"Prometheus" opens June 8, and it marks a welcome return by director Ridley Scott to the "Alien" franchise. He directed the first, and best, version of the aliens vs. humans epic in 1979. It was only Scott's second big feature.
But Scott wasn't a young man when he directed it. He was about 42. For the previous 11 years he'd been one of Britain's most famous commercial directors, helming Ridley Scott Associates. Even after he became one of the most famous movie directors of the modern era — he went on to film "Blade Runner," "Gladiator," and "Thelma & Louise" — he continued to direct campaigns for the ad world.
In fact, more people have probably seen his TV spots than have seen his movies. He's also responsible for one of the most famous commercials ever made—"1984," Apple's Super Bowl commercial of that year.
Scott's commercial work is characterized by the same things his movies are: They're richly detailed and often darkly atmospheric.
"Bike" for Hovis, 1973.
Scott's ad for Hovis, a U.K. bakery, still pretty much defines "bread" for many Britons, even 30 years later. All the Scott signatures are already here: it's dark, detailed and moody.
"Share the Fantasy" for Chanel No.5, 1979.
Out in the sunshine for a change, but it's still très moody.
Note: That's Star Trek's Leonard Nimoy doing the voiceover.
"1984" for Apple, in that year.
Tough to understate the impact of this ad. It's yet another dystopian shadow-world from Scott. Its length and cinematic ambition turned the Super Bowl into the premier showcase for big, new TV commercials.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Please follow Advertising on Twitter and Facebook.
