit me), but I had fun writing this up nonetheless.
My origin story for how I came to meet Marc Williams
EXT: Open on a drone shot of 1712 NW Market Street late at night. Cut to the streets and sidewalks directly outside the building. They are empty save for a single person briskly walking toward the entrance. We pan up to her face: it’s Creative Circle Senior Recruiter, JULIA BUCK.
As she steps up to the door, she gets a text, which reads: “U here?” She quickly responds: “Right outside”. Another text comes in. “Remember that key I gave you?”
A gasp escapes JULIA’s lips and her right hand flies to her collarbone. She pulls on the thin silver chain around her neck, revealing a solid silver skeleton key emblazoned with the initials “WH.” Another text breaks the reverie: “Use it.” She inserts the key, turns it, and steps into a sleek elevator cabin. She considers the blank panel on the wall. At the very bottom is a non-descript keyhole. She inserts the key and turns it.
The elevator immediately jolts and begins a smooth descent at breakneck speed. Suddenly, the lights in the elevator pulse and the doors quickly open with a whoosh. She is immediately greeted by WH founder, MARC WILLIAMS.
MARC: Walk with me.
He turns and begins to walk without waiting for an answer.
JULIA exits the elevator and her mouth falls agape in wonder. She is in a great hall, hundreds of yards long, lit only by an endless series of sconces, each emitting a soothing WH-green-hued light. The click of their shoes echoes in the chamber.
MARC: (Still walking; he’s just a bit ahead of JULIA) Do you know what we do here at WH?
JULIA: You build preference for healthy, active brands, of course.
She catches up to MARC and matches his pace.
MARC: And how do we do it?
JULIA: (The question catches her off guard for a moment, but she quickly recovers) By putting strategy first…
MARC suddenly stops; JULIA does the same. MARC reaches into his pocket and produces his own skeleton key, though his is made of gold. He reaches out with it and finds a keyhole in the massive wall to their left. He turns the key and a large gate, at least a hundred yards long and at least as wide slowly begins to rise. A fiery emerald green light bursts from the opening. MARC reaches into his bag and pulls out two pairs of heavy-duty goggles. He hands one to JULIA and puts on the other pair.
JULIA: (continuing): By thinking like a consumer…by carrying inspiration at all times…by always being ready to lend a helping hand and do a little extra…you’ve done a lot of great work.
The gate continues to creep up inch by inch; more and more verdant light fills the chamber but it’s still too bright to see what is on the other side of the gate.
MARC: (Interrupting) Great work, yes. Of course, great work breeds more great work.
With a whoosh, the gate suddenly opens all the way up. A gargantuan aquarium towers above them, like a lava lamp on steroids. JULIA instinctively pulls back. The aquarium is filled with hundreds of blobs, each adorned with a different WH client logo.
JULIA: There are just so many clients…
MARC: Which means we need…
JULIA: (exhaling deeply) You need someone who can help bring brilliant ideas to life for them.
Her eyes widen and a confident grin appears on her face. She pulls her phone out and begins to tap the screen.
The scene shifts to a dark bedroom; a digital clock reads 3:23 AM.
MARC (VOICEOVER ONLY): But someone with a very specific superpower…who can make all of THIS approachable, someone who can think strategically and help make something…delightful.
A cell phone begins to ring on the nightside table. A hand reaches over to grab it. The display screen immediately lights up a man’s face, a face belonging to Creative Lead Cliff McCloe. He accepts the call.
CLIFF MCCLOE: Talk to me.
He stands, stretches, and opens a nearby closet door. He cradles the phone next to his ear as he flips through his collection of super suits, each one a different color. He lands on one; it’s a beautiful shade of emerald green. He pulls the hanger and holds it in front of him. We zoom in on his lips.
CLIFF MCCLOE: I’m on my way.
The scene turns black and the music swells.
-END-
The Lengths I Go To was my (thankfully) limited-series blog wherein I shared the different ways I tried to stand out during my job search. I did six of these, got three interviews and one job, so…..yeah! I brought it back to keep my chops tight, so there’s that.
