15 May 2011

The Lion of Venice Beach


Joe Pytka.

Few outside the ad business know the name.  Billions- yeah- billions know his work.



TV commercial director Joe Pytka has worked with the legends of pop culture and sport- most notably Michael Jordan.  Just as effectively with Maddox, Glavine & McGuire, from those halcyon pre-steroid-scandal days of Major League Baseball.

And just when you'd think Pytka is about hitching his star to major celebrity, he'll toss you this:



 Agents know their star athletes' stock goes up- waaaaaay up- when Pytka directs them.  He makes them look clever.  Funny.  Hip. So do the brands who pay the freight; Pepsi.  IBM. Hallmark. Hancock Insurance. And so often... Nike. 



Joe Pytka has directed features ("Space Jam" was based on Nike spots he created with Michael Jordan and Warner Bros. cartoon characters;  a Richard Dreyfus comedy called "Let is Ride" falls under "W" for "What were they thinking?")

But his masterworks are packaged as broadcast ads.  A possible exception being his oh-so-stylish work on the Beatles' semi-reunion video "Free As a Bird," with more quiet allusions, subtle inserts and Easter eggs than the Sg. Pepper album cover:



To be continued...