High Five: George Sholley
I love all art, including great advertising. Werner Herzog is my voicemail narrator. I believe that Kendrick Lamar is one of the most important poets of the past 500 years. I am learning tennis, finally. My chihuahua’s name is Audrey. I believe entertainment is the business we’re in, as much as any TV show or movie. I believe we have the greatest job in the world, and every new brief is an opportunity to make something to remember...
Truth - 'Body Bag'
Agency: Crispin Porter & Bogusky x Arnold
I watched this ad repeatedly on MTV in my family room and it was deeply powerful. Teenage cynicism - evaporated. I even had the TRUTH stickers from inside the folds of Spin magazine on the walls of my bedroom. Later on I would get to know and work for the minds that made it, including Dave Rolfe and Pete Favat.
BMW - 'Beat the Devil'
Agency: Fallon
Production: RSA
Director: Tony Scott
I downloaded the BMW Films collection via my parents’ 56K modem. It literally took hours. I then watched them in all their glory ~100 times each. My fascination with branded content sustains nearly 25 years later. I got to work with Greg Hahn and David Lubar at BBDO, a career highlight.
Facebook - 'Never Lost'
Agency: Droga5 New York
Post: Blacksmith
Sound: Wave Studios
The spoken word piece made the spot. The timing and profundity of the message - released in the early days of the Covid pandemic - was enough to give me chills then...and now.
Chevrolet - 'New Generation'
Agency: Commonwealth
Production: Park Pictures
Director: David Chase
To me, ‘The Sopranos’ is the greatest creative work of the 21st century in any medium. 15 years after the series finale, David Chase was tapped to direct an update. The only prerequisite? It had to match the original opening shot for shot. This is one of my recent favourites, because: a) it’s fully Chase’s Sopranos in 2022, mind-blown emoji, and b) it successfully leverages the franchise in a way that gave Chevy an ownable Sopranos folklore milestone in the present decade - a coup for all Sopranos fanatics like myself.
Burberry - 'Open Spaces'
Agency & Production: Riff Raff Films
Director: Megaforce
Post: MPC
Editorial: Final Cut London
Sound: 750mph
The craft of this piece is often referenced, perhaps ad nauseam. So, I also love it because of the avant-garde choreography. To me, great ads feel timeless, just like great movies or music. This one is a veritable 'Exile on Main Street' of advertising.
