Hello, W+K! I've been dreaming about you.

At some point I met the right people, I went to the right place at the right time, I told the right stories that got the right laughs and I managed to not trip and fall as I walked through some really big, oversized metal doors -- which all adds up to me finding out today that I got a job at the dreamy ad firm, Wieden+Kennedy, as a freelance project manager. I am shocked and excited, to say the least.

I was at the point only yesterday where I resolved to not settle for anything but HUGE here in Portland because I knew I wanted to spend more of my energy on the Sirocco Research Labs' film projects in LA. And that is when the universe chuckled to itself and said, "A-OK, Miss Reardon. Let me tell you a funny joke called Getting What you Wished For..." This really couldn't be more ideal, I'm now realizing. I will be working freelance at W+K while still having time and resources to jump down to LA for weekend shoots. And more importantly, the people at W+K are already big fans of SRL. I gushed about all my side projects in my interviews and got a big proverbial high five from everyone for making a werewolf movie. W+K seems to be an epicenter of all great side projects in Portland. Restaurants, films, art shows, bands, webisodes -- you name it, likely someone in that gorgeous building is working on it.

I leave for LA this week to finish shooting Red Moon and then when I get back it is go go go time for my very first real world big kid job at what will likely be one of the greatest play lands I have ever been lucky enough to stumble upon. No seriously, they have a human-size birds nest at the top of their atrium and they bring in premo bands for lunch time concerts in their salvaged lumber auditorium and there's a roof top patio that over looks the Pearl and there are dogs everywhere inside. Gush. Gush. Gush.



Beautiful building aside, these folks also really have their stuff figured out when it comes to creativity and pushing yourself to make bigger and better things. W+K has a motto or two that I couldn't agree with more. The first being the original proclamation of founders Dan Wieden and David Kennedy. "Don't act big, no sharp stuff, follow directions and shut up when someone is talking." Rules to live by.


And a more recent credo of W+K's is to "Fail Harder." Beautifully illustrated in their Portland office by way of more than 100,000 clear push pins.



This is going to be a fun and challenging gig, folks. For sure. I'll keep you updated.

Read more about W+K on their site or on their blog.