an ode to our forefather

By Ari Merkin

We didn’t invent the word ‘slop’.
Though we may have inadvertently helped it along.

The year was 2021. Lockdowns were in full effect, and filming anything that wasn’t sourdough was pretty much off limits. Like others, we played it safe. But as the weeks turned into months, our itch to tell stories got worse.

So we found a way to work with constraints, limiting ourselves to the most rudimentary digital tools available. Cheap stock resources, Keynote, and iMovie.

What resulted was the four-minute, crudely animated hodgepodge, Tales of Big Oaky. A “Slop Motion Production” about a boy, a grandfather, one very vindictive deer, and the yarns we weave to make sense of this crazy world.

Against the odds, Tales of Big Oaky went on to become an official selection at an Oscar-qualifying film festival. Which was validating, but more importantly, it confirmed our point:

Great ideas should never go unmade.
Not due to budget constraints.
Not due to a global pandemic.
Not ever.

Today, we’re carrying forward that passion and conviction with the launch of Unmade.

A hybrid agency and production company to help brands make the kinds of videos and commercials they always wished they could.

Unmade isn’t about replacing live action. It’s about giving ambitious brands the kinds of ideas and finished commercials they simply couldn’t or wouldn’t be able to make otherwise – conceived and produced by highly awarded and celebrated ad industry veterans, without the complexity of live-action shooting.

Whether you’re an established brand or a startup looking for some much-needed attention, Unmade makes sure no brand story gets left behind.

We hope you share in our journey and continue to enjoy the films that get made at Unmade.

About Ari Merkin
Ari is a recognized creative leader who has been featured in nearly every major advertising publication. He has appeared on numerous global top ten lists, was named one of AdAge’s 40 Under 40, and was inducted into the AAF Advertising Hall of Achievement. His work has received hundreds of accolades and “Best of Show” honors across major competitions. This includes, AdAge’s 15 Best Campaigns of the 21st Century, a top ten spot in The Drum’s World’s Best Ads of All Time. At the One Show, he became the first creative to win 13 Pencils in an evening. Ari still believes that braggy bios like this one sound way better written in 3rd person.