BARCLAYS | Fluent in Finance | 2003
Samuel L. Jackson Speaks the Language of Money / Barclays "Fluent in Finance"
In 2003, the British bank Barclays brought in none other than Samuel L. Jackson. The director was Jonathan Glazer, who made "Sexy Beast." With a lineup this impressive, they created a series of commercials about money.
The insight
Under the strapline "Money speaks in many languages," the campaign explores themes like understanding the people you deal with when handling money, and the secrets surrounding money, all delivered through Samuel L. Jackson's overwhelming presence.
The idea
The campaign consists of four 40-second commercials in which Jackson walks toward the camera, talking about different aspects of money. The music is by Astor Piazzolla. The pairing of BBH and Glazer also produced that famous Levi's classic.
What happened
The campaign won a Diploma at British Arrows 2003.
Afterthought
This commercial is over 20 years old, but Samuel L. Jackson's presence and Glazer's direction surely still hold up today. How do you tell a story about something as abstract as money through film? I think the thought that went into that question shows in the casting and the direction here.
Awards
- Cannes Lions Gold 2003
