Staff Reporters
Jul 25, 2024

Creative Minds: FCB's Alan Jones and Angelo An on turning pressure into creativity

The duo shares their journey from chipping concrete and retail jobs to creating award-winning campaigns, and thriving best in undisturbed harmony.

L-R: Alan Jones and Angelo An
L-R: Alan Jones and Angelo An
In Creative Minds, we ask APAC creatives a long list of questions, from serious to silly, and ask them to pick 11 to answer. (Why 11? Just because.) Want to be featured?
 
Name: Alan Jones and Angelo An
 
Origin: Aotearoa (New Zealand)
 
Places lived/worked: London, Kuala Lumpur, Auckland
 
Pronouns: He/Him
 
CV:
 
Alan
 
Creative director, FCB Aotearoa, 2021-present
Senior copywriter, Stanley St, 2020-2021
Copywriter/creative, M&C Saatchi London, 2015-2020
Copywriter/creative, FCB Aotearoa, 2012-2015
Copywriter/creative, Lucideas Malaysia, 2010-2011
 
Angelo
 
Creative director, FCB Aotearoa, 2021-present
Senior copywriter, Stanley St, 2020-2021
Copywriter/creative, M&C Saatchi London, 2015-2019
Copywriter/creative, FCB Aotearoa, 2010-2015

1. How did you end up being a creative?

We were both terrible at maths and science and loved writing and design. Eventually, we both (somehow) discovered advertising was a career and dove head-first into it.

2. What's your favourite piece of work in your portfolio?

We love many pieces, but the most recent is the new brand launch for One NZ (previously Vodafone)—one of the most talked about and popular TVCs in New Zealand this year.

3. What's your favourite piece of work created by someone else?

There are too many to name. But recently, the Artois Probability by GUT has stood out.

4. What/who are your key creative influences?

When we started advertising, the work of Crispin Porter & Bogusky (and their book 'Hooplah') inspired us. In film, anything from A24 usually arouses us.

5. What would you do on your perfect day?

Eat a wonton noodle soup, shoot an ad with [Martin] Scorsese, talk rubbish with our friends outside a London pub, drink negronis, and a 12-hour sleep.

6. Who is/was the most important person in your life (not including parents, spouse/partner, or children)?

Each other.

7. What career did you think you'd have when you were a kid?

Archeologist (Alan). For Angelo: Doctor or lawyer if his parents had their way.

8. Do you work best under pressure, or when things are calm?

There is some truth in the saying ‘pressure makes diamonds,’ but we always work best in a room with just the two of us, undisturbed.

9. Tell us about the worst job you ever had. Do you have any secret or odd talents?

Chipping concrete off bricks and various customer service retail as teenagers.

10. What advice would you give to 10-year-old you, if you could?

Buy bitcoin.

11. Do you have any secret or odd talents?

Angelo is extremely good at massage. Alan is quite good at spelling.

 
Source:
Campaign Asia
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