Meet Leanne::
She’s bubbly and funny and has this remarkable way of having a sincere conversation with just about anyone. But I would have to say my favorite trait about Leanne is how being around here, you immediately fell like she is your best friend.
Leanne's Always Fun!
When I heard the song ‘I Can Tell that We are Gonna be Friends’ by the White Strips, Leanne popped into my head and I started thinking about how effortless if was for Leanne and I to become friends. I knew that if I felt this way, her other friends would probably share my same feelings. This gave me the idea to reach out to Leanne’s closest friends and collaborate on a birthday gift explaining when we could tell that we were gonna be friends with her.
Here’s the Final Creation::
And Here’s How We Made it Happen::
Hi Everyone! You may or may not know me. I’m Michelle and I, like you, am friends with Leanne!
Now, I have some good news to share with you – Leanne’s birthday is March 25th. What do you say this year we do something a little different from just the tiresome birthday phone call/text/facebook wall post? Great, I’m glad you’re on board, because I need your help in creating a surprise birthday video for Leanne, kinda like this one (but different).
The Vision: The other day I heard the song, ‘I Can Tell that We are Gonna be Friends’ by the White Strips and I immediately thought of Leanne. It’s because the thing that is so great about Leanne is that time spent with her is so special. She is so personable and lovable and relatable that she makes every single one of her friends feel unique. So I thought it would be fun if we could create a little birthday video telling Leanne when we could tell that we were gonna be friends with her.
Your Assignment: Think of the moment when you could tell you would be lifelong friends with Leanne. Now describe it in 5 words or less. Now write it down on a sheet of paper. NOW take a VIDEO of you holding up that paper (short…like 10 seconds or less, but make sure it’s enough time so Leanne can read what you’re holding) and email it to me no later than midnight Sunday, March 20th so I can slice it and dice it and put into one cohesive video of all her friends. There will be no audio, because I am going to put the video to our little White Stripes song, so NO TALKING, just actions!!! iPhone/pocketcam vids are perf.
Be creative: You don’t just have to write on a white sheet of paper, hold it up and smile for the camera – write on a volleyball, use lipstick on the bathroom mirror, pretend it is a verse in the bible. And recreate the scene where you and Leanne became buds – camping in a tent, running on the treadmill, shakin’ your boo-tay. Also, make it is group project – husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend, group of bff’s are strongly encouraged to do this together. Whatever your video is, be original and make it personal.
Need an example to help you get my ‘I can tell that we are gonna be friends’ vision? Here’s what I’m doing: Leanne and I became close when we lived together in college. We completely bounded over our mutual love of Dawson’s Creek. We were so devoted to Dawson’s Creek that we would watch DC reruns in her bed every morning at 9am for an ENTIRE semester! So I would describe the time I could tell that we were gonna be friends in 5 words or less like this, ‘DAWSON’S CREEK MORNINGS IN BED’ and my video would be me holding up this sign, laying in bed, with my eyes glued to the TV with Joey and Dawson on the screen (or let’s be real, Team Joey & Pacey all the way).
So kick your schmaltzy side into high gear, because the real thing with all of our videos will be a zillion times cooler than me describing it!
Also, if I left anyone important off this list, please forward them this email (and cc me) so we can be sure to get all of Leanne’s closest friends!
Last thing. This is a surprise. obvi. Leanne doesn’t get to know about it until her birthday.
Now, reply asap if you think this is an idea you’re supes excited to participate in!!!
xoxo,
Michelle Bertino
