Three cheers for our latest Tongaler of the Month, Julia Lee! She is a Tongaling legend who has an extensive creative background, a fun sense of humor and gives great advice. To top it all off, she's also a new mother to Amélie with her partner and fellow Tongaler, Ervin Anderson...is there anything she can't do?
Izzy Francke: What is your creative and/or writing background?
Julia Lee: My parents told me when I was four, they found me sitting at the window with my chin resting on my hands. When they asked me what I was doing, I replied, “Imagination.” That is pretty much what I’ve been doing my whole life, imagining stories and daydreaming about what I’d like to create next. I graduated with a BA in English from Cal and a MFA in Creative Writing from UMass, Amherst. I currently work at VolunteerMatch.org where I create graphic designs and produce videos. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been creating art in some form or another, whether it was decorating pine cones with flowers to sell to my neighbors for bubblegum money, or making hand-drawn magazines about an imaginary version of myself marrying Rick Astley.
IF: You're so accomplished! How did you find Tongal?
JL: Back in 2009, a good friend of mine introduced me to the site. I went on it and thought it had to be a scam because it sounded way too good to be true. So I mentioned it to Ervin Anderson because he was entering various writing contests at the time. About a month later, he told me he had won a contest. I asked him, “And you actually got a check in the mail?” He answered an emphatic yes. So I got on Tongal immediately and looked around to see if there was something I could enter. The only idea phase at the time was for a new wine app. I didn’t know a thing about wine, but I did know a lot about online dating, so I turned that into a funny idea for wine. I actually won the first place $1,000. I was shocked and have been hooked on Tongal ever since.
IF: That's a fun approach. We're also happy that both you and Ervin Anderson are in our Tongal crew! When you’re not Tongaling, how do you spend your time?
JL: I used to hang out with friends and check out live music/theater/art events in my spare time, meaning I had a life! But nowadays, being a mom of an amazing one-year-old named Amélie takes up most of my time, aside from work and trying to find the sleep I keep misplacing and will probably continue to misplace for, oh, the next 17 years or so.
IF: Moms are true heroes! You’ve come up with a ton of awesome and winning Ideas. In your opinion, what makes a good idea?
JL: The best ideas are always the ones that pleasantly surprise you. Nobody really likes commercials interrupting their shows or internet viewing, but when you watch one that is visually engaging, tells a good story, takes an unexpected turn, makes you laugh or better yet, cry, it makes you want to talk about it, share it with friends and/or watch it again and again.
IF: I totally agree. What’s your creative process like? Where do you get your inspiration?
JL: Well, lately, the process has been Ervin reminding me the night before something is due on Tongal. I try to read the brief a few times and do a little research by visiting the product’s website, YouTube channel and seeing what’s already out there. If an idea(s) hits me, I submit that idea(s) immediately. But if not, I walk away, let the thoughts simmer, and sleep on it. Pre-baby, this process would take a week or two. Post-baby, I’m lucky to find a few hours. Surprisingly though, many of my best ideas still come to me in the shower. Then I write and rewrite my ideas up until the very last second. Inspiration usually comes to me from all over (something I’ve read, something I grew up with or experienced in the past, something I’ve seen or heard) and then I like to add my own fun twist to it. If I have time, I like to run them by Ervin. If he tells me I have a winner, I know that it’s a good one, whether I actually win or not.
IF: You two make a fab team. Plus, it's great that you've adapted your process smoothly post-baby. We were impressed by your winning Concept “See The Real Us” for the Clean & Clear – See The Real Me Project. It’s so fun! How did you come up with this Idea and what drew you to this Project?
JL: Going through puberty is a super awkward experience for most people, but I feel like it’s even harder nowadays with the Internet, social media and cyber bullying. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great things online these days (ummm…Tongal being one of them), but I feel like it’s more difficult for teens, especially young girls, to be just that…young girls. When I saw this project, I wanted to create a series where young girls could identify with and feel like they were watching their own girlfriends (rather than adults) discuss things they cared about or were curious about but afraid to ask. So I channeled awkward, geeky, teenage Julia (which is how I feel most days) and came up with “See the Real Us.”
IF: Awkward, geeky teenage Izzy can definitely relate. One of my favorite Ideas of yours is “Read My Face” for the Olay Fresh Effects Video Project which went on to inspire the winning Video “American Girl” – what was your thought process with this Idea?
JL: I love both videos that Confetti Lab andAnna Christopher created. “American Girl” by Confetti Lab was shot so beautifully. “Read My Face” by Anna Christopher touched my heart because it brought my idea to life so wonderfully. I first started thinking about the actual product itself and the act of wiping your face after a long night out with friends. Then the idea just came to me that they’d be wiping the sweat and makeup along with the night’s adventures off their faces, so they can start fresh and move on to new adventures. It’s kind of funny because I really meant for the adventures to be written digitally onto their faces (but I couldn’t fit all that into a Tongal 140-character idea submission) and not literally written on their faces like in Anna’s video, but what she created was far better than I had imagined. I was so happy to have inspired a filmmaker to take a nugget of my idea and transform it into such a female-empowering, fun video. I saw it for the first time on TV during the MTV Awards. That was amazing!
IF: Go Girl Power! We love your Tongal Success Story! What was it like to make that Video? How do you think your work on Tongal has evolved over the years?
JL: I loved making my Tongal Success Story…well, not at first. I wanted to be an actress when I was younger, but as I got older I started getting a bit shy in front of the camera. I kept telling Ervin that I was nervous and that my personal story wasn’t THAT interesting. But thanks to his direction, camera work and constant encouragement, he really brought out the best in me and allowed me to be silly on camera in a way I used to be when I was younger. So it was a very personal journey for me to make that video. When I began on Tongal, many of my ideas were way too extravagant (I had one in the beginning with alien ships attacking a neighborhood and another about a loner child who turns out to be robot). I soon learned to reign them in, taking into consideration the actual budgets of our Tongal filmmakers. Having Ervin to compete with and also bounce ideas off of has inspired me to be funnier, more clever and experimental in my own ideas. Our love story really evolved with us competing on Tongal. Sometimes when things weren’t good between us, sharing a funny idea for a Tongal contest would cut the awkward tension and bring us closer again. Alas, ever since I got pregnant, I’ve definitely lost my creative mojo. And now after I actually had Amélie, I’m lucky to even wash my face let alone get a shower. But I keep telling myself everyone loves a comeback! I’m hoping one of these days I’ll get a good night’s (or month’s) sleep and get my mojo back. My best ideas are yet to come!
IF: I believe that! But you've already had many great ones...what’s your favorite Idea you have ever submitted?
JL: One of my favorite ideas was Miss Ery Loves Company for the Pringle’s We’re Big in Asia Project. Yes, I’m Korean, but probably the least Korean person you’ll ever meet. I came to America when I was three, so I grew up on Duran Duran and McD’s fries. When I saw this contest, one of the few things I knew about Asian pop culture was that Korean dramas were very popular. So naturally, I went with that angle and just had a hilarious time with it. The cheesier, the more melodramatic, the better! So when Jeff & Noah won the pitch, I wasn’t quite sure how or what these two young non-Korean men from Chicago were going to create. When I clicked on their Star-Crossed Flavors Video, I was blown away. I had the great pleasure of actually meeting them at the first Tongies and got to tell them in person how much I truly loved the video. Needless to say, I fell instantly in love with both of them! I have to say Tongalers are some of the most talented and inspiring creatives on the planet!
IF: That Idea and Video are hilarious! Both are Tongal HQ favorites. What would be your dream Project on Tongal?
JL: I’ve seen a lot more film-related projects on Tongal, which is super exciting to me. That’s where Ervin and my true love lies. I’d love to see Tongal open up a screenwriting/filmmaking division, inviting ideators and filmmakers to participate. I can see Tongal turning into the next Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers or Paramount?! First crowd-sourced Academy Award-winning film, anyone?
IF: Whoa, you are reading our minds with that idea! What are your daily must-reads?
JL: I don’t have much time for reading these days. So my daily must-reads tend to be mostly clicking on baby articles and checking out social media to salivate and travel vicariously through my childless friends’ lives. I love my life with Ervin and Amélie and wouldn’t trade it for the world, but sometimes I do miss the days of getting lost in novels and reading entertainment/fitness magazines from cover to cover.
IF: Reading time is certainly a luxury. Tell us a fun fact or surprising hobby about yourself.
JL: I mentioned earlier that I wanted to be an actress when I was younger. If you ask any of my friends, they’ll tell you I’m a total ham. I actually have some videos I made when I was younger where I filmed myself in a murder mystery and played all three roles (the detective, the murdered girlfriend and the suspect boyfriend), and another hilarious video where I’m an evil, less sexy “Elvira Mistress of the Dark”-type of character who was so truly evil that I had a hard time blowing out a candle at the closing of my show (I had taken off my glasses and couldn’t really see where the candles were). Both have great potential for going viral on YouTube, I think? Oh, yeah, and one of my secret childhood dreams was to sing and finally be discovered on Star Search.
IF: Definitely. I dare you to post them! What’s next for you, on Tongal or otherwise?
JL: Right now, my main focus is giving Amélie the very best childhood possible. Creativity-wise, I’ve been shooting and editing videos for work as well as personal projects that center around capturing Amélie’s life. You could call it a lifetime documentary project. I just created a video for her first birthday, editing together one photo of her from every day of her life thus far.
IF: Aww, how adorable. Do you have any advice for other Tongalers who want to be an ideation queen like you?
JL: Awww shucks, that’s awfully nice of you to say, since lately, I’m more like a queen of changing diapers and catching baby vomit.
My best advice is to:
Those are definitely six steps for success, thanks for sharing them! I really loved getting to know more about your creative background and process. Keep up the great work, we're looking forward to seeing your next great Tongal submission.
