Communication faculty/students win a 1st and 2nd place in 2011 Telly Awards...
A TV ad co-created by Prof. Marc Ruiz and students in Wayne State's Department of Communication won in two categories at the 32nd annual Telly Awards. Quicken Loans: Thanks A Million won a second place ("bronze") Telly Award in the juried category Best Use of Humor in a Commercial and won first place ("silver") in the publicly voted category People's Telly Best Regional TV Commercial. Since 1978, the Telly Awards, which are juried by a council made up of the nation's top advertising and production professionals, honor the very best local, regional and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web. The People's Telly Awards Presented by YouTube is a secondary competition where winners are chosen by the voting public via the Web.
Insurance News, Jan. 31, 2011
"Quicken Loans hires Detroit talent for TV commercials"
Quicken Loans is using Detroit's own pool of creative talent from Wayne State University to launch a new round of national television commercials. Marc Ruiz, WSU assistant professor of Media Arts and Studies, directed the commercials and brought with him a team of students from the campus to assist with production. "I work on a vast array of projects so when possible, I bring 15-20 of my best and brightest students and former students to the site with me," Ruiz said. "The best possible training is the one that's 'on the job.' It's exciting to see a local company using the young, creative talent and energy in its own backyard." The new commercials will appear on TV channels nationwide by mid-February.
http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=245286
ChittaChatta (daily UK financial news), Oct. 17, 2010
"Quicken Loans' Thanks A Million Giveaway announces new commercial and prize updates"
by Darren Hatfield
Quicken Loans president Jay Farner thanks Wayne State students and faculty who participated on the production team of its "Thanks a million giveaway" commercial.
http://chittachatta.info/10/17/quicken-loans-thanks-a-million-giveaway-announces-new-commercial-and-prize-updates/
Detroit Free Press, Sept. 29, 2010
"Quicken contest to pay off a client's mortgage"
by Greta Guest
Quicken Loans plans to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a contest that would pay off the mortgage of one of its customers. The Detroit-based mortgage company expects to write its millionth home loan in December and is embarking on its "Thanks A Million" contest. The contest will get more buzz after ads start running next month on YouTube and national television. The ads were created by a Detroit-based crew of film students and professionals lead by Marc Ruiz, a Wayne State University film professor.
http://www.freep.com/article/20100929/BUSINESS06/100929084/Quicken-contest-to-pay-off-a-client-s-mortgage