 |
|
|
|||||
Peter Berg doesnt need to do Super Bowl commercials. Yet the award-winning director helmed two ads during this year’s big game. First, was a fun NFL spot advocating for varsity girls flag football. And second, was water bottle brand Cirkuls first-ever trip to the Super Bowl, starring Adam Devine. The commercial diversion comes not long after the release of Bergs hit Netflix limited series American Primeval, which dropped on January 9, and quickly hit the top of the streamers ratings. In its first week, it had 1.25 billion viewing minutes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NFL (@nfl) Berg has built an incredible Hollywood career, producing, writing, and directing hit films and TV series, from Friday Night Lights to Battleship, Lone Survivor, The Kingdom, Patriots Day, and more. Before he was a director, Berg was an actor, best known for his role on the drama Chicago Hope. Then in 1998, Berg directed his first feature, Very Bad Things. Over the years, in between projects Berg has also regularly directed high-profile spots for brands. In 2011, it was an epic Call of Duty ad starring Jonah Hill called The Vet & The N00b. In 2019, both his Super Bowl efforts finished in the Top 5 of USA Todays Ad Meter: The NFLs 100-Year Game was the most popular spot of the night, and Verizons The Coach Who Wouldnt Be Here clocked in at No. 5. That same year, Berg launched Film 47, a companion commercial production company to his Film 44 production company, and his unscripted production company. Glenn Cole, founder and chairman of ad agency 72andsunny, has worked with Berg on many of those commercials. Cole says Berg has a great sense of what broad audiences find most appealing, and focuses on the moments that will resonate the most. One of the things I admire about him the most is how he maintains the respect of his peers across Hollywood, says Cole. He is seen as a rare authentic person in a business of bullshitters, and operates with an uncommon generosity of spirit. He is brutally honest about the work, but he is kind with the people around him which, in my experience, usually leads to creating the best work. [Photo: Courtesy of 72andsunny] In the wake of American Primevals success, and the buzz of two more Super Bowl ads under his belt, I jumped on a Zoom with Berg to chat about his creative process, why he still does advertising, and how his newest project embodies how these worlds can seamlessly collide. Why Advertising After you remove the paycheck from the equation, it can be hard to understand why big name film directors still do advertising. But talk to enough of them, and its clear they find something else interesting about the process. Some do it in order to get in quick reps to experiment with techniques, lenses, and other hardware, all under a tight production timeline. Ads can take days, while film and TV can drag on for months. Cole says Berg works incredibly fast, translating his handheld filming style (which he dug into on his recent appearance on the SmartLess podcast) to commercial work. The style allows actors to focus on what they are doing, not where they are doing it. They don’t need to hit marks, they just need to perform. For Flag 50, it allowed to us to do a three-day shoot in two days, says Cole. In a world where budgets are getting smaller and smaller, this is becoming more and more valuable. It’s like being in creative development while filming the shots. That can be scary, but I find it invigorating. The result is unexpected moments and performances that you can’t get from fastidious planning.” NFL chief marketing officer Tim Ellis says that the key to the types of stories Berg tells is emotion. “Every choice he makes in the creative process is about heightening the emotional journey viewers are taken along,” says Ellis. “Elevated emotion is the thing that makes any piece of work, whether its a film or an ad, stick with a person, and its why we keep turning to him for some of our biggest projects of the year.” Berg says that hes always loved doing commercials, and theyve helped build his problem-solving skills that translates to film and TV. But experience across different media doesnt always translate for all directors. Berg says that hes talked to a lot of top directors over the years, and one of the most common complaints about ads is the need for collaboration. They’d say, When I’m doing a film, it’s just kind of me. I can pretty much do whatever I want. And occasionally, you know, the boss of the studio might call and say, what the hell are you doing? But generally, you’re free to do what you want, says Berg. What I say is that if you want to do commercials, you have to understand that it’s different. You have to collaborate; you have to listen to a bunch of creatives from the agency, you have to listen to even more people. If the client wants to come onto the set and have an idea, you have to accept that. If you resist that, you will lose. It’s not possible to win that fight. You will just end up very unhappy. One of the surprising benefits is you learn to listen to other people better because you have to. And I found that at once I learned how to kind of get over, you know, ‘Hey man, don’t tell me what to do!’ That sometimes they were suggesting actually good ideas. And it opened me up and I think made me a better collaborator in general. [Photo: Courtesy of 72andsunny] Berg’s Creative process So, how does a guy like Berg jump from a violent, American frontier period drama, to an uplifting NFL Super Bowl ad, to now starting a film adaptation of Buzz Bissingers 2022 bestseller
Category:
E-Commerce
If youre having a farewell party for a beloved colleague, dont cry too hard into your cake. Theres a decent chance theyll be back. According to a Harvard Business Review study, 28% of new hires were boomerang hires, the term for someone whod resigned within the last three years only to return. Mindi Cox, chief people officer for O.C. Tanner, provider of employee recognition and reward solutions, falls into the boomerang employee category herself. As a hiring manager, shes also done her fair share of hiring former employees, too. People often leave a job because there’s an opportunity that’s too good to turn down, or they have a life season, like I had, and need to step away from work, she says. The same employees might become homesick for a culture that they’ve left and have discovered that maybe the grass wasn’t as green as they thought. Or that the priority of the pay, or the title, or the opportunity they were chasing didn’t outweigh their coworker relationships or the care that they felt in a previous workplace. There’s all kinds of reasons people move around and return, but I think [boomerang employees] are an overlooked workforce. What boomerangs bring back Having an employee boomerang is a good sign for the company, says Angela Jackson, author of The Win-Win Workplace: How Thriving Employees Drive Bottom-Line Success. Sometimes, the right people step off for a while to grow, gain new skills, and return even stronger, bringing fresh perspectives, external best practices, and a renewed commitment to the companys mission, she says. Their return signals to current employees that the company is a place worth coming back to, reinforcing a culture of mutual respect and growth. Returning can bring benefits to the company, the first of which is much simpler onboarding, says Carolyn Walker, global HR director at Tenth Revolution Group, a tech talent provider. Someone familiar with the business is far more likely to hit the ground running and know the nuances and quirks that can otherwise take time to get up to speed with, she says. Plus, in those vital first few months where a new recruit is forming an opinion, good or bad, about you, a boomerang employee is far less likely to form a negative impression. Boomerang employees also return with fresh perspectives, says Nathaalie Carey, chief human resources officer at the logistics real estate company Prologis. Having gained new skills and experiences elsewhere can strengthen your teams, she says. And boomerangs send an encouraging message to employees. We have a client that welcomes boomerangs back with a special pin that goes on their badge, says Cox. It can break the ice for someone who may not know their career story. They might say, I see that you left and came back. Tell me about that. Sometimes boomerangs are your best evangelists about all the reasons to stay. Leaving and returning also means they solved the “what ifs about leaving, adds Cox. We never want to say, Don’t talk about your experience, she says. Theyre back, which means your company is the better spot for them. Leaving the Door Open Since boomerangs can bring value back to your organization, its important to stay in touch. Depending on how closely you may have worked with them, Carey recommends touchpoints by personal email or text or through professional networking, such as trade organizations or digital tools like LinkedIn. Many times, employees who leave tend to stay in the same industry, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to stay connected and provide value to one another, whether its for knowledge sharing, forging partnerships, or working together, she says. Companies can also maintain formal alumni networks, such as creating a LinkedIn group. Jackson says a great example is the consulting firm McKinsey, with thousands of members worldwide. They actively stay connected with former employees through the McKinsey Alumni Center, which offers networking events, job boards, thought leadership content, and even investment opportunities in alumni-led startups, she says. Exit interviews are an important tool for nurturing a boomerang employee. Cox asks her recruiters to be mindful of people they were sad to see go. If there is an open position, they reach out, saying We have this position and immediately thought of you. It may be something you wish was in your growth path but just wasn’t open at the time. Before we hire for this, we want to put it on your radar. Always be supportive of an employee who leaves to further their career, says Cox. Too often employees will say, I thought you’d be upset with me, she says. People want to know that they’re cheered on as people. […] We want them to know that we’re interested in them as individuals. Beware of the Drawbacks Rehiring isnt always a win-win, says Jackson. Just because someone was a great fit in the past doesnt mean theyre the right fit for the future, she says. Nostalgia can cloud judgment. Companies should focus on whether a returning employee adds new value, not just whether they were once successful in the role. Theres also a risk of perceived unfairness. If a boomerang hire comes back at a higher salary or with special treatment, it can send the message that loyalty is undervalued, says Jackson. The best boomerang employee hiring strategies focus on mutualistic relationships where the benefits for both sides are clear, says Jackson. Companies should be clear about how their culture, expectations, and priorities have changed. And returning employees should bring fresh insights, not just familiarity. A great rehire isnt just picking up where they left off; theyre leveling up. The main thing for employers to do is to have a culture that people will get homesick for, says Cox. Invite them to decide,this is the best place for me, she says. If they don’t stay, at least be somewhere that they’ll miss that will bring them back.
Category:
E-Commerce
If it werent for the white lines on the grass, you would be forgiven to think this building is a perfectly quiet hotel surrounded by a field of grass in the middle of the Norwegian forest. After all, most soccer training grounds are ugly structures whose sole purpose is to provide infrastructure for people to kick a ball around. But this isn’t just a place to kick a ball. These facilities, designed by the internationally renowned architecture firm Snhetta, aim to redefine the very concept of a training ground, transforming it into a vibrant hub for the entire football community. Our approach to sustainability is deeply rooted in a holistic perspective that considers environmental impact and fosters community and inclusion, says Frank Denis Foray, Snhetta senior architect and project leader, about the philosophy behind the proposal for the Norwegian National Football team’s (NFF) stunning new training grounds. [Photo: Courtesy of Snhetta] Snhetta, known for its ability to seamlessly blend architecture with nature, has conceived of two proposals for the NFF, located in the Norwegian cities of Asker and Ski, just outside of Oslo. Both designs pay homage to Norway’s rich Nordic heritage, drawing inspiration from traditional architectural forms like the Long House, a communal dwelling central to Old Norse villages. Over a thousand years ago, the Long House was the heart of the communitya gathering place where people from all walks of life, from kings to farmers, young and old, came together to share stories, experiences, and traditions, Foray tells me over email. This enduring spirit of unity and togetherness is at the core of our design, ensuring that the new facility is not just a sports venue but a meeting place for the whole football community. [Photo: Courtesy of Snhetta] The Asker grounds renderings reveal three large terraced fields set over a gentle slope. At the top, a two-level glass and wooden structure appears to grow organically from the land. On the last levels grass roof, a large circular opening gives light to a giant tree that dominates a courtyard, allowing gentle sunlight and shade to get into the inner space of the building. The terraced fields are joined by large steps that serve as bleachers for spectators and allow people to move up and down with ease. The Ski grounds renders show the soccer fields on a level ground, flanked by a large long building that gently curves, made in renewable wood. Solar panels adorn the roofs, feeding the facility. Snhetta says that beyond the pretty and soul-calming zen, the grounds have been designed to be functional, state-of-the-art spaces for athletes of all levels. Foray explains that the facility will be a public space catering to athletes of all levels and backgrounds, from juniors to the elite, creating a new home for NFF that encourages sharing, inclusivity, and connection. Beyond these training centers, the facilities also incorporate administrative offices, a sports high school, and external offices for the Norwegian Football Association, consolidating the NFF’s operations into a single, cohesive campus. [Photo: Courtesy of Snhetta] The collaboration between Snhetta and the NFF is not new. The firm previously worked with the federation on renovations to the interior of Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, the national stadium. Completed in 2022, this project included upgrades to the player’s dressing rooms, tunnel, and other key areas. As Snhetta describes it, the stadiums revamped facilities were designed as a journey through the emotions of a football player, incorporating elements of Norwegian football history and fostering a sense of team unity. This prior experience laid the groundwork for the current training ground project. Our collaboration with the Norwegian Football Association (NFF) stemmed from previous work we had done for them, Foray says. They approached us with three potential sites for a new facility. Our task was to analyze and refine the options to identify the most suitable location. Through a detailed evaluation process and creative workshops, Snhetta worked with the NFF to narrow the choices down to the two most promising locations: Asker and Ski. [Photo: Courtesy of Snhetta] While the Asker proposal remains in the conceptual stage, the Ski facility is moving forward. The Ski facility is progressing steadily, with the first phase of the new regulatory plan already in motion, Foray tells me. While some details are still being finalized, the NFF anticipates the project will be completed within the next five years. These training grounds promise to be more than just a place where athletes hone their skills. They are envisioned as a symbol of unity, a celebration of Norwegian heritage, and a testament to the power of thoughtful, sustainable design. It doesnt hurt that they may just be the most beautiful football training grounds you’ll ever see.
Category:
E-Commerce
At risk of stating the obvious, farming is physically challenging work that takes a toll on the human body. Over the years, we have turned to various forms of technology to amplify the efforts of a single person, starting with a single plow behind a mule or ox, progressing to a motorized tractor, 700+ horsepower combine harvesters, and now robotic weeders and autonomous flying drones that handle a range of tasks. But what about the human body? Is it destined simply to be replaced by machines? The fact is that people remain a weak link in modern farming. According to some sources, agriculture is considered the most hazardous occupation globally. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) accounting for 93% of occupational injuries. And of these, lower-back pain is the most frequent, with shoulder injuries coming in second. Exoskeletons for the Assist Exoskeletons are devices that are worn on the body to augment the natural capabilities of a human worker. Once confined to the world of science fictionwho can forget Ripleys exoskeleton-enhanced final battle in the movie Aliensthese have now become practical for use in many industries. There are two major categories of exos (as they are known in the industry): powered and passive. Powered exos use motors to provide additional force for certain actions, such as lifting objects or wielding heavy tools overhead. These tend to be complexand expensivebits of machinery that require recharging and regular maintenance. While these may be suited for specific manufacturing tasks, they are typically beyond what farmers typically need or can afford for the foreseeable future. Passive exos are the other class of devices. These take the energy created from one motionsuch as bending overand then release that energy to the wearer for the opposite motion, such as lifting an item from the ground to waist level. These passive devices do not require the expensive motors, wiring, batteries, and sensors found in powered exos. Instead, they use a variety of materials to store and release energy: springs, torsion bars, gas pistons, elastic bands, and flexible beams. Some designs rely on a rigid frame while others are made from fabric and other flexible materials. According to some sources, current passive exos can cost from $2,500 to more than $14,000, depending on design and which parts of the body are supported. Designs vary based on the type of targeted task. For example, lifting boxes of produce could require one sort of assistance, while reaching overhead to harvest fruit could require something different. But can they actually help farmers and farmworkers? The Benefits Many studies have shown clear benefits from wearing exos in other industries such as warehouse work and manufacturing. According to Karl Zelik, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Vanderbilt University, one longitudinal study of warehouse workers tracked more than 281,000 hours of work while wearing exos. Historical data would predict 10.5 back strain injuries over that period, but the study revealed that there were none. Not as much research has been done in farm settings, but the existing studies point to clear benefits. For example, one test of an upper limb exo in orchard management tasks reduced muscle activity by up to 40%. Reduced muscle activity results in less fatigue and strain, which in turn lowers the risk of injury. Another study gave a back support exo to farmers for their daily operations and several of the subjects cited increased productivity by reducing fatigue. Many of the subjects also reported feeling more protected when shoveling. In some cases, the exo helped them maintain proper posture when lifting, which can reduce the risk of lower back injuries. Sarah Ballini-Ross is co-owner of Rossallini Farm in Oregon; she and her husband sometimes use exoskeletons in the work on their diversified operation. She is also an expert in exo technology and founder of Evolving Innovation, a consulting firm that provides safety technology and ergonomic solutions services. Ballini-Ross said that fatigue reduction is an important factor in their use of exos. A lot of the farmwork really involves that repetitive lifting from ground to waist level, so my exo is the first thing I grab when it comes to doing hay. Other tasks where she wears it is on inventory days when we unload a couple of tons of 50- to 70-pound boxes. Not a Cure-All In spite of the benefits, exos are not the solution for every case. Not all passive exos are the same, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some exos can restrict movement to enforce proper lifting posture, which can reduce injury. However, other designs might not have this feature, which means that the worker could place themselves in an awkward or dangerous position that could lead to injury. For example, the same feature that enforces proper posture when lifting might restrict movement that requires rotating the body, such as when shoveling. A warehouse worker is likely to do a similar task over and over all day, but a farmworker often has to rapidly switch from one task to another. Even passive exos can be bulky and awkward to maneuver in during daily activities. Farmers in one study cited the fact that they can make it difficult to get in and out of the cab of tractors and other farm machinery. And having to take the exo on and off throughout the day can take up significant time. Most passive exos have at least some fabric, but this fabric can get soiledespecially from sweat on hot days or during strenuous activitieswhich can make them unpleasant to wear. Most also include Velcro-style hook-and-loop fasteners. These fasteners make it easy to adjust the fit of the device for workers of different sizes, and to accommodate the presence of layers of clothing. But those hooks and loops can also grab foreign materials, impairing their functionality and appearance. Ballini-Ross noted, I use my exo when trimming the hooves of our sheep, and hair and straw gets stuck in the fabric. So when I take my exo to a presentation or a conference, I have to think twice because maybe Im bringing a little too much of the farm with me. Obstacles to Adoption Education may be the biggest barrier to more widespread adoption of exos in agriculture; many farmers simply arent aware of the products and their potential benefits. Close behind comes the question of expense. Even passive exos can be costly, and nlike heavy farm equipment, the manufacturers are not set up to provide payment plans or other terms to ease the financial strain. But the problems go beyond those two obvious factors. For example, many farms rely on a transient workforce. A small farm does not have the resources to stock a full range of exos to meet the needs of different body sizes. Furthermore, different tasks could require different exo designs. Harvesting or weeding some low-growing crops require bending and stooping, which needs a different type of support than lifting boxes of produce or shoveling. In addition, a farmworkers needs vary with the season. Providing exos for these workers for just a week or two may not be feasible. Another part of the problem is that the exo industry has not yet focused on the needs of agricultural workers. The low-hanging fruit is in other industries, such as warehouse logistics, construction, and manufacturing. These applications have narrowly defined tasks with lots of repetition, and often involve large corporations with the capital to invest in new technology. To really be embraced in agriculture, exo manufacturers would need to create exos that are modified for farm work. For example, one study found that a typical exo requires adjustable straps that go around the thighs. This design blocks access to pants pockets where farmworkers keep tools such as pruning clippers where they can reach them easily. But with little demand for agricultural exos, companies have little financial incentive to design around these problems. While exoskeletons have proven their value in terms of reducing workloads and related injuries for some farming tasks, significant obstacles remain. But as farmers become more aware of the benefits, as the costs continue to come down, and as manufacturers respond more to the specific needs of agricultural tasks, we can likely expect to see more exos down on the farm. Alfred Poor, Ambrook Research This article was originally published by Ambrook Research, an editorially independent publication backed by Ambrook, a company making sustainability profitable in natural resource industries, starting by providing accounting and financial management software for farmers.
Category:
E-Commerce
Kai Cenat is launching a streaming university. Cenat announced his plans during a February 13 stream, explaining how he wants to help streamers both big and small learn from his success. Im going to rent out a university over a course of a weekend. It will be streaming university. Okay? Im going to rent it out, Cenat said during his Twitch stream. Im going to put out enrolls and applications of people to enroll into the university, no matter if youre big, no matter if youre a small streamer, you can stream the entire weekend. Cenat will install himself as school principal. Just like a real university, there will be dorms; unlike a real university, there are plans for major influencers to act as instructors. Cenat said during his February 13 stream that wants the likes of MrBeast and Mark Rober involved. In terms of the classes and sh*t, for example, I would love to do some sh*t where, science, Mark Rober is the professor for that day, and hes doing crazy experiments for everybodys stream, he said. Say there is a financial class, MrBeast in that motherf**ker. While anyone is welcome to apply, that doesnt mean admission is guaranteed. But those denied the first time round are welcome to re-enroll for next semester, Cenat said. While some online commenters were excited for the chance to learn from one of the most-followed Twitch streamers, others were dubious. Two-day crash course on how to break the internet and your sleep schedule.. . . . one person posted on X. So just a more expensive clown college? wrote another. Over the last few years, Cenat has become renowned for his record-breaking streams on Twitch and YouTube that reach millions of viewers. Cenat The 23-year-old ranked No. 24 on Forbess list of the top-earning creators in 2024, with estimated earnings of $8.5 million. The live-streaming space has been seeing significant growth in recent years, both in the format itself and the number of people tuning in. In the last quarter of 2024, live-streaming viewership reached 8.5 billion hours watched, a 12% year-over-year increase, as reported by marketing firm Stream Hatchet. Who needs four years of college and tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt?
Category:
E-Commerce
Sites : [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] next »