My Creative Hero: Joe Pytka

At eighteen John Semerad attended Pratt Institute to become the next great American illustrator. The fine art career quickly gave way to a career in computers and special effects.

QuietMan was started a few years later. An innovative company with many firsts. The first Beatles music video, the first primetime Emmy for a TV commercial, the first five second TV commercials. QuietMan has won virtually every advertising award, Emmys and even a Grammy. The collective has worked on over 100 Super Bowl commercials.

QuietMan don’t really keep track but it has won multiple Cannes Lions including best of show. Multiple One Show pencils including best of show. Dozens of Clios. QuietMan has been in the AICP Show which means its in the permanent collection at MOMA.

Recently John Semerad did an animated short that has gotten into over 100 film festivals, won over 30 awards and become academy award eligible. It’s been seen all over the world. Feel free to call him 'an international sensation.'

LBB> Who would you say is your creative hero? 

John> I have so many creative heroes I couldn't possibly name them all. From my high school and college instructors to the many clients I have had the pleasure of working with. Among them are Michael Patty, Eric Silver, Eric VanSkyHawk, Barry Rosen, Joe Vier, Steven Block, Stephen Krauss, Ari Halper, Jeff Linder, and Donna Weinheim. However, if I had to select just one, it would undoubtedly be Joe Pytka.

LBB> How long has this person been important to you and what are your first memories of meeting them or coming across their work?

John> My professional relationship with Joe Pytka had been intermittent until the day he was working on a Pepsi commercial with Shaquille O'Neal. In the ad, Shaq was shown running between television screens and interacting with classic TV shows. Joe had a creative vision that required Shaq to be flipped and run in the opposite direction. This would require the numbers on Shaq's jersey to be reversed and then flipped back, a task that the original effects company claimed was impossible.

Given our prior collaborations, Joe reached out to me for help with the challenge. I accepted the task and successfully restored the numbers on Shaq's jersey to their original orientation. Joe was thrilled with the outcome and as a token of appreciation, he granted us the opportunity to work on the Beatles' ‘Free As A Bird’ music video.

LBB> If it’s someone you personally know, how did you get to know them and how has your relationship evolved over the years? If you don’t know this person, how did you go about finding to learn more about them and their work?

John> Joe Pytka taught me a valuable lesson. Every task is important in the larger scheme of things, and deserves to be treated with the same level of care and attention as any other. He believed that most artists would typically tell him how to make their job easier, rather than how to make the work better. He encouraged me to take a different approach, and to always focus on improving the final product rather than just simplifying the process. This helped me develop a more collaborative and creative relationship with artists, and has led to many successful projects and satisfied clients.

LBB> Why is the person such an inspiration to you? - How does this person influence you in your approach to your creative work? 

John> Successful people often share traits like loyalty, passion, and a commitment to hard work. Joe Pytka exemplifies these qualities through his long-term collaborations, passion for creating compelling work, and tireless work ethic. His example inspires us to strive for greatness in our creative endeavours.

LBB> How does this person influence you in your approach to your creative work? 

John> Joe Pytka's work ethic and artistic vision profoundly influenced my creative approach, setting a high bar for excellence in the industry. His meticulous attention to detail and ability to inspire his team to do their best work inspire me. His emphasis on simplicity and elegance taught me the value of restraint and focusing on what's essential. His influence on my work is immeasurable, and his example is an inspiration to all aspiring for creative greatness.

LBB> What piece or pieces of this person’s work do you keep coming back to and why?

John> Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working on over 150 Super Bowl spots, and I am proud to say that over half of them were created in collaboration with Joe Pytka. Together, we have produced some of the most memorable and impactful ads in Super Bowl history, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such a creative genius.

One of the highlights of our collaboration was the opportunity to work on the effects for the first music video for the Beatles, ‘Free As A Bird’. Another milestone in our collaboration was the opportunity to work on the effects for the first PrimeTime Emmy awards. From Joe's creative vision and our technical expertise, it was an experience that I will never forget.