I really enjoy drawing critters. They pop into my mind and I need sorta “release” them by banging them out on whatever’s handy; be it a napkin, some notepad or whatever. Sometimes they’re fairly straight-forward animals like these two here. Other times they’re a little more, umm… nuts. Lately, I’ve been trying to draw more,
I like this little guy, even if I do feel a bit guilty for deliberately creating a creature that is always petrified, anxious and paranoid. Convinced he’s always one rapid beat of the heart away from agonising death (or worse), Hypercondramouse’s existence is not a very peaceful one. Poor little guy. To be honest, I’m not
I was sitting at Yamada Sushi with my buddy Dale, when suddenly I burst out laughing, as I do when this kind of idea strikes me. I think there’d been some controversy at the time regarding the actual Dali Lama not being allowed into SA, but it was in my consciousness for some reason or another.
There are several good stories that have their origins in the night of Coke Fest, 2008. This Q&A that I conducted in Korn’s dressing room after the show – with me at least a sheet or two to the wind – is but one of them. After the show, there were many delays before the
This was an incredibly rad interview, and definitely one of my most memorable ever. I got to interview Corey Taylor (author, and vocalist of slipknot and Stone Sour) who is not only one of my all-time favourite singers and lyricists, but also a personality whom I greatly admire. What was even radder was the fact that he
After two great years working with the good people of OwenKessel, Creative Director and Head of Copy Gord Laws has decided to move on and pursue the life of a creative mercenary. He will now also cease to write in the third-person, for the remainder of this article at least… “Thank you, champions, for the
It’s an exciting time. I’m proud to announce that I have been signed as a voice artist with esteemed Cape Town voice agency, Tongue Twisters. Having moved to Cape Town this year with an even greater drive to keep on growing as a voice artist, and having been represented by a JHB-based agency for almost
I don’t believe in “writer’s block” any more than I do “brick-layer’s block” or “accountant’s block”. I have, however, experienced acute cases of “really-don’t-feel-like-working-today” and the occasional bout of “this-is-a-particularly-crappy-task inertia”. Yes, writing – like any creative field – is made much easier by a stiff shot of inspiration, comfortable surroundings and an exciting, shiny
I suppose we all knew the day would come sooner or later. And by “we”, I don’t only mean the public, but also the staff at South Africa’s original and best-loved men’s entertainment magazine. Especially the ones who served long tenures there. Still, getting the call from my homeboy, FHM Editor Louis Raubenheimer, on Monday
Even with the edge filed off,Your fingers find my chalkboard.Screw my lid on from the inside,And try to punch some holes. The strength it takes to hold four feet,from the sharks beneath the see-saw.The cycle set to rinse/repeatThe drum not quite in time. Yes I cleaned the edges up,And yes, I guess, I sat down.But
Liz – one of the people whom I try to help with weight-loss motivation and information by sharing my trials and tribulations – mailed me to ask whether I think Tim Noakes’ low-carb/high-fat Paleo diet is a good idea for she and her husband. I thought I’d share my reply – and my experiences –
This is a really exciting piece of work for me. As you may know, or have read in the About Gord section, I spent a lot of years at FHM, where I am still very involved. It’s a great love of mine. So, facilitating the acquisition of the FHM ad account at OwenKessel and overseeing
Adlip is a site that discusses and analyses the SA Advertising Industry. They interviewed me about my role at OwenKessel, our advertising partnership with FHM South Africa, my role at the magazine and the kind of work we’re excited about making. Watch the short interview here.
From time to time, I get to voice promo stings for Supersport’s Varsity Sports programming. It’s a fun voice to do, and a rad client to work with. Kinda like a one-click-down version of the KFC “Man vs World” ads. I imagine actually talking like this would be pretty intense. Ha, ha! [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/124526170″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true”
A pair of radio ads I voiced (and wrote) for FHM’s annual 100 Sexiest issue, 2013. A lot of fun, these. They ultimately led to my winning the FHM advertising account for Owenkessel a few months later. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/124527032″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/124526471″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
An ad I voiced for my buddies at AudioMilitia. They do amazing sound engineering and composition stuff. Written by the amazingly talented Stephanie Larsen. Note: I’m just the call-centre guy. The end-strap is my buddy Greg “Gump” Russell. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/124527381″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
A lovely little radio I ad I got to voice for FNB. Hopefully we’ll do more of them. Note: I only play “Mr. Bennet” in this. The call-centre guy is somebody else’s voice.
The annual Pica Awards (referred to, somewhat optimistically, by some, as “the Oscars of the SA Magazine Industry”) were held on November 14, 2013. I was very pleased to learn that I won first place in the “Best Health & Wellness feature” category for the “King of the Fat Guys” feature I wrote for Men’s
A series of many, many TV ads (and numerous radio ads) I’ve voiced for KFC’s “Man vs World” campaign since 2011. Here are a few examples. Note: I just do “KFC presents Man versus the World” voice at the beginning and end. The guy singing in most of these is my awesome friend Shane Forbes.
A little toon I drew after a particularly rough deadline recently: A robot that produces emotions on demand. People in advertising might relate… Gord Laws is an award-winning feature writer, copywriter, creative director and voice artist. He also draws a pretty good cartoon, cracks a good joke/brief and is for hire.
A little companion I created for my dear friends Ryan and Jade Neebe. They’re not allowed dogs where they live, so I made them a fish that sits when they tell it to and wags its tail when they come home. Gord Laws is an award-winning feature writer, copywriter, creative director and voice artist. He
A poem I wrote for my wonderful girlfriend Ingrid. Essentially, it’s all about how there are sometimes no words. I’d have dreamed of you all my life, But I’m not that good at dreaming. I’d sing you a song that stirs your heart, But I’m no good at singing. It’s funny how I talk
Probably my favourite ever piece of my writing. Certainly one of them, at any rate. I have a plan to one day write the whole of Lucas’ story into a full-length rhyming novel. I have it in my head. I hope I get a chance to let it out one day. I was a lot
A lot of people ask me how I lost 67kg in 2009/10. These days, I’m very hesitant to “prescribe” diets. But, in May 2010, I wrote a feature article in FHM SA (RIP) detailing the exact specifics of the training and dieting regimen that got me from 158kg to 90kg in 14 months. For the full
Oh, Mighty Hen of Glory!Oh, bird of flightless mirth!I’ll sing the world your story!To recognise your worth! From skies above they cast you down,They treated you unfair.They struck you down upon the groundAnd you were then stuck there. For thirteen seconds, you did fly,A record was then set.It was a gallant, fearless try.One we will
Another old, unstructured one from my early days of putting poems out into the world. It’s kind of frantic and haphazard, but there’s imagery I love in here. It’s about a few random things that happened over a weekend with good friends. Including a crush I developed in the night. Poised To Stop To Break
A goodbye-poem I wrote for Tamar; the lovely girl I dated from 1999 (when I was 17 in Matric) until 2006 (when I was 25, had finished two qualifications and worked full-time for two years). We broke up amicably, mutually and on good terms. She’s getting married soon, and I think the world of her.
A rather long, but entirely sincere blog I wrote detailing my thoughts on “manhood”. In 2007, I had a completely different job, there was almost 160kg of me, and my outlook was very different. This piece is rough, the grammar’s imperfect, but it reminds me of how it felt to be me back then. To
A poem that marks one of the first days I ever felt real hope. It was a few months before I properly started the mission that led to my losing 67kg. It was just a silly little note I banged out on Facebook, trying to put outlines on a new feeling I was trying to
Another early, angry little rant from the early days of writing these things in a public forum. This one was actually me freestyle rhyming (“rapping”) in my head at work. I liked it, so I tried to take down as much of the rhyme as I could remember. Glad I did. It’s suitably mid-twenties angsty,
