Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dorado Quick. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dorado, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s talk about innovation. What’s the most innovative thing you’ve done in your career?
The most innovative thing I’ve ever done? Umm, probably finding and creating new ways not to quit! As Nipsey Hussle said best, “I’ve been through every emotion,” so as I look back at more than a decade in this industry, I’m still here. There aren’t many people who can say that, let alone ones who look like me. As a storyteller, innovation has been the key to my survival and creating success for clients throughout my career. I haven’t had the biggest production budgets or marketing budgets for that matter, but being innovative has enabled me to partner with like-minded artists and build teams that have created award-winning stories that have broken the internet, taken over prime-time news commentary and cemented brands, athletes, and films deep into the minds and hearts of various cultures and demographics. Being innovative has enabled me to write stories and develop content, experiences, and products that didn’t exist prior. Doing so has created authentic conversations among audiences, which have moved the needle and increased profit and social good.
Early in my career working on Fast Food Brands, I engineered Twitter Beefs among competitors like Wingstop & Wendy’s. When I noticed that Wendy’s was the only competitor with a female mascot, innovation struck me. So I partnered with Music Executive, Archie Davis, to create the We Beefin? Mixtape, which told the story of a young woman trying to take over the fast food game despite her haters. The tape became a global streaming phenomenon and charted on Apple Music and Spotify. There was no brief or request for this idea, so I put together a pitch, and with a shoestring budget, we changed advertising forever. It was often described as a Radio or Social Media campaign, but a streaming album by a brand had never been done before, so where could you categorize it? Good Morning America called it “the greatest marketing campaign ever.” This was something that no brand or agency knew how to do, and while it’s since been imitated, nobody has come close.
One of my next significant moments of innovation was collaborating with Michael B. Jordan to create an authentic partnership for PepsiCo’s Brisk Ice Tea and Marvel’s Black Panther (2018). Mike’s vulnerability and passion for the film’s meaning to our community and the world was one of my most exciting challenges. Mike didn’t just want to place his face or signature on a bottle; he wanted to impact lives. After sitting down with Mike, a Pepsi Exec, Melanie Watts, encouraged me to do what I do best, so Mike and I got to work. The collab resulted in an original short film aimed to inspire youth to pursue the arts and a Pop-up Experience programed with speakers, experts, performances, and professionals for kids, families, and adults to get behind-the-scenes access to the making of the film. It’s one thing for a brand to sell themed merch; it’s another to create access and opportunities. The access we provided is still unprecedented.
Continuing to innovate, I would go on to collaborate with Maverick Carter & Lebron James Springhill Company to create Throwing Bones, hosted by Draymond Green, an original unscripted show providing an expose on the cross-cultural and communal significance of the game of dominoes amongst athletes and entertainers worldwide. Again, there was no real brief for this concept, but more so identifying a hole in the marketplace paired with the encouragement of my creative partners Gerardo Ortiz and Amy Glickman Brown. From the Dugout to the Cook Out, audiences had never seen this part of culture documented, let alone in such an authentic way. Most recently, Gerardo and I were able to lead a team in turning an RFP (request for proposal) into a feature film – Memes & Nightmares, for PepsiCo’s Starry soft drink. From there, our CCO Ricardo Viramontes and Springhill’s Studio Team secured a deal with Andscape for the film to premiere on Hulu. The comedy film stars Twitter legend Josiah Johnson as we dive into the subculture of NBA Twitter and Fandom. Traditionally, agencies don’t create shows or feature films, but being innovative does.
Being innovative and creating things that have never been done before has been my favorite tool to help tell stories across platforms, mediums, genres, and cultures. I’ve noticed that when I’m allowed or encouraged to be innovative, it makes for some of the most impactful work for brands, partners, and audiences. And it’s where I get to have the most fun. So, stay innovative, stay dangerous with your ideas, and don’t quit.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m from Inglewood, California, back when Inglewood was Inglewood. Not always having the best supervision or guidance, high school basketball kept me out of trouble. I went to Cal State Fullerton for undergrad, becoming a student leader, hosting poetry events, creating short films, and producing plays on diverse human experiences. From there, I attended VCU Brandcenter, the nation’s top business and advertising program, where I earned a master’s degree and began developing my skills as a copywriter. Pulling from my love of sports, comics, music, anime, and gaming, I began to set myself apart as a multidisciplinary artist. Today, I’m an award-winning Creative Director & Writer whose storytelling style has carved a unique lane as a cultural curator behind significant commercials, advertising, and marketing campaigns, taking brands and films further into pop culture than ever before. Always thinking strategically with creative effectiveness in mind, I solve problems for brands and athletes, helping them reach their audiences through stories. From writing tweets and commercials to scripting and creative directing Superbowl films, I’ve crafted narratives that impact culture and commerce, most notably in the sports, food, and music industries for national brands, clients, celebs, and films. This approach has led me to win Cannes Lions, Clios, Pencils, Effie awards, and more. My work has received international recognition on almost every stage and has been featured in Forbes, Billboard, Adage, CNN, Complex, and Good Morning America, to name a few. Oprah Winfrey has debuted my short films for Procter & Gamble, and I’ve had the honor of writing for Michael B. Jordan, Lebron James, Nas, and a number of talented stars. I’ve also created, developed, and produced original unscripted series for Maverick Carter & LeBron James’ SpringHill Company. I was selected into Warner Bros Discovery’s DC Comics Milestone Talent Initiative, where I developed the craft of comic book scripting, writing for some of my favorite heroes and villains. Most recently, I was selected to Mara Brock Akil’s Writer’s Colony as an artist in residence, where I’ve begun to develop my skills as a screenwriter. I’m truly grateful for the career I’ve had and thankful for everyone who believed in me, even those who didn’t. Above all else, I enjoy team building, mentoring, and developing the next generation of storytellers.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
It’s okay to dream. It’s okay to be a dreamer. And it’s possibly good to have unrealistic dreams because only those who risk going too far can find out how far one can go. I think we should all go after our dreams but do so with some sort of plan. A plan that can evolve and change because so many things are out of our control, and the man upstairs plans are far greater than what we could ever dream of, but at least be open to dreaming. Be open to the beauty and potential success of things you cannot see or grasp yet. Growing up, I never learned or really allowed myself to dream. Everything was about survival. I worked in high school to put food on the table and clothes on my back. Even my love of basketball was truly based on the hope and necessity of getting a scholarship to afford college. Spoilers – it didn’t happen; I wasn’t that good. So, I found myself paying my way through college with no idea or dreams of what I wanted to do or be. I wasn’t open to much other than what I was being told to study, i.e., the safe routes of business, accounting, law, or medicine, none of which I had any genuine interest or desire in. All of these directly contradicted the creative talents I possessed and displayed amongst my peers. As crazy as it sounds, I even got a Master’s Degree in business. While I’m thankful to have graduated and to have these skill sets in my tool kit, which have allowed me to both thrive and survive, here I am all these years later as a Creative Director and Writer, and now finally able to admit an Artist. Sometimes, I wonder how much better of a creative or storyteller I would be had I been open to dreaming earlier, but I have to be grateful for my own artistic journey and the blessings this path has provided. Whatever the idea, the thing, or the dream you have, go do it. Take small steps if you need to, but go after it. Who knew a kid from Inglewood, California, would become a man who traveled the country on the strength of his pen, writing, and creative directing for the world’s biggest brands, athletes, and entertainers?
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I’m finally starting to believe in myself and what I’m capable of. I’m aiming to actualize and fully realize my full potential towards the dream of becoming a Storyteller Supreme – an artist who can craft a story in any and every medium, which is what I’m striving to be. I believe narrative storytelling is one of the most powerful and influential art forms, especially the moving image. I’ve mastered commercials, branded content, activations, and experiences. I’m beginning to make waves in the comic book and graphic novel space. Next up, I’d like to improve upon my pen game and my experience behind the camera to captivate audiences with short films, feature films, series shows, and maybe even video games. I want to actively and intentionally find and redefine my voice on a larger canvas.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://DoradoQuickWrites.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorado.quick/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorado-quick-b3677842/
