Over the last two weeks I took a 50% break from my regular work (whatever that means) and made some other things. Here they are: A nice place to hang my TV, a nice place to showcase my magazines, a rocket and a sniper rifle. Now back to work!

I have had an absolutely amazing 2011. It’s hard to imagine, but this was the year I went ice racing in Sweden with Mazda, I drove my first Ferrari around the Fiorano racetrack and I felt the love of friends and family when both my son and wife were hospitalized. So in no apparent order and with the risk of overlooking someone, here you are: THANKS.

Erwin and Corrie, for putting up with me and giving me the opportunity to write and have adventures for Bright. Ivo, for being more human than PR. Dennis Homberg for your kindness. Mare, Merijn, Ritzo and Marijke, for offering shelter in a time of need. Nienke Maat for telling me what’s up. Vincent for giving me a supercharged V8 ride. Victor for being proof long distance relationships CAN work. Dirk for a nice party. Esther for cooking me crappy chili sin carne. Marten & Grietje for letting us use your trailer without us feeling guilty. Harm for drinking all my beer. Thea for being strong and loving. Rudo for always having my back. Katy Barber for surviving falling ceilings. Roger and Ronnie for Frankfurter adventures with white russians in bathrobes. Jur for having me on your team at -27. 2C for cucumbers. Bart and Mandy for electricity. Gerard for getting me some beautiful new doors and a floor to dance on. Ard for nagging me to work at his office. Hans for surviving 2011. The other Ard, for getting me some grade A transport to Berlin. Jan-Pier for being headstrong and positive. Hendrik-Jan for being patient. Albert for putting life before contracts. Remi Sinaï for his name and a little conversation on an Abu Dhabi rooftop. Allard for getting my son some shoes. Team Australia for nearly beating the Russians. Dunja for having me do the talking. And most of all: José and Joas for being their radiant selves every single day.

Yesterday night I hosted the shorts competition for Ciné Premières 2011. A film festival dedicated to French cinema. With some great entries it promised to be quite the night. And it didn’t disappoint. Especially meeting directors Julien Petit, Olivier Treiner, Nicholas Silhol and the actress Sarah Suco and talk to them about telling stories, finding work and the ‘Occupy’ movement was very enjoyable. Having to speak French, Dutch and English, pretty much at the same time, proved quite a challenge. Thankfully I got so many compliments about my hosting duties, I blushed the entire way home.

It’s been one hell of a week. I drove a Range Rover Evoque and an all electric Nissan Leaf. I was in the UMCG hospital for work and non-pleasure. I briefed, debriefed and rebriefed 12 students to make sure they come up with something special for their sponsors in the Online Exposure Rally (Seat, Volkswagen and Kia). Then I moderated a day about Social Media in Culture with the lovely Cor Hospes, Hilde Smetsers and Marjelle Over for K & C Drenthe. The ride home with Wia Aalders en Jorijn Storm (two colleagues from the Hanzehogeschool who happened to attend the day I was moderating) turned into a tiny adventure when Wia’s car stopped working.
You’d say it’s a good thing tomorrow’s a saturday after a week like this. But waddayouknow: I’m hosting Ciné Premieres short film night tomorrow in Groningen. Interviewing some of the French directors and actors in my best ‘Allo ‘Allo English. It’s all in that one word: moderation.

I first met the GT-R in Gran Turismo 2 on my Playstation. We got along from the get-go. A leftfield choice for speedmerchants. Insane amounts of horsepower out of very low key design and components. And the GT-R has grown from strength to strength. Last week I finally got to shake hands with Godzilla as the GT-R is also lovingly called. And it was no disappointment, @#$%#$^&Y, it is a rocketship. I won’t spoil the story I still have to write for Bright magazine about the 2012 GT-R, but believe me, it’s gonna be a belter.

Hi. I’m Rutger Middendorp (1977). My job is finding stories. Whether it is the story of a start-up company that wants to make a name for itself, a large enterprise that needs to tell people why they’re a great employer or literally a story that I write about something that intrigues me for a magazine. The central question is always: what is the story?
In the process I clarify, identify, enthuse, explain and speed up. In a wide range of settings. From a brainstorm at a University Hospital to an editorial item for Bright Magazine. From teaching young students to think conceptually to helping the Ministry of Economic Affairs explain what they do with more panache.

I fly solo sometimes, but work together with some of the finest people in their respective fields on other occassions. Be it graphic designers, photographers, code-gurus, filmmakers, project managers or musicians, they all have one thing in common: a genuine love for what they do. Which guarantees both a pleasant project and a wonderful product.

Here’s what some other people have to say about me.

As a regular contributor at Bright Rutger is one of our defining voices. Great associative skills, well informed on relevant developments, quick to gain insight and with that contagious sparkle in his eyes. It’s a joy working with him

— Erwin van der Zande, editor in chief Bright

Rutger is one of the most open-minded, social and creative people I’ve ever met. Moreover, he possesses the ability to relay his considerable knowledge of arts and ads onto the people around him. And he’s a nice guy.

— Maarten Boer, Buutvrij for life

Rutger is one of those people that lead the charge in new developments in the city of Groningen. A bit wild and weirdo, eloquent, sometimes too hasty and associative.
A trendsetter. For a senior like me, meeting someone like him can be mind-blowing, give food for thought, inspire awe, and sometimes feel like ‘this is not for me’. Rutger is Sturm und Drang. Nieuwe Garde. Chaotic. Energy.

— Hemmo Philbert, freelance project manager

Rutger: beard, glasses, hyperenthusiastic, uut Grunn, down to earth, always looking for opportunities and possibilities, likes to take charge, takes initiatives, thoughtful, inquisitive, assertive.

— Jack Brandsma, product- and interior designer

Rutger focuses on ‘the story’: what do you want to say? To whom? And why would this person want to hear your story? Both for developing concepts as constructing an advertising campaign this is the backbone and basis for success. Rutger doesn’t mince words and gives his opinion directly. If you can’t handle that, you’re not the right client for him, so don’t even bother him. If you like a strongheaded character, have something to say and aren’t afraid of trying something new, Rutger’s your man.

— Lykle de Vries, owner De Ondernemers

A creative spirit that listens well and asks useful questions to get under the skin of an organisation and come up with solutions to problems in a refreshing way.

— Mark-Pieter Bakker, owner Alfred Bakker Makelaars

Rutger is to creativity what an engine is to a Ferrari F50: he gets it going 100 km / hour in an insignificant 3.87 seconds. In every possible way Rutger is a one of a kind man / father / husband / child / business partner / friend. I don’t know anybody who approaches a car, his son, a job or rebuilding his house with the same knowledge, enthusiasm, thoroughness and humour.

— Victor Ponten, owner Habbekrats

In the two years that we have worked together rutger has proven to be a very nice person with great teamspirit, and a great defender of creativity. Always on the lookout for new experiences and better quality he has been a great partner for coworkers and clients with expertise from sales to quality assurance and definition of processes. At times a bit impatient, but always in an agreeable manner!

— Peter Boer, Lost Boys

As a result of my overwhelming amount of activities, I tend to end up in a newspaper article every now and then. [All in dutch]

Creatieve stad
Als er iets gezegd moet worden over het fenomeen “de Creatieve Stad” of de Creatieve Klasse”, dan kun je me altijd bellen voor een quote.

Daags
Interview over ontwerpen, opdrachtgevers en uit de hand gelopen hobbies.

Dag / Bright
Ik speel ook wel eens een beetje vals, want het artikel dat ik voor Bright schreef over de CMMN opensource auto, werd ook in de Dag geplaatst.

Gemengd Bedrijf – Dan bedenk ik mijn eigen baan wel. (volledige artikel)
Artikel over mensen die hun eigen baan bedacht hebben. Met foto van Harry Cock.

Jonge Honden / Getty Images
Als lid van het bestuur van Jonge Honden organiseerde ik de Getty Images Pitch, waarvoor creatief directeur Lewis Blackwell naar Amsterdam kwam.

Jonge Honden / Nieuwe Revu
Een dagje bij Nieuwe Revu op de redactie om te werken aan een Jonge Honden pitch.

Journaal op 3: innovatie 2010
Ik werd gevraagd door het NOS journaal op 3 om iets te zeggen over de innovaties die we in 2010 kunnen verwachten.

Marketing Groningen
Tijdens mijn werk bij Initio.DBK had ik het privilege met Maarten Corbijn en zijn ega te mogen werken.

Meld je held
De ABN AMRO bombardeerde mij tot één van haar helden en schonk mij daar een prachtige troffee voor.

Moois Magazine wint Dutch bloggies
Mijn hobbyproject Moois Magazine won in 2008 de dutch bloggies.  Daar werd nogal wat over geschreven.

Nieuwe Garde kick-off
In 2004 zag het netwerk voor jonge creatieven Nieuwe Garde het levenslicht. Artikelen daarover verschenen in de Items, Het Parool, NRC, Reclameweek en Dagblad van het Noorden. Ook na de kick-off voldoende persaandacht.

Nieuwe Garde Sinterklaasruilbeurs
De persaandacht voor de Nieuwe Garde sinterklaasruilbeurs was ongekend. Van 3FM tot Business News Radio, van een Australisch radiostation tot RTV Noord-Holland. Allemaal wilden ze een quote. Ook in de krant verschenen wat korte stukjes. Op de avond zelf waren twee tv-ploegen aanwezig in het kleine café waar we zaten.

Zoepnbrij op Meij
Een uit de hand gelopen grap liep uit op een film voor de Eemsmondweek over leven in Uithuizermeeden. En dat is nieuws.

As a result of the demise of the Bizner bank, I have a new bankaccount. So please update your records and send me all your money. Rabobank: 127486658

After another year filled with talks and typing I find myself in the midst of sawdust, tools and plans. I’m on a DIY sabbatical of about seven weeks. Two more to go. And although not every second is enjoyable (falling of the scaffolding comes to mind) there’s a genuine sense of achievement at the end of each day. Slowly but surely what was once a badly redecorated room with lowered ceilings regains its former glory with a few touches of 2010 here and there.

Last november me and Victor Ponten took a roadtrip to Liepaja. The documentary will be up in 2010. Here’s the teaser.

FIAT ADVENTURES | TEASER. from Victor D. Ponten on Vimeo.