2 Minutes With … Bruno Reis and João Corazza, Associate CDs at David Miami

Bruno Reis and João Corazza have been working together since 2016 and previously served as ACDs at the São Paulo-based agency Africa. We spent two minutes with Bruno and João to learn more about their background, their creative inspirations and recent work they’ve admired.

Bruno and João, tell us …

Where you grew up and where you live now.

• Bruno: I grew up in a city called Presidente Prudente, far away from São Paulo. I came to São Paulo in 2018.
• João: I was born in Presidente Prudente and now live in São Paulo. I’m in the process of moving to Miami.

How you first realized you were creative.

• Bruno: I really wanted to say something fancy, like: “It was at school, during art or music class.” But I don’t know. I guess things were just happening.
• João: At a student festival when, even living in the countryside, my work was among the first-place prizes. It was then I realized I had a path to follow.

A person you idolized creatively early on.

• Bruno: There are two people I admire creatively: my parents. My father is a journalist and has worked as a radio broadcaster for more than 30 years in the city where I was born. He’s my best friend. I have always admired his writing. On the other side, there is my mother. She is also in the communications field and today works as an artist. Their creativity always lit a spark in me.
• João: As an art director and creative director, Bruno Oppido has been an inspiration for me, as he is for many Brazilians

A moment from high school or college that changed your life.

• Bruno: When I went on exchange to Mexico, from 2012 to 2013. I was 16 years old, a high school student, and ended up in Tecate, a city hotter than Presidente Prudente. It was a muy loco year.
• João: When I passed the entrance exam for advertising school. This was kind of a mysterious future, but it was something I liked, and it was the beginning of my professional career.

A visual artist or band/musician you admire.

• Bruno: Obviously João Corazza, the most beautiful and talented art director in Presidente Prudente and, soon, in the whole state of Florida. In music, I’ll go with Tim Maia, Djavan, Sade and Alcione.
• João: Lately I have been listening to Post Malone, he is an artist who shares truth when he sings.

A book, movie, TV show, or podcast you recently found inspiring.

• Bruno: Besides the masterpiece White Chicks? The Rehearsal from HBO Max. I’m still trying to figure out what the fuck this is.
• João: Mano a Mano, a Brazilian podcast that gives voice to artists, actors, politicians and disseminates inspiring stories.

Your favorite fictional character.

• Bruno: Meritocracy.
• João: Walter White from Breaking Bad.

Someone or something worth following on social media.

• Bruno: Besides anything related to Mike O’Hearn’s meme Baby Don’t Hurt Me and @saquinhodelixo, @vikmuniz, @pablo.rochat and @uglydesign are worth following.
• João: @mateusasato and @lebassis.

One of your favorite creative projects you’ve ever worked on. 

• Bruno: “The Foamy Haircut” because it was a watershed moment in our career. We fought hard to get it approved. And it came out the way we like it: popular, fun, light.
• João: “The Foamy Haircut.”

A recent project you’re proud of. 

• Bruno: “The Exiled Team” fills us with pride. A sensitive, true and strong project. Virtually the entire city of Mariupol, Ukraine, has been destroyed by war. As a result, the city’s team, F.C. Mariupol, was also extinguished. We went to Prudentópolis, the region with the largest Ukrainian community in Brazil, to keep the spirit of F.C. Mariupol alive. The local team, Batel, adopted Mariupol’s name, changed its uniform, flag and anthem. We even broadcasted a game live, narrated in Ukrainian, so that the residents of Mariupol could watch. It was touching to see the testimonials from the fans.
• João: “The Exiled Team.”

Someone else’s work that inspired you years ago.

• Bruno: I put everyone in the same package: Gustavo Grael, André Kassu, Matías Menendéz, my childhood teacher Nair, Urso Morto, Marcelo Bruzzesi and a bunch more.
• João: Gui Pinheiro has always been a restless friend in advertising, and a piece of work I really like from him is Air Max’s “Grafitti Stories.”

Someone else’s work you admired lately.

• Bruno: “Injectable Billboard” for Dove is impactful and a powerful stunt. Another one I really like is #DameUnBolsoGeorgina by David Madrid.
• João: “Chew the Beat” from Trident is an idea with popular insight. The way they have taken some major female singers to turn boring bubblegum noise into something cool is inspiring.

Your main strength as a creative person.

• Bruno: Making jokes.
• João: Being restless.

Your biggest weakness.

• Bruno: Bad timing when making jokes.
• João: Being impatient at the wrong times.

One thing that always makes you happy. 

• Bruno: There is nothing like a good, “Let’s do it, I love it!” coming from the client, followed by “Let’s have some drinks” with friends, followed by “I’m hungry, let’s go eat.” 
• João: To see that the work has come out of the advertising bubble.

One thing that always makes you sad. 

• Bruno: Have you ever accidentally stepped on your dog’s paw? It is definitely in the top three saddest things in the world.
• João: Not accomplishing the goals that I set for myself.

What you’d be doing if you weren’t in advertising.

• Bruno: Maybe something related to political science. Maybe a podcast with horrible interviews or a late-night show. Maybe start a newsletter. Become a professional cheese taster. Or own a meme page on Instagram. But I don’t know how to do anything but advertise.
• João: Maybe architecture.