Live blogging as Inside the Actors Studio host James Lipton interviews Carat Americas CEO David Verklin.
Verklin has no shorage of soundbites. One of note (and I might be paraphrasing slightly): The best brands aren't the ones that tell the best stories. The best brands are the ones about whom the best stories are told.
Other revelations:
Carat, pronounced much like you would Cara, is a French acronym that basically means 'company for the buying of radio and television.'
Verklin's not just a fiery corporate speechgive and also a church sermonizer (though a "quiet Christian," as he says).
Verklin likes the AMC TV show Mad Men. Surprise.
Favorite movies: Godfather II (also a great business handbook, he said), Deer Hunter, It's a Wonderful Life.
James Lipton would have Will Ferrell play him in the movie version of his life.
The questionnaire for Verklin (invested by Marcel Proust, and adapted by a French talk show host) - a "sacred moment":
Favorite word: (took way too long to respond - what he didn't prepare for this?) Fantastic
Least favorite word: No
What turns you on: Competition
What turns you off: Lack of appreciation and bad manners
What sound/noise do you like: Laughter of his daughter, sound of a cash register ringing
What sound/noise do you hate: alarm clock
What's your favorite curse word: Son of a bitch
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt: archaeologist
What profession would you not like: dentistry (like his father)
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates: We've been waiting for you to get here. Or maybe, "We'll be right back after a message from this sponsor."
Lipton: One of the most interesting things is how wimpy the men are and how incredibly filthy the men are. (For Christopher Walken it was "darn")
My note: One amazing thing: how quiet the room was during this part. Not a spoon stirred in the coffee cups. Amazing.
Q from the audience: If you had a theme song, what would it be?
Verklin: some theme from the U of Virginia, but one that people would know - High Hopes
Q from Tim McHale: If you were a Second Life avatar, what would you look like? Verklin would be a muscle guy. Lipton would get a tattoo (though he didn't know what Second Life is).
Closing words from Verklin: "Long live the revolution. We are changing the world." He sees Advertising Week as an important time for the industry to talk to itself as it plans for the future.
