Ad Chat - Gideon Amichay

Gideon and fan Liat in Cannes this summer
This week we put Gideon Amichay, Creative Chairman of Shalmor Avnon Amichay Y&R Tel Aviv in our spotlight. You can find his blog at gideonamichay.com, and if you're lucky you'll pass him on the Croisette in Cannes as he cruises along eating ice-cream and he'll high-five you as you walk past each other (I am that kind of lucky, that was funny Gideon).
What's your favorite funny story about yourself?
My first career was as a cartoonist.

What piece of art (movie, book, music, painting, etc) has influenced you most? How or why?
The Fountainhead, the book and the movie. The book is about believing in your way and follow it till the end.

Who was your favorite mentor and why?
Michael Conrad, and The Berlin School of Creative Leadership, who taught me how to reinvent myself again.
What's one thing that excites you about the future of advertising?
The opportunities to do unbelievable things, like never before
If you could meet with anyone in history (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
Saul Steinberg. The greatest illustration Artist ever. His simplicity is pure genius.
What’s your favorite website/blog, and why?
TED. Any questions?
What's your trick to break out of a creative block?
Museums, Theatre, Movies,Ballet, Opera, and walking. Just walking. No music, no mobile and without knowing where.
Who is your advertising hero and why?
Lee Clow. Think Different.
Tell us one of the things on your bucket list.
Children.
What piece of advice do you wish someone had told you when you were starting out?
Life is not the roughcut, it is the real thing.

Evan Brown, Sr. Copywriter at TBWA\Chiat\Day
Dena Walker, Digital Strategist at Irish International in Dublin, Ireland
Bernie Watt, copywriter at Make, in Sydney, Australia
Ron Smrczek, Executive Creative Director of TAXI Europe
Vincent Vella, Creative Director - Grey Paris, Euro RSCG and Publicis.
Gideon Amichay, Creative Chairman of Shalmor Avnon Amichay Y&R Tel Aviv
Richard Tseng, Freelance Copywriter at CP+B
Claudiu Florea, Managing Partner - Wunderkid, Romania
Snorre Martinsen creative at Saatchi & Saatchi Oslo
Laura Jordan Bambach, Executive Creative Director LBi
Simon White Creative Lead from Rapp, London
Richard Gorodecky Executive Creative Director at Amsterdam Worldwide
Ray Page Creative Director at Tribal DDB
Adam Pierno of Off Madison Ave.
Edward Boches of Mullen
Dirk Singer of Rabbit, UK
Gareth Kay of Goodby, Silverstein and Partners
Tim Brunelle of Hello Viking
Rob Schwartz of TBWA\Chiat\Day