Great TV Commercials by Filmmakers

See if you know which of the following sells what:

1. Two guys talking in their car about how one of them uses the word ‘like’ a lot and suddenly…crash.

2. A guy wearing a Sun costume making breakfast for his kid.

3. “Hello, I’m a Mac. And I’m a PC”

Okay, the 3rd one is a no brainer. But then again, I can’t expect you to be a TV viewer either. I personally know a few people who don’t own a TV and don’t care for one. Anyway, #s 1 and 2 were for Volkswagen’s ‘Safe Happens’ and Jimmy Dean’s ‘Happy Breakfast’, respectively.

The kicker, though, is…all 3 were filmed by 1 director. None other than Phil Morrison, director of feature film Junebug.

Did you know documentary filmmaker Errol Morris is a successful commercial director? PBS viewers probably remember the Photo Booth commercial he’d directed. Filmmakers Francois Girard [The Red Violin] and Alfonso Cuaron [Y Tu Mama Tambien] have also made commercials for PBS. Ridley Scott [Gladiator, Black Hawk Down] has made, lord knows how many, but he’ll forever be known for one (see below)

Jonathan Glazer, on the other hand, is a rare one…a triple-threat, if you will [another, Tony Kaye]. His film [Birth, Sexy Beast], commercial, and music video [Radiohead, Massive Attack] works have been extraordinary. The guy knows how to tell stories with visually arresting style.

So, without further ado, here are some commercials I liked a lot. Some brilliant storytelling there. I don’t know who directed the AIDS and MTV Streaker commercial. Let me know if you do. A lot of Jonathan Glazer’s. Are there commercials you’ve found extraordinary?

Unknown - AIDS [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p357elS0lq8]

Unknown - MTV Streaker [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbyOIIt0rbI]

Ridley Scott - Apple 1984 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R706isyDrqI]

Francois Girard - PBS Composer (Walter Boudreau) [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4txDWnSWG9U]

Alfonso Cuaron - PBS Fish [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKEf-Sc6ytQ]

Jonathan Glazer - Guinness [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkqzK1wp7vI]

Jonathan Glazer - Sony Bravia [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A08HQP_SlOA]

Jonathan Glazer - Levis [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hol8oahN0qE]

Jonathan Glazer - Volkswagen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjE7jvGt6UA]

Bonus Videos:

Jonathan Glazer - Radiohead: Karma Police [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2tVublax0k]

Jonathan Glazer - Massive Attack: Karmacoma [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGivD-ssCcE]