Wish You Weren’t Here

Got this email yesterday (no kidding):

“Hi, (name removed). I'm an art director at Ogilvy Johannesburg. I stumbled across your beautiful illustrations and I would love to use your artwork for a campaign we are working on. I'm working on a campaign for a new show called Terra Nova.

"Terra Nova means new earth. It's a place for humankind to start over again, a new beginning so to speak. It's a beautiful place filled with dinosaurs, waterfalls, lush forests- a perfect paradise, however things are not what they seem.

"For the campaign we are using the postcard device the whole "Wish you were here", those postcards you received on holiday from exotic locations, except ours are along the lines of 'Wish you weren't here'.

"Our postcards cards depict Utopia, where dinosaurs and children play on the beaches, rainbows fill the perfect blue skies, gorgeous sunsets. However if you look closely all is not what it appers to be, the children aren't playing with the creatures, they're actually running away from them.

"There are a few things we still have to work out that's why I would love you to work with us. I have attached a rough layout, I have combined two of your illustrations in this comp. If you have any questions give me a shout."

Hi, (name removed),
You asked me to give you a shout, so: “WHADDAYA OUTAYAMIND? SURE, I’D BE GLAD TO RIP OFF MY OWN IDEA TO HELP ADVERTISE YOUR DUMB TV SHOW!

Wait....But first I’ve got an idea for you! How about a whole new TV show? It’s called “E.T.-Zilla.” It’s about a fun, happy world where young advertising executives work away in high-rise buildings in Johannesburg, never realizing that just outside there’s a Godzilla-like alien.


This creature starts out as a cute, huggable extra-terrestrial. But it drinks some radioactive water and becomes a giant angry monster that shoots fire from its fingertips. All the ad men (and women) are running away for their lives. Then after E.T.-Zilla attacks South Africa, he goes through a time portal to the age of the dinosaurs and wipes out Terra Nova. That would be pretty fun to watch.

I’ve attached a rough layout of my concept art. Give me a shout if you have any questions. And please send my idea along to some TV executives. Do you think Steven might like to direct?