7 Films and Shows Every Marketer Can Learn From (Plus a Bonus)
Marketers have to follow trends and stay current, and everything changing so fast can be exhausting. Sometimes you should just take a break and enjoy a good film or show.
If you work in communications, advertising, sales or marketing, the shows, films and documentaries below will entertain you and teach you a few lessons along the way. Let’s go!
Mad Men
Set in the 1960s and centred on the mysterious, talented ad man Don Draper, this is a drama about one of New York’s most prestigious advertising agencies.
“Change is neither good nor bad. It simply is.”
Why it’s on the list
A lot happens in this show, but if you watch it through a marketer’s or entrepreneur’s lens, much of it is about business. Even at the most emotional moments, things can come back to work. It’s full of tips on how to become a successful businessperson.
Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things
This documentary follows people who sold everything they owned to live a minimalist life, and explores the question “How can you have more with less?” through philosophically satisfying visuals.
“You can never get enough of what you don’t really want.”
Why it’s on the list
Look at the last ten years, when brand after brand made radical decisions to simplify their logos and other brand elements. The perspective you get from this documentary can improve your marketing decisions. Less creates calm in our minds: less text, less information, less clutter, fewer photos. In marketing and advertising, the copy and designs that speak to your audience best are the clean and simple ones.
Thank You for Smoking
This comedy-drama follows Nick Naylor, the spokesman for a big tobacco company, as he defends the tobacco industry while trying to be a role model for his 12-year-old son.
“That’s the beauty of argument. If you argue correctly, you’re never wrong.”
Why it’s on the list
People want to hear what they want to believe, which makes this film a perfect lesson that anything can be marketed. As the quote says, even when you’re on the losing side, a strong argument can save you. The lessons here can help you come out on top in a tough negotiation.
The LEGO Movie
This film isn’t about content marketing, but the film itself is a perfect example of content marketing.
“Sorry, it’s just business… Lord Business.”
Why it’s on the list
Content marketing is about explaining the problems a brand’s products and services solve in a way that speaks to its audience, rather than just putting the brand front and centre. With the brand name in the title, the film is a bit of a debatable case, but content marketers still have a lot to learn from The LEGO Movie.
Animator Chris McKay put it this way: “We took a 90-minute LEGO commercial and dedicated it to celebrating fun, creativity and exploration. And we had fun doing it.”
Black Mirror
Every episode of Black Mirror tells a different story, but they all focus on one theme: how screens, the black mirrors, affect our lives.
“So many choices, you end up not knowing which one you want.”
Why it’s on the list
Personally, I’m not a fan of productions with obvious metaphors, like The Platform or Snowpiercer, because I don’t think something you could say in an Instagram post needs to become a film. Black Mirror, on the other hand, proves how deeply this kind of content can affect you when it’s done well.
The show explores the changes social media, artificial intelligence and virtual reality could bring to our lives. Every episode tells a different story, and each one will give you plenty to think about.
Inside Out
When Riley moves to San Francisco, her emotions (Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness) clash over how to cope with a new city, a new house and a new school.
“I’m too sad to walk. Just give me a few… hours.”
Why it’s on the list
First of all, it’s a lovely film, but beyond that it carries an important lesson: we need all of our emotions to succeed. Salespeople need high emotional intelligence. If you’re holding something in, people will read it on your face. Hundreds of studies say emotional intelligence is one of the key things that separates a bad salesperson from a good one. If you need to connect with customers and stay motivated, you need high emotional intelligence.
The Social Network
The story of Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg building the site that would become Facebook.
“Taking the entire social experience of college and putting it online…”
Why it’s on the list
This film touches on something today’s generation can see itself in: Zuckerberg trying to turn college into an online experience because of his own social weaknesses. He’s very smart, and he builds the solution to his own problem.
Throughout the film, we see Zuckerberg put his effort into building a great product instead of spending money on advertising. In his view, if the platform is better and its users love it, it will attract more users on its own.
Bonus: The Office
The American adaptation of the sitcom originally created by British comedian Ricky Gervais is about an office, but not the kind of office you know.
“Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.”
Why it’s on the list
The Office can be hard to watch, because you’ll often cringe on the characters’ behalf. Despite that, its fans call it the funniest show ever made, and I strongly recommend you join them.
The Office has important lessons for salespeople. Michael Scott, the office’s much-mocked boss, makes absurd decisions and does irrational things, but he’s a very good salesman. That’s what made him manager of the Scranton branch.
As I said about Inside Out, emotional intelligence is essential for a salesperson. In The Office we see that Michael Scott has high emotional intelligence. His ability to connect with customers is his greatest strength.
That’s the end of the list. What do you think? If you find time to watch these, let me know what you thought at collab@ugurucar.work.