TheFWA - Steve Le Marquand

Do you realise how hard it is to type meaningful words on a keyboard with an armful of FWAs?

Please give us a brief bio of yourself:

1. I’ve done some things.
2. I’m about to do some more.
3. A friend of mine once nicknamed me Le Magicwand.
4. For the last 13 years I have been living vicariously in the digital.
5. Resn is my safe word.

What do you do for inspiration?

I have a patent pending on a technique I use called “Spinspiration” where you look up to the sky and focus on one very small area. You then spin around multiple times until you black out. And this, my friend is when the magic happens.

Please list 3 of your favourite sites.

http://tomandkatie4eva.tumblr.com
- Because no one that small should eva be alone. EVA!
http://www.thisisnotarealsite.com
- Not really a site per-say but it does have a point.
http://www.staggeringbeauty.com
- Purely subjective of course but this is about me right?
http://www.thamesandfield.co.uk
- Because these were the days of their lives.

What do you regard as being your biggest achievement?

Making it this far through your interview!

How many hours do you work each week?

As many hours as it takes or as little as I need.

How do you relax or unwind?

Do people unwind?

What's your favourite part of your job? What's the hardest part of your job? What do you do when you get stuck?

My favorite part is making digital love. The hardest would be making digital love work on all platforms. When I get stuck I just make more digital love.

What's the longest you've ever stayed up working on a project?

This is a trick question.

If there are any pivotal experiences/decisions you could point to that helped shape your career, what would they be?

Getting into music when I was young and being introduced to flash 3 back in the day.

For me any experience whether it is film, a game or an interactive piece, is intrinsically tied to rhythm, pace and emotion. Sound is a huge part of tweaking those emotions, so when I got given a copy of flash the audio visual world just swallowed me whole.

What software could you not live without?

Ableton Live. Although, I would be super stoked if there was a program called Adobleton Flive.

Are there any websites that have shone through as being pioneering in the last 5 years or so?

My preference goes to Ecodazoo which was the first site that made me literally hate someone for being so damn talented. That dude seriously created a seemingly simple 3D site that made me shit my pants with joy.

What did your very first site look like? Is it still online?

Really bad. And I mean geocities bad. Pick any of these.

Have you written any books, if not do you plan to?

Yes, it’s a memoir called “Full Steve Ahead” but so far it’s just a twinkle in my hard boiled eye.

Are there things you do OUTSIDE of work to ensure that you are in the right mindset to be creative and/or successful in whatever you are doing?

What was the last digital effort you saw (or were a part of) that used social media in a way that really made sense. Why?

It was the NZTA game (flashdrivinggame.com) simply because it was the first thing that I'd ever shared with my one Facebook friend. That’s social right?

Looking 10 years in to the future, how far can websites go?

Websites? It’s going to be 2022 baby! Buck Rogers is about to lay waste on every bad mofo to grace the 25th century… oh wait, only 10 years…

Hmm….implants?

Of all the websites you/your company have produced, which one are you most proud of?

That question is too hard to answer as there are many and for uniquely opposite reasons. Have a squizz at them all here.

What was the toughest thing you ever did with Flash? How long did you spend on it? Is it still online?

I don’t want to talk about it.

Do you think Flash is here to stay?

I would love to say yes, but only because downloading an entirely new browser to see a "website" that only works exclusively on that browser, rather than updating a simple plugin that delivers across all browsers seems completely absurd to me.

But to be completely honest with you, we just want to make great work that reaches as many people as possible in a consistent manner but also continue experimenting with new technologies to keep our ADHD team interested. There are a couple of words that are buzzy, or buzz-worthy, which I think should sit well with the marketing teams. Does the grouping of the words “technology agnostic” do anything for your libido? Got me all excited just saying it!

If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring FWA award submitter, what advice would you give them?

Don’t settle for anything less than absurd.

What would be your ultimate vehicle to travel in?

Jetpack, I’ve always wanted to travel lite. You know, like Condorman? He was pretty cool. Wait, not pretty, just - damn cool.

How do you keep your finger on the pulse of the latest web trends?

The same way I do with music, by having friends who care and share. I don’t have time to hunt out the cool stuff with all these trophies I carry around 24/7. Do you realise how hard it is to type meaningful words on a keyboard with an armful of FWAs?

For trends I do use Google a lot, so they know more about me than I do about them. And my kids keep me relevant, or as I like to say, realevent. I got all the cyber language down: botts, skux, totes. That one works better in a combo, like “Totes Riddick!” which means something to the effect of being completely ridiculous.

There must be a project that you have always dreamed of doing, what is it?

It would honestly be the app Facejuggler. I almost cracked a rib and my head literally tightened from laughing for 6 hours straight. Thought I was about to have a head attack.

What is the most expensive thing you have bought in the last week?

Chewing gum, minty fresh.

Any parting shots or pearls of wisdom?

Don’t listen to anyone but your mum. Or is it, listen to everyone but your mum? Mum??

It has been a privilege, thanks very much

Totes.