get these nets
Veteran
*trailer
THEY CHANGED THE FACE OF ADVERTISING FOREVER!
Amid the surging Black Power and Civil Rights Movements in 1970s Chicago, a young black advertising genius, Tom Burrell ignited a revolution in the advertising industry, one known for failure to reflect positive images of Black culture in national television commercials. Tom emerged as a catalyst for change, championing his concept of "Positive Realism” a reflection of positive images of Black consumers with the bold assertion that "Black people are not dark-skinned white people," he revolutionized the positive portrayal of black culture in mainstream media.
WHAT’S BLACK ABOUT IT? BURRELL: ADVERTISING REVOLUTION" is a vibrant documentary that dives into Tom Burrell's revolutionary impact on the advertising industry. Burrell had to fight against the status quo: racism. The documentary is a celebration of his push for authenticity, diversity, and inclusion on Madison Avenue which sparks a dialogue on the viability of the newly-discovered black consumer purchasing power.
Spanning from the '70s to the 2000s, this film spotlights Burrell’s award-winning vintage commercials celebrated for showcasing black actors, comedians, and chart-topping black artists in cameo roles for major products. These popular ads attracted iconic brands such as Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Toyota which eagerly lined up to be in business with the Burrell Advertising Agency. The legendary “Afro Sheen” products campaign series featured on the first national broadcast of “Soul Train,” the “hippest trip In America.” This opportunity opened the door to black products, and black entrepreneurs to national mainstream media.
The Coca-Cola “Doo Wop” commercial gained historical significance as the first nationally televised advertisement to feature black culture. A nostalgic fusion of 1950s and 60s black music, it captured the essence of the era and catapulted Burrell into the stratosphere of advertising. The visual impact of a youthful ensemble of black teens crooning from a stoop in New York City was an instant, mammoth hit across America. Burrell went viral before viral was a thing. This iconic commercial was recognized with the prestigious Clio Award, the accolade often regarded as the Oscars of the advertising world.
Burrell and his creative team went on to craft Sprite’s uniquely impactful “Obey Your Thirst” campaign, which was the first and only soft drink brand to exclusively feature emerging hip-hop artists. The series of commercials helped propel talent like Kurtis Blow, Mos Def, Common, Nas, and Missy Elliott to global fame. This strategy further cemented Burrell’s pioneering approach within the advertising industry and established what we know today as “niche marketing.”
THEY CHANGED THE FACE OF ADVERTISING FOREVER!
Amid the surging Black Power and Civil Rights Movements in 1970s Chicago, a young black advertising genius, Tom Burrell ignited a revolution in the advertising industry, one known for failure to reflect positive images of Black culture in national television commercials. Tom emerged as a catalyst for change, championing his concept of "Positive Realism” a reflection of positive images of Black consumers with the bold assertion that "Black people are not dark-skinned white people," he revolutionized the positive portrayal of black culture in mainstream media.
WHAT’S BLACK ABOUT IT? BURRELL: ADVERTISING REVOLUTION" is a vibrant documentary that dives into Tom Burrell's revolutionary impact on the advertising industry. Burrell had to fight against the status quo: racism. The documentary is a celebration of his push for authenticity, diversity, and inclusion on Madison Avenue which sparks a dialogue on the viability of the newly-discovered black consumer purchasing power.
Spanning from the '70s to the 2000s, this film spotlights Burrell’s award-winning vintage commercials celebrated for showcasing black actors, comedians, and chart-topping black artists in cameo roles for major products. These popular ads attracted iconic brands such as Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Toyota which eagerly lined up to be in business with the Burrell Advertising Agency. The legendary “Afro Sheen” products campaign series featured on the first national broadcast of “Soul Train,” the “hippest trip In America.” This opportunity opened the door to black products, and black entrepreneurs to national mainstream media.
The Coca-Cola “Doo Wop” commercial gained historical significance as the first nationally televised advertisement to feature black culture. A nostalgic fusion of 1950s and 60s black music, it captured the essence of the era and catapulted Burrell into the stratosphere of advertising. The visual impact of a youthful ensemble of black teens crooning from a stoop in New York City was an instant, mammoth hit across America. Burrell went viral before viral was a thing. This iconic commercial was recognized with the prestigious Clio Award, the accolade often regarded as the Oscars of the advertising world.
Burrell and his creative team went on to craft Sprite’s uniquely impactful “Obey Your Thirst” campaign, which was the first and only soft drink brand to exclusively feature emerging hip-hop artists. The series of commercials helped propel talent like Kurtis Blow, Mos Def, Common, Nas, and Missy Elliott to global fame. This strategy further cemented Burrell’s pioneering approach within the advertising industry and established what we know today as “niche marketing.”
