Bicoastal/ international Propaganda Films has signed London-based directing duo Big TV!-a.k.a. Andy Delaney and Monty Whitebloom-for worldwide commercial and music video representation. Per the deal, Propaganda will market and provide production support for Big TV! through London-based Studio, the directors’ newly launched creative workshop.
Delaney said the intention with Studio, formed by him, Whitebloom and their producer Jason Dwyer, is to funnel some of the profits from their commercial and music video work into artistic endeavors. Some projects already in development include an as-yet-untitled book on clouds by Whitebloom, and a compilation CD of contemporary classical music by Artificial, a group of musicians who score much of Big TV!’s commercial work.
Propaganda VP of commercials Colin Hickson explained that Delaney, Whitebloom and Dwyer are "very well connected to the artistic community," dating back to their art school days at Goldsmiths College, London, and that they wanted to create a company to explore various disciplines and experimental ideas.
"I had the privilege of working with Andy and Monty when I was an agency producer [at WCRS, London]," said Hickson. He noted that, while at WCRS, he had been impressed with the directors’ ideas and execution when he had teamed up with them on campaigns for Carling beer and First Direct bank.
Big TV! is about to embark on its first assignment for Propaganda, a music video for Usher’s "Pop Your Collar."
Best known for the use of visual effects and strong imagery in storytelling, Big TV! is also in development on its first feature, How Life Is, which has attracted "high-profile acting talent," according to Hickson. Delaney said the script, "an absurd black comedy" set in New York, was written by screenwriter/playwright Douglas Carter Beane (the film To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar; the play When Bees in Honey Drown). The directors plan to shoot in February or March 2001.
Big TV! was previously represented in the spots and clips arenas by London-based Academy Commercials, which is marketed in the U.S. by rep firm Creative Management Partners, bicoastal and Chicago. Delaney said he and Whitebloom shifted over to Propaganda in part because they work regularly in the U.S. and were without a stateside production base. He added, "We like the people here and have known them for some time. And they were very keen on [Studio] and very helpful in structuring it."
Big TV!’s final assignment through Academy was "Places," an international ad for LeisurePlanet.com, out of BBDO’s offshoot agency Atmosphere, New York. The spot encourages people to "find new worlds to think about," with images of people snorkeling, boating, embracing, worshiping and horseback-riding in exotic settings. A young girl narrates the montage, asking philosophical questions in a stream-of-consciousness manner, such as: "Why do I dream in the daytime? What will become of me? When will I fall in love?"
During their tenure at Academy, the Big TV! partners also helmed Lauren Hill’s music clip for "Doo Wop (That Thing)," which took home awards for video of the year, best R&B video, best female video and best art direction at the ’99 MTV Video Music Awards (SHOOT, 9/17/99, p. 7). "Tipperary," which the pair directed for Mercedes via Merkley Newman Harty, New York, and Academy, was short-listed at this year’s Cannes International Advertising Festival. The ad features a barbershop quartet singing the World War I song "It’s a Long Way to Tipperary" in far-flung locations-from the Australian outback to the Irish countryside. In each setting, a Mercedes drives by the singers, who weather wind, rain and snow. The duo has also recently directed videos for Macy Gray’s "Still," and George Michael’s "As."
Big TV! moved to Academy from bicoastal/international @radical.media, which signed Delaney and Whitebloom in ’96 (SHOOT, 7/26/96, p. 7). During their two-year tenure there, they helmed an ad for Reebok featuring track-and-field star Moses Kiptnui, which was created by Leo Burnett, London, and aired in the U.S. and overseas. Big TV!’s additional @radical.media-produced work includes Everything but the Girl’s video "Wrong," as well as ads for the Eurostar train via St. Lukes, London, and the Automobile Association, out of HHCL, London.
Prior to @radical.media, Big TV! was repped by now defunct Spots Films in the U.K., and in the U.S. by Los Angeles-based Palomar Pictures. The Palomar stint was preceded by a term at Limelight Commercials’ now defunct U.S. operation, which signed the duo in ’91 (SHOOT, 5/30/91, p. 6).
Propaganda VP of sales Dana Balkin and Mal Ward, both based in Hollywood, handle the company’s West Coast sales. Midwest sales are handled by Chicago-based Dawn Rao. New York-based Matt Factor and Tara Ford cover the East Coast.
