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Kevin Spacey is brilliant in the new ad campaign for American Airlines created by the ad agency McCann, London, enjoy a sneak peek of the spot set to air in a couple of days.

Official Press Release:
Kevin Spacey, the Academy Award-winning actor, takes on three new roles as part of a campaign to promote American Airline’s unique brand philosophy of understanding the individual flyer.

The 60-second ad ‘The Individual’ breaks on UK television on 12th November.
Kevin Spacey appears as a slick designer type, a creative screen writer and a Malibu family guy and finally as himself in the series of ads.
Director Chris Palmer of Gorgeous who’s previous work included the Skoda ‘Baking Of....’ and the Budweiser ‘Lyrics’ ad, worked closely with Kevin Spacey in developing and bringing to life the three characters who reflect the broad American Airlines premium flyer demographic.
American Airlines is tapping into the rich values associated with ‘Modern America’; egalitarianism, primacy of the individual and the impeccable but informal approach to customer service.
All the characters are united at the end of the film in their appreciation of American Airlines understanding ‘what makes me, me, whoever I happen to be.
Two additional 20 second ads bring the proposition to life. ‘Multiple Meals’ shows the three characters having distinctive dining habits, all of which are accommodated by American Airline’s ‘Dine Upon Request’ service. In ‘Multiple Boarding’, the characters are shown checking in their various ways, from a traditional boarding pass to a smartphone option.
The campaign is backed by out-of-home advertising and digital activity which has also been created by McCann, and ties in with American Airline’s evolved ‘discerning flyers’ strategy, developed to widen American’s appeal, to be more inclusive of a wider audience for First and Business.
The first screening of the Advertisement on TV will break on UK television on 12th November at 6.05 pm on ITV1 during the International Football match between England and Spain.

Maria Sebastian, Vice President, Sales and Marketing EMEA at American Airlines comments:
We believe that this new campaign is an exciting development for American Airlines as we have Kevin Spacey creating a number of unique characters purely for our campaign. It’s interesting and engaging – but crucially, it also conveys our service ethos, treating discerning customers as individuals.”

Geoff Smith and Simon Butler, Co-Creative Directors at McCann London, said of working with Spacey: “The casting of Kevin Spacey for the trio of roles was crucial to the emotional appeal of this ad, and his performance really lifts it to a higher level. He manages to combine an everyman quality with an indefinable touch of class, which sits seamlessly with the ‘discerning flyers’ message that the ad conveys.”

Chris Palmer says: “Kevin Spacey really nailed the characters, as you'd expect. I can't imagine any other living actor who could have transformed into such diverse and believable characters. It was weird shooting with him as a totally different character each day. The crew didn't recognise him when he came on set, even on the third day. You completely forgot it was Kevin Spacey in there. In fact, it was a bit of shock to see him as himself on day four.”

Credits:
Project: The Individual
Client: Stephen Davis Head of Marketing EMEA American Airlines
Agency: McCann London
Brief: American Airlines is the airline that treats you like an individual
Copywriter: Geoff Smith
Art Director: Simon Butler
Creative Directors: Geoff Smith & Simon Butler
Worldwide Chief Creative Officer/TM: Bill Oakley
Director: Chris Palmer
Production Company: Gorgeous
Producer: Michaela Johnson
Agency Producer: Paula Mackersey

More than 300 astonishing objects made from gold and other precious materials are presented in the major exhibition “Beyond El Dorado. Power and gold in ancient Colombia”, held by the British Museum in conjunction with the Museo del Oro, Bogotá. The exhibition opens on October 17, 2013 and will run through March 23, 2014.

In ancient Colombia gold was used to fashion some of the most visually dramatic and sophisticated works of art found anywhere in the Americas before European contact. This exhibition will feature over 300 exquisite objects drawn from the Museo del Oro in Bogotá, one of the best and most extensive collections of Pre-Hispanic gold in the world, as well as from the British Museum’s own unique collections. Through these exceptional objects the exhibition will explore the complex network of societies in ancient Colombia – a hidden world of distinct and vibrant cultures spanning 1600 BC to AD 1700 – with particular focus on the Muisca, Quimbaya, Calima, Tairona, Tolima and Zenú chiefdoms. This important but little understood subject will be explored in this unique exhibition following on from shows in Room 35 such as Ice Age art: arrival of the modern mind, Grayson Perry: Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman, Afghanistan: Crossroads of the Ancient World and Kingdom of Ife: sculptures from West Africa in shining a light on world cultures through their craftsmanship.

Although gold was not valued as currency in pre-Hispanic Colombia, it had great symbolic meaning. It was one way the elite could publicly assert their rank and semi-divine status, both in life and in death. The remarkable objects displayed across the exhibition reveal glimpses of these cultures’ spiritual lives including engagement with animal spirits though the use of gold objects, music, dancing, sunlight and hallucinogenic substances that all lead to a physical and spiritual transformation enabling communication with the supernatural. Animal iconography is used to express this transformation in powerful pieces demonstrating a wide range of imaginative works of art, showcasing avian pectorals, necklaces with feline claws or representations of men transforming into spectacular bats though the use of profuse body adornment.

The exhibition will further explore the sophisticated gold working techniques, including the use of tumbaga, an alloy composed of gold and copper, used in the crafting the most spectacular masterworks of ancient Colombia. Extraordinary poporos (lime powder containers) showcase the technical skills achieved both in the casting and hammering techniques of metals by ancient Colombian artists. Other fascinating objects will include an exceptional painted Muisca textile and one of the few San Agustín stone sculptures held outside Colombia. Those, together with spectacular large scale gold masks and other materials were part of the objects that accompanied funerary rituals in ancient Colombia.

Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum said “Ancient Colombia has long represented a great fascination to the outside world and yet there is very little understood about these unique and varied cultures. As part of the Museum’s series of exhibitions that shine a light on little known and complex ancient societies this exhibition will give our visitors a glimpse into these fascinating cultures of pre-hispanic South America and a chance to explore the legend of El Dorado through these stunning objects.”

“American Airlines and American Airlines Cargo are thrilled to be partnering with the British Museum on Beyond El Dorado: power and gold in ancient Colombia.” said Tristan Koch, Managing Director of Cargo Sales for EMEA – American Airlines. “American Airlines is a supporter of the arts in many cities that we serve around the world and it’s exciting to be linking the two destinations of Bogotá, Colombia and London by transporting precious passengers and cargo between them.”

Source: The British Museum [August 04, 2013]

So there you go and now you know. American Airlines unveils a new company logo and exterior paint scheme, images below.

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Here's a funny spoof commercial created by The Jimmy Kimmel Live show for American Airlines starring Guillermo.

Shot just outside of LA's famed El Capitan Theatre, Guillermo is seated comfortably in a business class seat from an AA plane on the sidewalk and in typical Kimmel style has some fun with the passers by.