Marketing Archives | James Cunliffe

New Skool Community

Leave a Comment / 2D Animation, 3D Animation, A.I, A.I Animation, A.I Art, A.I Technology, Animation, Creative Writing, Design, Directing, Film & Video, Marketing, Music, Producing, Social Media, Tutorials, Video Editing / James Cunliffe

The Hidden Archive: Free Creative Tools, Resources and a New Teleprompter App Over the past few years, I’ve created a slightly ridiculous number of things. Books. Apps. Courses. Music. Videos. Experiments. Resources. Some useful, some strange, and quite a few that sit somewhere in between. One of the things I’ve wanted to do for a while is create a single place where I can bring more of this work together and make it accessible to people who might find it useful. That place is The Hidden Archive Skool community. The idea is to build a growing library of creative tools, resources, courses and experiments for people interested in creativity, technology, storytelling and the changing world of creative work. And there’s already quite a bit inside. Introducing Archive Prompter The newest addition to the Archive is Archive Prompter, a teleprompter app I’ve been developing to solve some of the frustrations I’ve had when recording videos. As someone who spends a lot of time talking to cameras, recording presentations and trying to remember what I was supposed to say next, I wanted something simple, clean and genuinely useful. Archive Prompter has grown from that idea into its own little application, with different ways of displaying and controlling scripts depending on how you like to work. Rather than keeping it tucked away as another personal project, I’ve decided to make Archive Prompter available through The Hidden Archive’s free tier. But it isn’t the only thing available for free. Rob Like a Robot | Free eBook I’ve also added my book Rob Like a Robot to the Archive as a free download. The book explores creativity, automation and the strange relationship between humans and machines — particularly the idea that as technology becomes increasingly capable of doing repetitive work for us, perhaps the goal shouldn’t be to compete with machines by becoming more machine-like ourselves. Instead, we should be asking what technology can free us to do. It was written during an earlier chapter of my own exploration into creativity and technology, but many of the ideas feel even more relevant now as AI rapidly changes the creative landscape. Creative Archetypes You’ll also find the Creative Archetypes app available on the free tier. This was an experiment inspired by the idea that we all approach creativity differently. Some of us explore. Some build. Some challenge. Some nurture. Some obsess over understanding how everything works. Creative Archetypes is designed as a playful way of exploring those different creative instincts and perhaps understanding a little more about how you personally approach the creative process. Between Archive Prompter, Rob Like a Robot and Creative Archetypes, I wanted the free side of the community to contain things that are genuinely useful in their own right. You don’t need to subscribe to a paid tier just to find something worthwhile. Going Deeper Into the Archive For those who want to explore further, there is also a premium tier that opens up more of the work I’ve created over the years. Premium members get access to additional resources connected to Field Notes, my series of pocket investigations exploring ideas around culture, psychology, technology and the stranger corners of human experience. That includes access to the presentation slides I’ve created for the series, allowing you to dig into the research and ideas behind the videos in more detail. There’s also access to some of my older music and albums, projects from different periods of my creative life that haven’t always had an obvious home online. And for people interested in learning the practical side of creative production, premium members can access my 2D Character Animation course. The course explores my process for building and animating 2D characters, taking you through the workflow behind creating characters and bringing them to life through tools such as Photoshop and After Effects. You can also take the first module for free: Building a Creative Library Ultimately, The Hidden Archive isn’t really intended to be a single course or product. I see it more as a library that can continue growing alongside the things I’m already doing. When I build a useful tool, it can go into the Archive. When I create a course, I can add it to the library. When a Field Notes investigation produces interesting research or resources, I can share them there. And when I inevitably disappear down another creative rabbit hole and emerge several weeks later with some strange new experiment, there’s now somewhere for that to live too. I’m also increasingly interested in exploring accessible creative technology, particularly free and open-source tools that can help people create without needing expensive subscriptions or enormous budgets. So over time, I hope The Hidden Archive becomes a useful collection of tools, ideas and knowledge for anyone trying to make things, learn new skills or simply explore where creativity and technology might be heading next. There’s plenty more planned. But for now, the doors to The Hidden Archive are open. You can join the community for free, download Archive Prompter, read Rob Like a Robot, explore Creative Archetypes, and have a look around. Join The Hidden Archive: https://www.skool.com/the-hidden-archive-4393

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Rob Like A Robot: How To Be Creative When A.I Does It Better

Leave a Comment / A.I, A.I Art, A.I Technology, Animation, Automatic1111, Film & Video, Gaming, Marketing, Music, Social Media, Stable Diffusion, Tutorials / James Cunliffe

After a year of deep research into artificial intelligence and its impacts on human creativity, I’m proud to announce the release of my book “Rob Like a Robot: How to Be Creative When AI Does It Better.” This 244-page guide represents the culmination of everything I’ve learned about generative AI and how we can use it to augment our creative potential. The genesis of this book was in early 2023, when tools like DALL-E, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion first captured the public imagination. As a multimedia artist and content creator myself, I was fascinated but also apprehensive about what these new technologies meant for human creativity. Throughout the year, I dove headfirst into testing these AI systems, reading extensively, building online resources via YouTube, and writing up my thoughts and findings into this book. My goal was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current state of AI and use that knowledge to help fellow creators navigate this technology. What I’ve come to realise is that AI is not a threat to human creativity, but rather an opportunity. When used thoughtfully, it can free us from repetitive tasks and allow us to focus on the parts of the creative process that require emotional depth, imagination, and a human perspective. The book aims to show readers how to view AI as a collaborative tool that enhances their unique creative voice rather than replacing it. In Rob Like a Robot, I guide the reader through the exhilarating world of generative AI using a mix of storytelling, concrete examples, and philosophical insights. We explore leading tools like Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and ChatGPT and see how they can augment photography, visual art, writing, music, game development, and more. But I also devote significant attention to the ethical implications of AI, looking at issues like copyright, deepfakes, and dehumanisation. The aim is not just to marvel at the technology but to responsibly integrate it into our creative lives. Rob Like a Robot also draws on lessons from creative luminaries throughout history to provide timeless advice on nurturing imagination. I share my own trials and tribulations in shaping a fulfilling creative career. And I speculate about the future of human creativity as AI becomes more sophisticated. Ultimately, the book is about discovering your unique creative voice and using technology to express it to its fullest potential. For anyone looking to understand this AI-powered creative revolution we’re living through, Rob Like a Robot is an indispensable guide. It’s a roadmap to help artists, writers, designers, and creators of all kinds collaborate with AI in their quest for self-expression and self-actualization. I hope it will inspire people to think deeply about the relationship between technology and creativity and to pursue innovation with ethics and humanity in mind. If AI is our future, let us shape it with care to uplift the human spirit. Want to know more about it you can read more here.

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Creative Archetypes | Helping Guide Creatives Into the Future

Leave a Comment / A.I, A.I Art, A.I Technology, Gaming, Marketing, Tutorials / James Cunliffe

This has been a passion project that I’ve had under wraps for the last 4 months. After studying C# and a dozen tutorials regarding the Unity Game Engine. I felt it was time to take a crack at my own project. Now, I have a tendency to over do the scope on personal projects, so I decided to reign it in with something U.I focused, and a quiz app seemed like the simplest thing to go after as a beginner. But I was determined not to make something without value. I don’t know if you’ve already heard but, A.I is not only going to destroy the world but wreck the lives of creative workers, at least that’s the narrative that’s pulling in views at the moment. I’m trying to take a more optimistic approach with A.I, treating it as a tool to help us create bigger and better things faster. This app is a prime example of that. I have heavily used ChatGPT when creating the Creative Archetypes. I won’t shy away from that. I’ve bounced ideas off it, tweaked copy so it reads nicer and most importantly as a search engine to help me code the thing. I know the very basics of C#, without ChatGPT I would no doubt still be googling and searching forums for answers on how to piece together the main menu. But to get back to the point of the app. I wanted to combine the functionality of a Likert scale quiz with the premise of creative personas. Having studied psychology and being generally interested in the differences and potential of the human mind, I wanted to tie that in with the field of creativity. Thus, in my own search for meaning and a desire to help others as well as myself, the Creative Archetypes was born. I’ll likely revisit this over time if it gains any momentum, for the time being it’s helped me understand Unity better. I do however sincerely hope anyone that uses it will learn something new about themselves, which will help them on their own creative journey. You can check the app out on Itch.io or the Google Play Store.

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Diving into the Wes Anderson A.I Meme Phenomenon with a Twist

Leave a Comment / 2D Animation, A.I, A.I Animation, A.I Art, A.I Technology, Animation, Film & Video, Gaming, Marketing, Producing, Social Media, Stable Diffusion, Video Editing / James Cunliffe

Over the past week, the internet has been flooded with videos parodying Wes Anderson’s unique filmmaking style, transposed onto pre-existing franchises. High-profile parodies include a Star Wars homage by Curious Refuge and a Harry Potter spin by PanoramaChannel. The prior of these creations not only went viral due the influence of its LA-based marketer/ creator, but also because Anderson’s quirky aesthetics harmonise well with the constraints of current A.I-driven art tools. Despite their popularity, A.I-driven creations like these remain a hotbed for debate. Fear and excitement run rampant in the creative sector, sparking contentious discussions about the future of human labour in a world increasingly dominated by A.I. I recently saw this tension firsthand in LA, where writers were picketing outside Universal Studios, expressing fears that cutting-edge technology like ChatGPT could eventually replace them. While I empathise with these concerns, my experience in the creative sector has taught me one immutable truth: adaptation is key. Our industry moves at a relentless pace, and anyone who fails to keep up risks being left behind. Thus, regardless of personal preferences, we need to acquaint ourselves with emerging tools if we want to stay relevant in the creative world. With that in mind, I decided to dive into the Wes Anderson A.I meme craze and craft my own version. So with the help of various A.I tools I created a Pokemon parody called ‘The Grand Isle of Snorlax’ Here’s my process: Crafting a Script with ChatGPT The first phase involved creating a script using ChatGPT. Over several conversations, I fed the A.I with themes and ideas, iteratively refining the output, and handpicking a list of actors who might be humorously suited for the characters. Image Generation with Midjourney Next, I employed Midjourney to generate images. I hadn’t used Midjourney before, but I was pleasantly surprised by the striking results. While the images still required a bit of Photoshop and cleaning up for a professional setting, they were quite sufficient for creating an engaging internet meme. High-Resolution Refinement with Stable Diffusion and Photoshop As the default Midjourney output was 720p, I decided to upscale the images to 4K using Stable Diffusion. This enhancement not only sharpened the images but also helped facilitate the use of Photoshop’s ‘Select and Mask’ feature. With this tool, I could separate the characters from the backgrounds more efficiently than the pen tool, significantly reducing the time spent on isolating components that would later be animated in After Effects. Animating Stills with D-ID Wanting to bring life to my stills without investing too much time, I turned to D-ID. With D-ID, you input an image and a silent 5-second mp3 file, and the tool creates a stylized motion effect. Although you don’t have much control over the output, it serves its purpose for quick meme-style videos. D-ID again doesn’t output at the highest resolution but this was a quick fix in DaVinci Resolve. A.I Voiceover Magic with Elevenlabs Finally, I used Elevenlabs for voice overs. It was my first experience with their service, and I was taken back by the improvements in A.I voiceovers. Although the service may pose a threat to traditional voice actors, the ability to make edits and perform multiple takes makes it a powerful tool. When paired with Adobe’s voice enhancer tool, it’s easy to forget that you’re not listening to a human voice. Enriching the Experience with Assets & Music from Envato Market & Artlist Many Wes Anderson A.I memes tend to overlook a key component of dynamic storytelling: an evolving musical landscape. A common pitfall in these memes is to ride out a single track from beginning to end. However, seasoned editors know that well-curated sound design, skillfully mixed SFX, and varied music greatly enhance the video’s energy and keep the audience engrossed in the narrative. Thus, for my own meme, I decided to source a more diverse range of stock assets and music from Envato Market and Artlist. Capturing Wes Anderson’s Colour Palette Another element that seems to elude many of the A.I memes is an authentic colour grade that emulates Wes Anderson’s iconic visual style. I found the perfect solution for this in Premiere Pro’s Lumetri Color panel, with its Color Wheel and Match tool. This feature lets you borrow the colour palette from a still frame and apply it to your image. To truly capture the essence of Wes Anderson, I used a scene from the Grand Budapest Hotel as my colour reference and cranked up the Faded FIlm setting. Reflecting on A.I’s Disruptive Potential There’s no denying that A.I will drastically reshape every industry it permeates. It raises profound questions about our very human identity in a future where robots can outperform us in nearly every domain. I spent close to 18 hours on this project from start to finish, I can see a future where much better pieces of media are created in a push of a button. In the entertainment sector, we’re about to witness a seismic shift similar to the advent of social media. The ways in which we consume and interact with digital entertainment are on the brink of a transformative evolution, for people working in the creative sector this is terrifying. We’re all worried about our livelihoods but for the average consumer, there’s about to be a content golden age where they’ll finally be able to create at the same level as the pros. Navigating Licensing in the Age of A.I The intricate entanglement of A.I with human input necessitates a thoughtful approach to licensing and copyright regulations. Some argue for stricter oversight, others propose more explicit copyright guidelines, considering that much of A.I’s current foundation is built upon prior human creativity. Presently, most A.I memes skirt around copyright infringement due to being parody and the clear markers of artificiality, aligning them with ‘fair use’ regulations. However, as the technology evolves, the distinctions might not remain as overt, muddying the waters around intellectual property rights. Unfortunately, concrete solutions to this impending

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Why Videogamedunkey’s BIGMODE Games Publishing Company Will Succeed

Leave a Comment / Gaming, Marketing / James Cunliffe

Video game YouTuber Dunkey has made a name for himself in the gaming industry with his humorous and insightful commentary on the latest titles. With 7.29 million subscribers and a dedicated following, it’s no surprise that his new venture, BIGMODE Games, has already gained a significant amount of attention. But what makes BIGMODE Games set to succeed? For starters, the company’s first title, ‘Animal Well’, created by Billy Basso, looks to be a promising addition to the metroidvania genre. With unique gameplay mechanics and a fresh, rarely seen environment, ‘Animal Well’ has the potential to stand out in an oversaturated market. But beyond the quality of their games, Dunkey’s reputation as a trusted and well-respected voice in the gaming community will likely bring a level of credibility to BIGMODE Games. His opinions have always been highly valued by his fans, and it’s likely that this will translate to trust in the titles published by BIGMODE Games. Of course, some may worry about Dunkey’s ability to critique other games fairly now that some may be competitors to those published by BIGMODE Games. However, it’s important to remember that Dunkey has always been transparent and honest in his reviews and commentary, and there’s no reason to expect that to change simply because he’s now a publisher. Overall, with a strong first title and the backing of a highly respected and trusted figure in the gaming industry, BIGMODE Games looks set to have a bright future. Dunkey’s dedicated fan base and his reputation as a reliable source of gaming insights make it likely that the company will see great success in the industry.

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10 tips for creating engaging social media content

Leave a Comment / Marketing, Social Media / James Cunliffe

As we all know, social media is a crucial part of any business’s marketing strategy. With billions of users on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, it’s more important than ever to make sure your social media content is engaging and effectively connects with your target audience. Here are 10 tips for creating social media content that will help your business stand out: Know your audience: Make sure you understand who your target audience is and what they’re interested in. This will help you create content that resonates with them and helps you achieve your marketing goals. Keep it simple: Don’t try to cram too much information into a single social media post. Instead, focus on one key message or concept and use concise, easy-to-understand language. Use eye-catching visuals: Social media is a visual medium, so make sure your content includes attractive and relevant images or videos. This will help your content stand out and capture the attention of your audience. Mix things up: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of content, such as live videos, polls, or interactive quizzes. This will keep things fresh and help you connect with your audience in new and exciting ways. Keep it current: Stay up-to-date on industry news and trends, and use this information to create timely, relevant content. This will help you stay top of mind with your audience and show that you’re an authority in your field. Use hashtags: Hashtags are a great way to increase the visibility of your content and connect with users who are interested in similar topics. Do some research to find relevant hashtags to include in your social media posts. Engage with your audience: Social media is a two-way conversation, so make sure to respond to comments and questions from your followers. This will help you build a community around your brand and show that you value your audience’s input. Use analytics: Use tools like Facebook Insights or Twitter Analytics to track the performance of your social media content. This will help you understand what’s working and what’s not, so you can adjust your strategy accordingly. Have fun: Social media is supposed to be enjoyable, so don’t be afraid to inject some personality and humour into your content. This will help you build a strong, emotional connection with your audience. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating engaging, effective social media content that helps your business stand out.

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The importance of crafting a clear and compelling message for your marketing campaign

Leave a Comment / Marketing / James Cunliffe

When it comes to marketing, crafting a clear and compelling message is essential for success. Whether you’re promoting a product, service, or idea, having a clear and compelling message is what will make your marketing campaign stand out and get noticed by your target audience. Here’s a look at the importance of crafting a clear and compelling message for your marketing campaign: Helps to grab attention: One of the main benefits of crafting a clear and compelling message is that it helps to grab the attention of your target audience. By having a strong, attention-grabbing message, you can cut through the noise and get your message noticed by the people you’re trying to reach. Increases the chances of conversion: In addition to grabbing attention, a clear and compelling message also increases the chances of conversion. Whether you’re trying to get people to buy a product, sign up for a service, or take some other action, having a clear and compelling message can help to increase the chances that they’ll take the desired action. Builds credibility: A clear and compelling message can also help to build credibility for your brand or company. By having a message that is well thought out and effectively communicates your value proposition, you can establish yourself as a credible and trustworthy source of information or products. Enhances your brand: Finally, crafting a clear and compelling message can also enhance your brand and help to differentiate you from the competition. By having a strong, unique message, you can stand out in the marketplace and create a memorable brand image. Crafting a clear and compelling message is essential for the success of any marketing campaign. By grabbing attention, increasing the chances of conversion, building credibility, and enhancing your brand, a clear and compelling message can help you achieve your marketing goals.

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How to create a social media marketing strategy

Leave a Comment / Marketing, Social Media / James Cunliffe

As the saying goes, “fail to plan, plan to fail.” This is especially true when it comes to social media marketing. Without a clear strategy in place, your efforts on social media are likely to be scattered and ineffective. So, how do you create a social media marketing strategy that delivers results? Here are a few steps to follow: Define your goals: What do you hope to achieve with your social media marketing efforts? Do you want to increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, or generate leads? Clearly defining your goals will help you create a targeted strategy that is more likely to succeed. Know your audience: Who are you trying to reach with your social media marketing? Understanding the demographics, interests, and behaviours of your target audience will help you create content that resonates with them. Choose the right platforms: Not all social media platforms are created equal. Some are better suited for certain types of businesses or industries. Research the various platforms to determine which ones are most likely to be used by your target audience. Create a content calendar: Planning out your content in advance will help you ensure that you’re consistently posting fresh, relevant content. A content calendar can also help you identify any gaps in your content and come up with ideas to fill them. Engage with your audience: Social media is a two-way conversation, so make sure to respond to comments and messages from your followers. This helps you build a community around your brand and shows that you value your audience’s input. Analyse your results: Use tools like Facebook Insights or Twitter Analytics to track the performance of your social media efforts. This will help you understand what’s working and what’s not, so you can adjust your strategy accordingly. By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating a successful social media marketing strategy. A clear and well-executed plan can help your business reach new heights, just like it has for countless other successful companies. Don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works best for your brand. With a little bit of planning and effort, you can use social media to effectively connect with your target audience and achieve your marketing goals.

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How to create a marketing campaign that resonates with your target audience

Leave a Comment / Marketing / James Cunliffe

As a business owner or marketer, it’s important to create marketing campaigns that effectively reach and resonate with your target audience. But how do you go about doing that? Here are some tips for creating a marketing campaign that resonates with your target audience: Identify your target audience: Before you can create a marketing campaign that resonates with your target audience, you need to know who they are. Take the time to research and define your target audience, including demographics such as age, gender, location, and interests. This will help you create messaging and content that speaks directly to them. Understand their needs and pain points: Once you know who your target audience is, you need to understand what they need and what problems they are trying to solve. This will help you create a campaign that addresses their specific needs and speaks to their pain points. Create compelling messaging: Once you know who your target audience is and what they need, you can craft messaging that speaks directly to them. Use language and messaging that resonates with your target audience and addresses their needs and pain points. Use the right channels: To reach your target audience, you need to use the channels that they are most active on. This could include social media, email marketing, content marketing, or paid advertising. Identify the channels that your target audience uses most and allocate your marketing budget accordingly. Test and optimise: No marketing campaign is perfect on the first try. It’s important to test and optimise your marketing efforts to ensure that you are reaching and resonating with your target audience. Use A/B testing and analytics to see what works and what doesn’t, and make adjustments as needed. By following these tips, you can create a marketing campaign that effectively reaches and resonates with your target audience. Remember to continually test and optimise your efforts to ensure that you are meeting the needs of your audience and achieving your marketing goals.

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