Academy-award winner directs advertising projects with powerful social themes for Tylenol and Coca-Cola
Dustin Lance Black soared to international fame in 2009 when he won an Academy Award for his screenplay for the film Milk and inspired millions with his stirring acceptance speech invoking LGBT rights. He went on to become a leading spokesperson for the LGBT community through his play 8, about the fight against California’s anti-same-sex marriage proposition, and as one of the founding board members of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, whose efforts led to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision striking down the discriminatory proposition. That ruling is viewed as an important precursor to last month’s U.S. Supreme Court decision making same-sex marriage legal nationwide.
With marriage equality now the law of the land, Black is refocusing his energies on his filmmaking career, without, however, lessening his commitment to equality and activism. Currently working on a mini-series for ABC about the early gay rights movement, he also finds himself suddenly in high demand as a commercial director through Los Angeles-based Bully Pictures. Black recently directed projects for Tylenol through JWT New York and Coca-Cola through Pereira & O’Dell that evoke powerful stories about acceptance, tolerance and equal rights.
For Tylenol, Black directed a commercial featuring a variety of non-traditional couples, one a male couple with a newborn child. “Family isn’t defined by who you love,” concludes the voice-over, “but how.”
“I respond to stories that are impactful, that can help people out,” says Black. “With Tylenol, I thought it furthered the conversation. It’s not just about LGBT families, it’s about a whole slew of families who might be treated differently because they don’t fit a certain mode. To have LGBT families included with mixed-race families and adoptive families also built on love…it’s inclusive and accepting in a way that could be very helpful to a lot of parents and kids out there. I thought, that’s worth making time for.”
More ambitious is Black’s work for Coca-Cola, which includes a series of three short films for Latin American markets. Conceived by Pereira & O'Dell, the films center on teenagers facing “crossroads moments” where friendship triumphs over cruelty. The first two films deal with spiteful rumors, broken romances and misunderstandings that are often deeply hurtful to young people. The third film, The Text, centers on the friendship between two Brazilian boys and what happens when one learns that the other is gay.
“I direct these spots because I feel that they can have an impact,” says Black. “Yes, they are selling a product, but you can sell a product while influencing society in positive ways. These are ads that are doing that.”
Black sees little difference between his work as a filmmaker and as an activist. “To me, it’s one and the same,” he explains. “Whether you are filing a Supreme Court case or making a film, it’s all about storytelling. If you want to win in court, you need to tell your story well and in an emotionally compelling manner. When you make a film, you do the same thing.”
Black’s work for Tylenol and Coke are garnering wide media attention and stirring debate. Bully Pictures executive producer Jason Forest is not surprised. He says that Black delivers something often lacking in advertising: truthfulness. “He’s making his mark in the commercial world by telling stories that touch upon the LGBT community culture with authenticity,” Forest says. “He’s dispelling the clichés and the stereotypes and replacing them with honesty. He is just a fantastic storyteller, and I have had the wonderful pleasure all these years as a friend and commercial collaborator to watch him develop into a brilliant director.”
“I’m turning a mirror on the societies where these ads appear to show them what is already there but isn’t often discussed or embraced in an open manner,” says Black. “I’m reflecting back the best of what we are.”
About Bully Pictures
Bully Pictures is a full-service commercial broadcast, web viral, branded content production company located in Santa Monica, California. The company’s roster includes Javier Aguilera, Dustin Lance Black, Fredrik Callinggard, Peter Care, Anne Fletcher, Gaute Hesthagen, Dave Klaiber, Jonathan Nyquist, Justin Simien, Johan Stahl, Taylor Steele, Morten Tyldum and Tripp & Tyler. For more information, write info@bullypictures.com or visit http://www.bullypictures.com/.
Video Credits
Client: Coca-Cola Latin America Agency Pereira & O’Dell
PJ Pereira, chief creative officer; Jaime Robinson, executive creative director; Rob Lambrechts, Rafael Rizuto, creative directors; Luke Acret, sr. art director; Omid Amid, sr. copywriter; Moses Kelany, sr. designer; Ana Cortat, chief strategy officer; Sara Lezama, strategist; Jeff Ferro, VP production; Victoria Whitlow, sr. film producer; Collin Kriner, trailer, interactive editor; Aaron Rodriguez, sr. production designer.
Production: Bully Pictures
Dustin Lance Black, director/writer; Carlos Veron, DP; Jason Forest, exec producer; Gunner Clancey, producer.
Visual Effects: Laundry!
Editorial Umlaut Films
Alex Rodriguez editor.
Music: Theme Music: One Direction, “Clouds”; Amine Ramer, music supervisor; Grayson Sanders for Music Dealers, original score composer.
Contact:Jason Forest
Executive Producer
Bully Pictures
310 395 6500
Contact Jason via email
Media:
Linda Rosner
ArtisansPR
310.837.6008
Contact Linda via email
2024 AICP Awards Tour Concludes with Stops in Dallas and Chicago
The 2024 AICP Awards Tour concludes with stops in Dallas and Chicago this month as it wraps up its tour of cities across the U.S. The National Tour brought presentations, panels and screenings to marketers, advertising agencies, production and post production companies. The AICP Awards will be in Dallas on Thursday, November 14th, at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, followed by the Chicago event, set for Thursday, November 21st at The Old Post Office. Tickets are available now for both events at www.aicp.com. In Dallas, the program kicks off at 6:45 pm with a happy hour, followed by the screening and panel discussion at 7:30. The evening ends with a networking reception from 8:30 to 11:30. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is located at 2201 N. Field Street in Dallas. Appearing in Dallas will be Abe Garcia, Chief Creative Officer, Dieste; Julia Melle, Director of Brand and Content, Southwest Airlines; and Isaac Pagán Muñoz, VP, Executive Creative Director of PepsiCo Foods. The panel will review selected winners from the suite of the AICP Awards programs, offering insights into what made them rise to the top of their respective categories and share their viewpoints on key trends in the industry. The Chicago stop starts at 6:00pm with a happy hour, followed by the presentation and screening at 7:00pm. A reception caps the event, starting at 8:00pm and concluding at 11:30pm. The Old Post Office is located at 433 W Van Buren Street in Chicago. The panel there will feature 2024 AICP Awards Curators and Winners from the marketer, agency, production and post production sectors who’ll highlight this year’s winners. The conversation will include a discussion about the winning work, including insights... Read More