Detroit's turnaround-in-progress gets attention on the French Riviera this week, the latest sign that things of global interest are going on here.
The video above is part of a 45-minute main stage presentation at an ad industry event called Canes Lions 2014. (No circus animals, just a "festival of creativity" with awards. Come to think of it, circus imagery may be apt.)
"People here are doing amazing things . . . to breathe life back into the city." -- Mark Simon
Participants from Lowe Campbell Ewald's downtown Detroit office reached the Mediterranean resort Tuesday for their "Detroit Reboot" discussion. They're accompanied by noted Detroit DJ and techno producer Carl Craig, who';s appears in the video and will join two agency executives on stage for Friday's presentation. (Also on screen: Larry d'Mongo of Cafe d'Mongo's Speakeasy.)
Mark Simon, the local branch's chief creative officer, heads the local team and previews the "Reboot" message Tuesday in a column at a London news site called More About Advertising. His session's moderator is Jose Miguel Sokoloff of Bogota, Colombia, president of the parent company's Lowe Global Creative Council.
Here's some of what Simon says:
Despite everything you think you know about Detroit, it’s one of the most fascinating places in the world right now. There is so much positive change going on. . . .
Despite the ongoing negotiations that continue between the city and its creditors, people here are doing amazing things. They’re working together to build things, to change things, to breathe life back into the city that we grew up in and for many, the city they adopted. . . . That’s the theme of the presentation we’re doing at Cannes Lions at 11 a.m. on June 20 entitled “Detroit: Reboot City.” , , ,
We will be joined on stage by legendary Detroit DJ and Grammy-nominated producer Carl Craig. . . . He is a creative visionary and has much to share with the Cannes Lions audience about his hopes for the future of Detroit. . . .
Our presentation features no ads and no campaigns. Instead we will focus on real life stories of creative people who have stuck their necks out to make a difference.
-- Alan Stamm
Earlier at Deadline Detroit:
