Astrid Martin
310.801.1863 | astrid.martin1116@gmail.com | linkedin.com/in/astridmartin16
Writing Sample #1 and #2 (Public Relations/Advertising Narratives) C’est La Vie
As I enter one of the many boulangeries in Paris, France, the delectable smells of bread and chocolate waft through the air and into my nose. I gaze at the many mouthwatering croissants, brioche, and multicolored macaroons; they all have one quality in common — French perfection. I go to the cashier and place my order for a fresh chocolate croissant. “Je voudrais un pain au chocolat s’il vous plaît,” I say trying to turn on my best French accent. I study the cashier trying to see her reaction to my French. A smile on her face was all I needed to see to feel accepted into the French culture, as though I had just joined an exclusive club. While walking in the cobblestone streets passed the extraordinary medieval architecture of Notre Dame and the stained glass of Sainte Chappelle, an epiphany hits me! In a way, French language and culture are like a pastry. Just like the hard shell of a croissant, it is hard at first to learn the language and become habituated to the culture, but once you get past those obstacles, you are in the fluffy center immersed in the warm glow of the French. I am proud of having persevered and overcome these obstacles and knowing that I am a Mexican-American who has mastered French. In eighth grade, out of mere curiosity of the language, I decided to study French, rather than the easier path I could have taken with Spanish. My whole life has been centered around Mexican culture and I felt that it was time for a change. I studied, I practiced, but most of all I enjoyed every second of it. There is a quality of beauty about the French language that attracts me. A warmth and comfort are manifested inside me with every step I take in French cities and villages as though France has always been my home. In fact, I never dreamed I could have so much passion for something that involves traveling to a different continent and mastering a completely foreign language. In many ways the French language can be perceived as enchanting. There’s this poetic nature that French brings. Any time a person speaks in the romantic language, the combination of rhythmic syllables immediately romanticizes and softens every word. The process of communicating a thought into this rhythmic language is in itself considered an art of storytelling. With French, it is necessary to first perfect the accent and articulate it in a way that allows natives to understand. Each word has its intricate pattern, beat, and pronunciation that we have to master. Without these storytelling elements, the ability to communicate our ideas and stories across cultures is impossible. In addition to the language, the French culture is in itself a sequence of stories. Through observation, you can tell where a person is from based on his/her language and how he/she interacts with others in their culture. Besides the obvious culture differences brought through food and traditions, identifying the type of French accent is an indicator where an individual is from. Parisians are known to have a nasally fast way of speaking, while the south of France speak slower and incorporate more gestures. When I immerse myself in the French language and culture, there is never a boring moment— I’m always learning. I now hold French as badge over my heart that represents not only my passion, but also a way to officially seal my independence and determination to break the mold. My goal is to continue these qualities I have obtained into my career aspirations. I am a first generation Mexican-American girl who not only understands Spanish, but who also speaks French. Not many people can say that.
Lovestruck: A Spritz of Romance It’s one of those gloomy rainy days and my desire to get lost into a different world leads me to pick up an issue of Seventeen magazine. As I was flipping through the glossy pages, I spotted a whimsical advertisement in the corner of my eye for Vera Wang’s Lovestruck fragrance. Of all the perfume advertisements wafting their overwhelming and colorful scents, Vera Wang’s Lovestruck 2011 campaign stood out the most. As a hopeless romantic, I was intrigued by the ambiance that the advertisement was trying to elude. Immediately, your eyes are drawn to the couple on the balcony. To the left, Leighton Meester is seen overlooking her balcony in a gorgeous Vera Wang mermaid-inspired dress. At first, you are perplexed in what enforces such an elegant occasion. That is until you feast your eyes on the wonderfully handsome man climbing up the ladder while also carrying out a blossoming bouquet of pink flowers. In my eyes, this scenario alone is persuasive and alluring enough because of the amount of romanticism that is being expressed through the two characters’ body language and elegant appearance. The televised commercial version of this advertisement is just as alluring. With rock ‘n’ roll music playing in the background, the suave actor tries to chase after Meester as she waits on her balcony, effectively displaying the forbidden love between an innocent girl and a bad boy. The ultimate Romeo and Juliet story All in all, these two forms of advertisements set up the impression that if you buy the perfume “Lovestruck” and spritz it's inner magical juices, you will be one of the lucky women that become irresistible to men. From left to right, men will be falling all over for you—A power any women would wish to posses. Vera Wang, a fashion designer famous for adding that fairytale touch into women’s lives through her haute couture wedding gowns, condors up a feminine fragrance filled with notes of juicy guavas and fresh angelica flowers. Vera Wang describes her fragrance as her interpretation of love, “All about being overwhelmed, inexplicably, hopelessly in love. A new definition of Romeo and Juliet! Sexy, sensual, and unstoppable.” This enchanting dream manifested by the imagination of Vera Wang was the reason why this advertisement campaign was so successful. Having a vivid story and an emotion behind the product ultimately drives people to buy a perfume such as Lovestruck. Just as people enjoy getting sucked into a great movie, people are willing to buy a product in order to fulfill a fantasy. Equally as important, using Leighton Meester, as a form of celebrity power was an important advertisement decision. With many celebrities these days launching their signature perfume, it was important that Vera Wang stood out from the pack. Vera Wang had to use more than just her household name. Not only did Meester attract a younger audience, but thanks to Gossip Girl, Leigthen Meester is viewed by the youth as an embodiment of style and glamour. All of a sudden, with this celebrity attention, Lovestruck was nowhere close to your grandmother’s fragrance, but rather an essential trend young woman wanted to buy off the shelves. Ultimately, the 2011 Lovestruck fragrance campaign created by Vera Wang made the fragrance a selling success. Becoming not only one of Vera Wang’s bestsellers, but according to industry insiders, one of women’s favorite fragrances right next to Channel No. 5. With this achievement, Lovestruck has become more than just a bottle of perfume, but an entire enchanting experience woman can revisit. Every time women mist themselves with the familiar scent, the romantic images brought to us by Lovestruck ads, commercials, fragrance samples, and other mass mediums reappear in their memory. That is the power the combination of perfume and advertisement has over people.
Writing Sample #3 (Example of copywriting from REAllOVE: Entertainment Marketing Campaign) Part I http://issuu.com/astridmartin3/docs/reallove_final_plan_
Part II
Writing Sample #4 (Seacrest Studios blog post with interview) http://www.ryanseacrestfoundation.org/2013/12/03/roger-craig-smith-makes-patients-laugh-at-seacrest-studios/ Roger Craig Smith, voice actor and stand-up comedian, made it a special day at Seacrest Studios when he visited Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC.) Voice of Ripslinger from Disney's Planes, Batman in Arkham Origins, and Sonic the Warhol; to name a few, his talent for comedy did not limit the amount of laughter coming from both patients and Seacrest Studios staff. Hopping from one patient room to another, Smith signed personal autograph copies of Disney's Planes, while also showcasing hilarious impersonations of Ripslinger and Sonic the Hedgehog. From wearing a hospital gown and gloves for some patients, playing occasional games of air hockey, to leaving personal autographs for those absent from their rooms, he tried his best to make each patient feel special. During his interview in Seacrest Studios, Smith demonstrated his humbleness, as he talked about his career. Titled as “class clown” in 8th grade, followed by a profession in stand-up comedy after college, it only seemed right that he would end up as a voice actor. To this day, he still can’t believe he’s paid to come to work in jeans and a t-shirt just to make a variety of funny voices in front of a microphone. Roger Craig Smith may be a big time voice actor with over 100 titles under his belt, but at the end of the day he does it for his passion of bringing out smiles and laughter—the ultimate healing. Many thanks to Roger, for making it such a fun day at CHOC!
Writing Sample #5 (Chapman Magazine story) https://blogs.chapman.edu/magazine/2014/05/15/peak-experiences-2/ Cusco, Peru, welcomes visitors with lush green mountains and unique cultural adventures. This is the new home of Rebecca Williams ’09. Graduating from Chapman with a degree in Spanish and a Peace Studies minor, Williams has always fed her curiosity by exploring different cultures, languages and ways of living. However, traveling to Cusco for the first time in 2011, Williams felt rushed and robbed of true cultural immersion. Passing through the cities and popular sites, she knew nothing about the inhabitants or the culture. That’s when she got the idea to start her own tour company. In May 2013, she launched Encuentros Andinos (Andes Encounters), offering culturefilled treks such as venturing into caves and learning more about ancient Incan drawings. Each trek she offers includes the chance to meet and share a meal with indigenous people. Homestays are also available. More information is at www.encuentrosandinos.com. “My sincerest desire is to help people have an authentic encounter where they are gently challenged on how they see life,” Williams said. “The only way to do that is by meeting people up close and being invited into their homes.” The business also allows Williams to connect with earlier dreams of becoming a missionary, as she returns a portion of her profits to Peruvian communities, helping locals send their children to school and build better lives.
Writing Sample #6 (Feminist Pop Mania-Personal Blog) https://feministpopmania.wordpress.com/
Writing Sample #6 (press release written in Writing for PR course) Contact: Astrid Martin marti405@mail.chapman.edu 310-801-1863 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TOP FIRM ADDS NEW MARKETING DIRECTOR IRVINE, CALIF.—One of the top 100 firms in the nation launches a new corporate step after hiring their first marketing director, Pattie Breland. H. Hendy Associates, a private interior planning design firm whose major clients list from Disney Resorts, Microsoft, and Mazda, plans to expand nationally. “Having Pattie Breland, her creative mind, and her experience is what we need. She will become a large asset towards our 5-year plan to expand into Chicago and New York. More than anything, we need to get more involved in today’s marketing world,” said Henri Hendy Breland’s role will manage the firm’s business development activities as well as working with firm’s design set and principles to help maintain new clients. Breland will also play a role in the companies marketing, exterior advertising, social media, and website. Her first day begins March 1.
Pattie Breland has over 20 years in the workforce. She graduated from Bassists College in Portland, Maine with a degree in interior design. After graduation, she was hired by PMLA (six years) and Leher McGovem Bovis (seven years). Recently, she worked as project manager at JCM Facilities Planning and Management where she managed corporate relocations and tenant improvements and assisted with the company’s marketing efforts, said Henri Hendy. “With my past experience, I feel fully prepared to become H. Hendy Associates’ new marketing director,” said Breland. Outside her work, Breland is married to Ken Breland as well as a mother of two children. Breland is also a member of the International Development Research Corporation, The National Association of Industry and Office Properties, and a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. ###