Adam McKay, the renowned Oscar-winning filmmaker, is once again making waves with his latest project. After the success of his faux Chevron ad in 2022, which exposed the irony of oil companies portraying themselves as environmental stewards, McKay has teamed up with his long-time editor Hank Corwin to create “Car Commercial 419.” This new endeavor is a satire of classic automobile ads from the 1950s, reimagined for the era of climate change.
The concept behind “Car Commercial 419” involves utilizing vintage car commercial clips to highlight the evolving meaning of cars in American culture. McKay and Corwin spent months combing through decades of advertisements and stock footage to compile the piece, with Nicholas Britell providing the accompanying music. The end result is a thought-provoking exploration of how our changing climate is reshaping our perspectives on familiar symbols like cars.
McKay, in a statement to Deadline, expressed his inspiration for the project, noting how the footage of cars took on a new significance over the past year and a half. The short film, produced through McKay’s non-profit organization Yellow Dot Studios, aims to challenge the misinformation spread by oil companies and reflect on the shifting cultural narratives surrounding climate change.
Yellow Dot Studios, under the stewardship of producer Staci Roberts-Steele, has a track record of creating engaging and scientifically accurate content that challenges prevailing narratives. Previous viral videos from the studio include the acclaimed Chevron spoof ad and other socially-conscious projects.
Adam McKay, known for his work on films like “The Big Short,” “Vice,” and “Don’t Look Up,” continues to push boundaries with his unique storytelling style. Deadline previously reported that McKay’s next directorial project will also focus on climate change, solidifying his commitment to using his platform to address important societal issues.
With “Car Commercial 419,” McKay and Corwin have once again delivered a visually stunning and intellectually stimulating piece of media that invites audiences to reconsider the cultural significance of cars in the context of our changing world.