If you haven’t already, you should definitely make plans to see Art & Copy, playing this week at The Little Theatre. The film, directed by Doug Pray, details the creative genius of several relatively well-known and highly influential advertising creatives, such as George Lois, Mary Wells, Dan Wieden, Lee Clow, Hal Riney, and Rich Silverstein, among others, and explores the processes behind the creation of some of the most significant and moving ad campaigns of the last half-century.
It’s not a how-to guide to creating good ads, and it’s not necessarily guaranteed you’ll create better ads by watching the film, but you probably will walk out of the theater with your creative batteries recharged, and inspired to be a part of something equally impressive. Which in turn leads to great work. Something the RAF is all for.
Art & Copy
Playing at The Little Theatre, 240 East Ave., Downtown Rochester
Tuesday, 9/22 at 6:40pm and 9:10pm
Wednesday, 9/23 at 6:40pm and 9:10pm
Thursday, 9/24 at 6:40pm and 9:10pm (FINAL SHOWING)
More details on thelittle.org
Official movie website
— Scott Wolf
I saw this documentary last night at the Little. A how-to-guide to great ads, it’s not. But what the documentary is, is a historical perspective on how the heavy hitters in the ad business grew and suceeded by following similar paths. Each took risks. Each looked beyond their time. Each saw every opportunity big or small as one that could break convention and turn the world on its side.
There is also the insinuation that bad advertising created by committee has polluted America and degraded consumers, but good advertising–is art. Such as: Nike’s, Just Do It., the campaign for the new Ipod, or Got Milk? I found it interesting that even these ideas were fragile at best when sent to the board room for the client presentation. The moral? Stick to you gut, and let your client benefit from the expertise they pay you for. The Tommy Hilfiger section was particularly good in this regard.
Will you fail? Sometimes, but fail and move on. It’s the only way to succeed.