When the World Trade Centers were struck on Sept. 11, we knew America had been dealt a blow both symbolic and literal. The towers stood for commerce, ingenuity, teamwork, achievement, talent and reward; ideas promoted in our country and especially our city.
Advertising has played a big part in the success of these ideas, and our industry in particular seems founded upon them. Combined with the energy and vitality of the city, advertising grew up on a street in New York; that’s why we call it Madison Avenue. The industry has since spread out all over the country, but the talent still comes together here in quantity, quality and variety like nowhere else.
More than any other industry advertising weds commerce and artistry, combining the best creative minds with the greatest talent on earth, especially in New York. The color and vibrancy these individuals add to our lives is not to be dismissed. This talent exists in a community of tens of thousands and has the ability to fulfill ideas and make them a reality. Artists, animators, editors, filmmakers, musicians, composers, singers, actors, and the companies and unions who support them, all contribute to the fabric of this community as well as our city and country.
There is a fear among members of this community that agencies and sponsors may not want to work in New York now or in the future because of what has happened. The collapse of the towers has caused a retraction in our country and our city, physically and emotionally. Our ideas feel a little more timid, a little less important. But our President and our Mayor are right—this isn’t a time to be timid. This is a time to be alive. Our country needs New York, and New York needs our country. The advertising community and those we work with need to promote the ideals of our industry, city, and country in the ways we know how.
The advertising slowdown, recession, and cowardly attack at the World Trade Center are combining to create a shaky future for our community. In addition to these challenges, production companies, their employees, and talent, have all been adjusting to the incredible changes witnessed in prior years. In this weakened state, serious concern must be given to the reality of a diminished production community, not only in New York but in the United States as well. For whom would this be good for? Runaway production cities like Toronto, Sydney and Prague? A show of support for those who have provided groundwork for the entire industry is appropriate now. Work that can be done in the U.S. should be done in the U.S. Work that can be done in New York should be done in New York.
I Still Love N.Y.
Joey Levine
