Story First, Everything Else Last: Related Stories and Resources
The Related Stories and Resources page is where you can find additional material related to the essay Story First, Everything Else Last, by Terence C. Gannon. You can also listen to the original essay on your favourite podcasting platform where it appeared as part of the Not There Yet podcast read by the author.
These are the six films described in Story First, Everything Else Last in the order they are mentioned in the essay after which other Related Stories and Resources are found in chronological order.
The essay Story First, Everthing Else Last provided a great opportunity for author Terence C. Gannon to go back and write about some of his favourite short films — we used to call them TV commercials but they are really so much more than that. In addition to the films mentioned in the essay, above, here are additional stories and resources related to the essay, presented in reverse chronological order.
Porsche Family Porsche (via Vimeo) July 15, 2020 by Pierre Pironet. Back in April of 2019, we added the first video in this series which featured blues guitarist Thierry Plas and his classic Porsche Carrera 3.2. This seems like a follow up with some of the same themes: a classic Porsche — a Targa this time — as well as engaging visuals, soundtrack, characters and story. We like to think this is the ad Porsche would have made for this car when it was brand new in the late 1980s.
Never Too Far Down Nike, May 23, 2020 by Wieden+Kennedy Portland. With 85 million views in just its first three days, Nike seemingly has lost none of its ability to recruit top talent to help tell truly compelling stories which perfectly reflect the the zeitgeist of the times. How to maintain brand profile in the midst of a global crisis? Nike shows us all how it’s done. LeBron James narrates while Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross cover David Bowie’s Life on Mars? in this 90 second short film. It’s magnificent and evokes many of the same emotions as Underdog.
Hello Light | ID. BUZZ Volkswagen Group France via Vimeo, June 5, 2019 by Daniel Wolfe of Somesuch. A particularly intriguing aspect to this ad is that it starts off with a fleeting reference to the diesel emissions scandals which embroiled Volkswagen a few years ago. The visual narrative is of the rethinking and reinvention of Volkswagen after that event. It cleverly hints at a new, electric version of the beloved VW Microbus. Sadly, that vehicle is not due out until 2022. We think this is a beautifully made ad and is a powerful aid to getting the Volkswagen story straight again.
#IWCPilot. I can stop time. But nothing stops me. IWC Watches via YouTube, May 2, 2019. “When two icons meet, the time stands still: Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport F1 driver Lewis Hamilton freezes time to meet another icon, the Silver Spitfire.” The ad seems to ask: if you had the power to stop time, what might you do with that power? Champion Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton seems to have come up with the best idea so far.
Porsche Porsche (via Vimeo), April 30, 2019 by Pierre Pironet. There are times when storytelling transcends language which is clearly the case in this video which is in French with English subtitles. In fact, the use of French almost enhances the experience for the viewer by adding a real element of authenticity. The filmmakers juxtaposition of the human subject, guitarist Thierry Plas, and the car creates a multi-layered narrative which is really compelling. Not to mention that we totally want Thierry’s life: ripping around Europe in a classic Porsche and playing blues guitar.
Squarespace | The Making of Dreams and Fairy Tales (Behind the Scenes) Squarespace via YouTube, February 6th, 2019. A few days after the release of Dream It and Build It (see below) it only made sense to release the Making of… It reveals some interesting details about the technical process of making the three films. However, it goes one step further — meta, as people like to say these days — and features the ‘Dreams and Fairy Tales’ of the filmmakers. It adds a whole new beautiful layer of meaning to the mini-trilogy.
Squarespace | Build It with Idris Elba SquareSpace via YouTube, January 30th, 2019 directed by Spike Jonze. Storytelling can come in chapters: director Jonze takes just one of short takes out of the original spot and expands out on it. It seemingly takes the viewer inside the filmmaking process — as if it capturing a private moment between takes — as well as serving as a brilliant counterpoint to the more serious themes from the original ad.
Squarespace | Dream It with Idris Elba SquareSpace via YouTube, January 30th, 2019 directed by Spike Jonze. This is one of those films where the first time you see it you really wonder what the heck is going on. But regardless, it has some sort of compelling quality that makes you want to stop and watch it again and again. We’re still not sure but if you have figured it out, please leave a comment below we would love to hear what you think.
Tamir Moscovici: Filmmaker The WorkNotWork Show, March 8th, 2017 with Terence C. Gannon. “My intrigue with Urban Outlaw led to a happy obsession with Moscovici’s work for a time culminating with an extended interview I conducted with the filmmaker.” This is that interview.
