Taken from the official website:
“ART & COPY is a powerful new film about advertising and inspiration. Directed by Doug Pray (SURFWISE, SCRATCH, HYPE!), it reveals the work and wisdom of some of the most influential advertising creatives of our time — people who’ve profoundly impacted our culture, yet are virtually unknown outside their industry. Exploding forth from advertising’s “creative revolution” of the 1960s, these artists and writers all brought a surprisingly rebellious spirit to their work in a business more often associated with mediocrity or manipulation: George Lois, Mary Wells, Dan Wieden, Lee Clow, Hal Riney and others featured in ART & COPY were responsible for “Just Do It,” “I Love NY,” “Where’s the Beef?,” “Got Milk,” “Think Different,” and brilliant campaigns for everything from cars to presidents. They managed to grab the attention of millions and truly move them. Visually interwoven with their stories, TV satellites are launched, billboards are erected, and the social and cultural impact of their ads are brought to light in this dynamic exploration of art, commerce, and human emotion.”
Art & Copy: still of Hal Riney, taken from the official website
Art & Copy: still of Lee Clow taken off the official website
Art & Copy: George Lois being interviewed, taken off the official website
I haven’t had the chance to catch Doug Pray’s work, but I’m certainly intrigued after I found out that he was the same guy who who directed HYPE!, a documentary about Seattle’s underground grunge scene.
Art & Copy was extremely insightful, and wasn’t bogged down the ‘talking head syndrome’ as I sort of expected – A characteristic I find familiar in many documentaries. Aside from interviews with ad creative greats like Hal Riney (RIP), Jeff Goodby, Mary Wells, George Lois and Lee Clow (as expected), the film also discussed the infrastructure behind advertising; like satellites and billboards.
I particularly enjoyed the theory that satellites exist because of advertising. The film mentioned that a fairly large percentage of satellites exist purely for commercial use. I admit, I don’t remember the exact figure, but it was a pretty impressive number – definitely more than most of us would expect. Director Doug Pray introduced to us the idea that advertising or the commerce in general allowed satellite technology to the state that it is at today. Who knew.
George Lois is my new hero. I’ve heard snippets about him in the past, particularly about his role as art director for Esquire magazine, but the film gave me a really intimate look at his creative thought process. I’m sure there wasn’t one person in that screening last night who walked out not wanting to be George Lois. He was crass and took crazy risks with his work that would seriously have made me shit my pants if I were the client. But he’s an absolute genius and is very, very good at what he does.
I did say yesterday that I expected to come out of the screening all inspired and motivated. Try, a complete 360degree turn around. It made me look at the work that I’ve produced so far, think about what made me do or think that at that specific point in my life, then kick myself for not taking a bigger risk. I’ve decided that my new motto in life will be: WWGLD.
What Would George Lois Do?
So yes, you must catch it. Doesn’t matter whether or not you’re in advertising; As long as you need a little prick of creativity in your work/everyday life, this film is bound to serve you well.
