As you may know, Briana, Janifer, and I have been preparing for our first trip to Bogota over the last few weeks. We asked the Z Team what to pack in our suitcases. We researched Bogota’s rich culture and]]> Getting ready to go to one of Bogota’s most famous restaurants for lunch!

As you may know, Briana, Janifer, and I have been preparing for our first trip to Bogota over the last few weeks. We asked the Z Team what to pack in our suitcases. We researched Bogota’s rich culture and history.  And we got to know some of the newest additions to the Zemoga family.

Well, we’re finally here – and our first day has been AMAZING.  We spent some time in the office reconnecting with old friends who have come up to visit the New York office, and made a hundred or so new ones.  We talked to some of the team’s most talented and colorful characters about their passions, their hobbies, what it’s like to work at Zemoga, and even answered some of the questions you sent us via Twitter.

The Z Team took us out to lunch at Gaira Cafe, where we were surrounded by celebrities, from a famous Colombian movie director to a well-known journalist.  The cafe’s owner is Grammy-Award-winning Colombian singer Carlos Vives, who came over to our table to take pictures with a very star-struck birthday girl, our head of HR, Maria Consuelo.  Carlos also recommended some signature dishes to check out, and we feasted like kings on appetizers made of plantains, yuca, and other native crops.

Afterward, Ricardo took us for a walk around one of the oldest parts of the city.  There was a beautiful mall, cobblestone streets, and excellent coffee.  We capped off our scenic walk with a trip to the Bogota Beer Company, a cool laid-back pub.

After spending hours in good company and good conversation, Andres Navarro came to pick us up for dinner.  We spent the evening chatting over candlelight in the chic restaurant El Salto del Angel, where we had our first taste of Aguardiente Antioqueño.  This is a flavored liqueur derived from sugar cane which, literally translated, this means “burning water.”

So excited to see what Day Two has in store for us!

So excited for them to come to New York. Got any suggestions for where the US staff should take them? Let us know!]]>

So excited for them to come to New York. Got any suggestions for where the US staff should take them? Let us know!

Janifer got to learn a lot about the Z Team as she toured our Bogota office.  Here’s what she has to say about her trip so far.]]>

Janifer got to learn a lot about the Z Team as she toured our Bogota office.  Here’s what she has to say about her trip so far.

Did you enter the contest to win a trip to NYC? Well, the entries have been submitted, the votes have been counted, and the winner is…]]>

Did you enter the contest to win a trip to NYC? Well, the entries have been submitted, the votes have been counted, and the winner is…

1. So first things first – what do you do for Zemoga?

I work in the QA department; I am in charge of making sure that the final products we deliver to our clients best represents the outstanding quality of Zemoga’s work.]]>

1. So first things first – what do you do for Zemoga?

I work in the QA department; I am in charge of making sure that the final products we deliver to our clients best represents the outstanding quality of Zemoga’s work.

2. How did your first day go?  What was your first impression of the Z Team?

One of the first things I noticed when I arrived is that the people here are extremely warm and nice.  They gave me a great welcome.  Maria Consuelo (HR Department Head) and Beto (Project Manager) took care of the orientation process and explained the way things are done at Zemoga. I realized I was working in an extremely solid and dynamic agency.

3. How has your career prepared you for this position?

I’m a Systems Engineer from Manuela Beltran University and specialized in Technology Management at EAN University. Throughout my education, I was very aware of the importance of the quality assurance process and it has been the focus of much of my research as I became more immersed in the field. My last job was dedicated to Software testing and QA’ing.

4. When you’re not in the Zemoga office, what do you like to do for fun in Bogota?

I like going out for a cup of coffee in La Candelaria or eating at one of La Macarena’s delicious restaurants. There are great places for cocktails and home-brewed beers, like BBC (Bogota Beer Company). These are the kinds of things that I enjoy in the company of my friends or my boyfriend.

5. So when you’re not scoping out places to eat or drink, what kind of movies do you watch?  What kind of books do you read?

I love watching movies that are fun and have nice storylines. I also like suspense – I really loved The Others (however, I don’t like movies like Saw). My favorite film is the The Fifth Element. I really enjoy Palo Cohelo’s books. I think I’ve read all of them. I also like J.J. Benitez and I’ve read 6 books from his Trojan Horse series. I am currently reading the seventh in the series.

6. Think fast: If you were a superhero, what would your special power be?

Being able to stop time, or at least being able to make it go slower. Not just for getting everything done in time, but also for sharing and enjoying all of the great people and things in my life.

1. So first things first – what do you do for Zemoga?

I work in Zemoga as a web designer. I’m part of the Creative Team and I’m currently designing an e-commerce site for a really cool client. But the coolest part is that I get to do a lot of other things, too. I’ve only been here for a month and I’ve already worked on branding projects and even had the chance to collaborate with the Pitch Team, participating in a really fun brainstorming session for a new client.]]>

1. So first things first – what do you do for Zemoga?

I work in Zemoga as a web designer. I’m part of the Creative Team and I’m currently designing an e-commerce site for a really cool client. But the coolest part is that I get to do a lot of other things, too. I’ve only been here for a month and I’ve already worked on branding projects and even had the chance to collaborate with the Pitch Team, participating in a really fun brainstorming session for a new client.

2. How did your first day go?  What was your first impression of the Z Team?

It was pretty normal, I guess. First, the HR guys gave me a tour around the office, but at the time, no one knew where exactly I was going to be sitting. By noon, they finally gave me a nice and cozy (and kind of isolated) work space, as well as my first assignment. The team has been great from the first moment I walked through the door (actually, come to think of it, the door right behind me!). I got to take a  look at some of the things my talented new colleagues were working on, and realized that I have a lot to learn from everyone around here.

3. How has your career prepared you for this position?

I’ve worked for years in the web industry and every single project has been a great opportunity to learn how things are done. I’ve had the chance to work at different stages of the web production process, which gives me a broader understanding of how a web-based project comes together. Zemoga poses a new challenge in that this is a company where you have to be really good to survive – and that feels great. I think it’s the most inspiring place I’ve ever worked in.

4. When you’re not in the Zemoga office, what do you like to do for fun in Bogota?

I love photography, so I always carry my camera around when I’m exploring the city with my wife. We just walk and take pictures. Bogotá is a really fun city were you can run into the craziest scenes right in the middle of the street and it’s always a good idea to have a camera with you. Also, the restaurants are great, so whenever I can, I like to try different types of food and discover new places around the city.

5. So when you’re not photographing Bogota, what kind of movies do you watch?  What kind of books do you read?

Well, I think my favorite genre is ‘dramedy’ – you know, the kind of movie where you can have a good laugh, but also feel some deeper emotions at the same time. My favorite director is definitely Woody Allen, and I’m proud to own his complete filmography, but I also enjoy most of the work by guys like Kevin Smith and Judd Apatow. I also watch everything that features Zooey Deschanel, Seth Rogen, Michael Cera or even Hugh Grant. I have to admit that sometimes, I can be a huge chick flick fan!

6. Think fast: If you were a superhero, what would your special power be?

Invisibility, of course!

By Kimberly Reyes (@CommDuCoeur)

It’s one of those “I’m a little bit country, he’s a little bit rock & roll” situations…except switch out country for charmingly off-beat and rock & roll for high-octane explosive ass-whooping and you’ve got a recipe for movie night at my apartment.]]> Winning a fight?  Our money’s on Stallone.  Winning hearts?  Cera all the way.

By Kimberly Reyes (@CommDuCoeur)

It’s one of those “I’m a little bit country, he’s a little bit rock & roll” situations…except switch out country for charmingly off-beat and rock & roll for high-octane explosive ass-whooping and you’ve got a recipe for movie night at my apartment.

Like a lot of happy couples, my boyfriend and I have a lot in common.  And like a lot of happy couples, there are still a few things that we don’t exactly see eye-to-eye on.  Which movie to watch is one of those things.

This past weekend, we were faced with the dilemma of having to choose between two potentially epic action flicks: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and The Expendables.

You can probably guess which one I was more excited to see…but let’s be honest; I would pay $10 to watch Michael Cera eat a sandwich for 2 hours, if that were the case.  Unfortunately, Stallone and his league of over-the-hill action heroes completely trounced Scott Pilgrim in box office earnings.  The outcome was not just the crowning of another summer blockbuster, it’s an interesting study of how to communicate beyond the digital divide.

If you haven’t seen the previews, here’s The Expendables in 8 words: guns, muscles, explosions, motorcycles, tattoos, violence, heavy metal.  That’s all the convincing men like my boyfriend need to shell out the cash for repeat viewings until every one of their male friends can gush about it over burgers and beer.  Mind you, he’s a pair of binoculars and an address short of being Jason Statham’s #1 stalker – I mean fan.

The Expendables also had the advantage of one impressive social media marketing campaign.  Usually when my boyfriend tips his laptop towards me and says “check this out,” I prepare myself to watch someone eat something he shouldn’t be eating.  A couple of months back, he wanted me to watch an Expendables promo on YouTube with him.  After a few minutes of complaining that I had better things to do, like look at pictures of cats making funny faces, I finally walked over to him and started watching what looked like a standard movie trailer…until Sylvester Stallone BLEW THE COMPUTER SCREEN UP.

That cheeky stunt was my first introduction to what turned out to be movie marketing genius, which included a few clever quips from Sly’s signature lazy lip that eventually made him a trending topic on Twitter.  Talk about cognitive dissonance: Sylvester Stallone.  Is a trending topic.  On Twitter.  The movie’s website isn’t the same old photo & video reservoir we’re used to: there’s an 8-bit game where fans can square off or share their score with other Facebook friends, a series of NSFW behind-the-scenes featurettes, and an Action Hero Hall of Fame featuring memorable quotes and some social media plug-ins.  Didn’t expect that from a movie starring the likes of Bruce Willis, and (Governor) Arnold Schwarzenegger, did you?

Lions Gate Entertainment knew that they didn’t need to market The Expendables to the generation who grew up idolizing its iconic cast.  The names were enough for anyone old enough to watch an R-rated movie in the 80s.  Instead, it was a question of how to reach a younger audience, for whom the Stallone name doesn’t pack quite the same punch, so to speak.  In other words, how do you market the heroes of digital immigrants to a generation of digital natives?  Lions Gate’s answer was rapid-fire, sharable, interactive content that anyone of any age could enjoy.

However, the Expendables’ multimedia campaign is not without its flaws.  As one blogger pointed out, the movie’s foray into Foursquare seemed less social and more spam.

To begin to understand why Scott Pilgrim tanked, one needs to take into account the difference between critical acclaim and box office rankings – the two are often mutually exclusive.  Critics published kind words and high marks after pre-release screenings, the Internet was buzzing with excitement for the big screen adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel series, and the Scott Pilgrim panel was one of the most talked-about events at this year’s Comic Con.  Universal pulled every trick out of its digital hat to market the film: there was an interactive trailer, video remixes on You Tube, free ringtones, a social media aggregator that picks up mentions of the movie, an app that lets fans create their own avatar, and some commercials with catchy yet non-existent taglines like “epic of epic epicness.”  Then the numbers rolled in.

The problem was not how Universal was marketing Scott Pilgrim, it’s who they were marketing to.  Michael Cera’s awkward charm has generated a devout fan following since his days on Arrested Development – but it’s not necessarily a large one.  In addition, the scrawny, geeky jobless hero that defeats a lineup of successful cooler-than-thou beefcakes to win the hipster girl may be the perfect plot for a generation that’s spent most of its time behind a computer screen, but alienates anyone older than 25.  Unfortunately, the movie also alienates anyone under 20, who won’t understand the 8-bit graphics, Seinfeld background music, and Wayne’s World reference.  Surprisingly, there was even a lack of support from Cera’s female followers, who were turned off by an unsympathetic romantic interest that doesn’t seem to deserve his love.  Combine that with the fact that Scott Pilgrim has to fight off seven evil exes to win her affection, and you’ve got an entire gender scratching our heads and wondering if putting as many obstacles in the way of a healthy relationship is really the way to go.  For more reasons on why Scott Pilgrim vs. The World basically didn’t have an audience to market to, here’s a brilliant read on Cinema Blend.  Anyone who saw the movie over the weekend most likely loved the film.  It was original, funny, infectious, and in the end, punch-for-punch equally as action-packed as the Expendables.  But what this all boils down to is: you need to fill the theater seats with butts, not hearts, to be successful.

During those critical marketing months, Universal should have taken a page from the Expendables playbook and switch from pitching the movie to a group of people that were planning on watching it anyway and focusing on making it more attractive to the general population.  So Michael Cera strikes out in the box office and stays indie filmgoers’ little secret.  And you know what?  I kind of prefer that.  Obscurity may have Universal licking their wounds, but it’s certainly Michael Cera’s best marketing strategy.

Maybe a better co-star?