This Is Modern Art Commercial
CONCEPT, SCRIPT & DIRECTING
This Is Modern Art was a DCPA Off-Center show that focused on a group of graffiti artists who question what gets get to be defined as “fine art” and who gets to decide. With only 15 seconds to work with, the most effective route seemed to be focusing on graffiti visuals and allowing the VO to take a little more contextual weight. With zero budget, my producer and I dug the sales racks for the costumes and scouted a nearby alleyway for the shoot. And in true Colorado fashion, a massive blizzard a day before the shoot made pretty much every street and sidewalk a treacherous path, making it dangerous for our cast to walk on and eliminating all of the spaces where we could use spray paint without getting in trouble. So I made the call to do the paint in post, and we found the driest space we could find for a quick (and cold) shoot. I wish it was better, but considering the limitations, it got the point across and it got D-O-N-E.
CONCEPT WRITEUP
We’ll put out viewers face-to-face with a can of spray paint as graffiti artists tag the camera lens until it is completely covered. We’d pull this off by putting a big sheet of plexi or plastic between the artist and the camera as they spray. The spot will end with the camera panning out to reveal they have written “This Is Modern Art” in graffiti lettering (we’ll put this on the wall in post production). The actors will pretend like they’ve just finished up their work and slyly walk or run away.
SCRIPT
VOICE OVER: Some people call us vandals. They wanna lock us up and erase us from the streets we walk. But we are artists, and all we want to is to be heard.
SHOTS: Camera is set up like it’s a POV of a wall that is being painted, with plexi glass in front of the lens. The three artists sneakily approach it. One pulls out a spray can and starts tagging the lens and covering it up. The other two anxiously keep watch and also lean in to watch the work being done.
SHOTS: Camera is set up like it’s a POV of a wall that is being painted, with plexi glass in front of the lens. The three artists sneakily approach it. One pulls out a spray can and starts tagging the lens and covering it up. The other two anxiously keep watch and also lean in to watch the work being done.
We’re making our mark in This Is Modern Art. Get your tickets at denvercenter.org.
SHOTS: Cut a wide shot of the crew in front of a brick wall that now reads “This Is Modern Art.” They pat each other on the shoulder in approval and take off down the street out of frame.
SUPER: After the show name is said in the VO, add “Tickets at denvercenter.org” under the tag on the wall
SHOTS: Cut a wide shot of the crew in front of a brick wall that now reads “This Is Modern Art.” They pat each other on the shoulder in approval and take off down the street out of frame.
SUPER: After the show name is said in the VO, add “Tickets at denvercenter.org” under the tag on the wall
ALTERNATE VOICEOVER
People say rules are meant to be broken.
And if the world is busted anyway, maybe breaking it will make it better.
We are artists, and This Is Modern Art. Get your tickets at denvercenter.org.
SPOTIFY/PANDORA SCRIPT
We all want to leave a mark on our world, but sometimes the world won’t let us. As graffiti artists, we risk it all to be heard – even if it means facing some serious consequences. Our work is valuable even if it isn’t in a museum, and we’re here to show you why. Let our crew change the way you view your community in This Is Modern Art, an eye-opening new play at the Denver Center from March 22nd through April 15th. Click the banner to get tickets starting at $25.
