BMW, under the leadership of Jim McDowell, took a wild swing that connected in a way that no one ever expected. In 2002, most people were accessing the internet on aggravatingly slow dial-up connections, often requiring hours to download a 10-minute film, yet millions did. BMW had hoped that 2 million people might download the films, but a stunning 13 million downloads of the first 8-film series happened in 2002, setting the internet ablaze and BMW sales soaring!

To celebrate the BMW Films 20 Year Anniversary, we are (virtually) bringing together the creative team at Fallon who dreamed it all up and Jim McDowell, Head of U.S. Advertising for BMW, the one who controlled the purse strings in 2001/2002, green-lighting the films and placing his career on the line. Hosting the conversation is the advertising journalist of the day, Scott Donaton, Editor and Publisher of Advertising Age and author of the 2004 book, Madison & Vine.

This podcast episode features Jim McDowell, David Carter, Bruce Bilston, Kevin Flatt, Robyn Boardman, Brian DiLorenzo, and BSN's own Rick Parkhill.

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Episode recorded April 26, 2021