Let’s face it. Because inspiration doesn’t work on a clock, the job of a marketer doesn’t stop at the end of the workday. The next big idea can emerge at any moment—even when watching a film. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite films—all containing brilliant thinking in action.
When you’re stuck, dial up a movie, and get inspired.
CONSULT THE BRAINTRUST
“Thank You for Smoking”
This 2005 satire tells the story of Big Tobacco’s chief lobbyist, Nick Naylor. The film’s MOD Squad (“Merchants of Death”), three lobbyists from the tobacco, alcohol, and firearms industries, meet regularly to discuss strategies to, in the words of the film’s reporter, “dupe the American people.” If we turn this parody on its head, we can’t help but see the power of a multidisciplinary inner circle of friends who regularly discuss work, trends, and making patients’ lives better.
ANALYZE EMOTIONS
“Inside Out”
Pixar delves into the inner mind in the 2015 story of a young girl named Riley, who’s struggling with her family’s move to a new city. The film takes place in her brain’s command center, controlled by five core motivators: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. The film explores the mind’s ability to filter through emotional lenses. For instance, the loss of her old home redefined Riley’s happy memories of childhood as grief-filled loss. For marketers, consider every time you get stuck reframing situations through these five emotions to yield new—and fascinating—storytelling angles.
DISCOVER STRANGE HISTORY
“Bathtubs Over Broadway”
In 1993, “Late Show with David Letterman” writer Steve Young was researching material for a show segment. He stumbled upon a curious soundtrack entitled “The Bathrooms Are Coming,” produced by American Standard. It was a corporate musical, staged for the company sales meeting. Steve needed more. He documents his journey of collecting these little-known musical gems, many written by Broadway composers. He then told us a new story—by looking at the past.
SEEK CONNECTION—AND OBSESSION
“Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control”
In 1997, director Errol Morris released this documentary about four obsessive professionals: a lion tamer, a naked mole rat scientist, a robotics scientist, and a topiary gardener. Morris, a master visual storyteller, made startling connections between seemingly dissimilar vocations, and in doing so, revealed a lot about life and humanity’s search for meaning. Our lesson? Spend time listening to as many passionate people as you can find. Make a note of the connections that you discover—and use it to inform your storytelling.
ROUTINES KILL CREATIVITY
“Stranger Than Fiction”
Harold Crick, played by Will Ferrell, lived a regimented life, and seldom, if ever, strayed from his schedule. While en route to perform a routine audit, Crick begins to hear a voice in his head—reciting a play-by-play of his life. When the voice foreshadows Crick’s imminent death, he immediately veers off his schedule to change the narration. Soon, life becomes less predictable—but more satisfying for Crick. Our takeaway: change up the routine. Get out of your own way. Try something new as if your life depends on it.
Happy viewing!
