23 questions!

Steve is one of Artisan's talented Word Smiths. Steve is able to weave engaging dialogue and text for print, online and radio scripts. Read on to hear just how his talent all came about, and what keeps him going ...

What sparked your passion for writing?
William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and a hatred of playing winter sports in England.

How creative were you as a youngster?
I played drums from the age of 5 and was into illustrations by around 10, but I kept it all a secret as everyone else in West London preferred playing soccer and punching each other in the face.

Do you come from a creative family?
Yes, even the family sewing machine was a Singer (groan).

Were they supportive of your desire to be a writer?
They support anything I do as long as it’s not telling lies or voting Liberal.

What sort of education and training have you had?
A Media and Communications degree in England, numerous short courses in Melbourne and an ‘in-at-the-deep-end’ approach to work in general.

Who did you want to work for when you first entered the industry?
Myself. I’m a pretty understanding boss.

Tell us about your first project and what do you feel about it now?
My first paid project was a copywriting gig for a guy called Peter Simon. He made a kids’ show for the BBC and his ‘thing’ was to cover 10 year-olds in green slime. I wrote cheesy jokes for TV, ad copy for side shows and also designed a cartoon character for his business cards. I think he paid me 50 quid all up, but I was 18 so it wasn’t technically child exploitation.

What is your preferred software to work with and what has been the greatest advancement in technology over the past 5 years?
I mostly use CS5 and Office, but I believe the greatest technological breakthrough is Shazam, which still freaks me out. HOW DOES IT KNOW????

Is digital technology going to eliminate the need for print?
I hope not. Surely we can afford to pulp a FEW trees in the name of entertainment.

Whose work do you really admire and why?
Leo Burnett for introducing some of the most recognizable characters of my childhood, the mastermind behind Byroglyphics for creating stunning images and Bill Callahan for his ability to change a mood in 4 bars.

Who has been the greatest person that you’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and what have they taught you?
I’ve worked with a few interesting people, from film-makers to musicians to media dictators, but it was an interview with Tim Minchin that inspired me more than any other. He is probably the most charming genius I’ve ever met. Funny too.

How would you describe your work?
I like to sneak a worm-pill into the dog food.

What are your plans for the future?
Long term: time travel. Medium term: more multi-platform copy management projects. Short term: a nice cup of tea.

What sort of company would you like to work with next?
A forward-thinking creative department with quality tea bags in the kitchen.

What is your opinion of Australian design?
It’s as good as anywhere in the world and the weather’s better.

What is the best/worst thing about being a copywriter in Australia?
Everyone’s a copywriter/everyone’s a copywriter.

In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge the Australian design industry has to face in the near future?
The ongoing restrictions of a small product market, along with a growing need for an Aussie Tourism ad that doesn’t look terrible.

What is your creative outlet outside of writing?
Making music at home (my housemate is the new David Helfgott) and painting watercolours.

What is the best designed bar in Melbourne?
Either Toff in Town or The Great Britain, depending on my mood.

What are your top 5 websites at the moment?
thisisnthappiness.com
byroglyphics.com
linascheynius.com
lostateminor.com
myspace.com/watermusic

What CDs are you currently listening to and are they any good?
Dark Side of the Moon by Flaming Lips and a tiny Melbourne band called Water Music. Both are intelligent and creative, but made on vastly different budgets.

If I was a font, I’d be...?
I like the look of Bookman Old Style and the sound of Informal Roman.

Recent projects have included:
Print (corporate) – a series of candidate and client brochures for a major Australian recruitment company.
Print (magazine) – 3 month editorship of a channel nine glossy travel publication.
Online – 100+ classic album reviews for a new digital music site, including band bios and discographies.
Radio – A series of ad scripts for an established city venue.

For Steve's current availability, contact Spencer NOW here at Artisan, or call us on 9514 1000!