It sounds like the script for a Hollywood blockbuster - a tale
involving shootings and kidnappings, and a showdown between a top
commercials director and the world’s biggest ad agency. The hoo-haa
surrounding the new Tony Kaye-directed Bacardi commercial was for real
but it was only the beginning of the nightmare for the McCann-Erickson
chairman, Ben Langdon.
Having survived Kaye’s eccentric demands, Langdon thought he was home
and dry - until time passed and the film failed to appear. Losing
patience, and potentially his flagship client, Langdon demanded that
Kaye turn up at his office with the required 60-second first cut. He did
- but not before scaring the agency with ... a whopping 40-minute
version.
Kaye’s featurette may yet see the light of day. A source at Tony Kaye
Films confirmed rumours this week that the ’Pluto warrior’ wants to make
a short film of the work. What he couldn’t confirm is that Kaye expects
Langdon to cough up pounds 500,000 for it.
