Posted by
davedye1
June 14, 2016
Robert Greenberg Interview
Portrait 8, Robert Greenberg: R:GA

What did little Bobby Greenberg from Chicago want to be when he grew up?Xxx What’s the first piece of advertising you remember liking?Xxx‘North by Northwest’ was mine, what were the first film titles you were impressed by?XxxWhat did you do on an average day at your time working for Royal Crown Cola?XxxIn the year Star Wars changed the movie business, you swapped cola for film, setting up R/Greenberg Associates, was that a coincidence or was there something in the air?XxxWere any skills transferable?XxxIn 1977, the R/G Associates mission was to 'take great print design and put it into motion'.Could you expand?XxxI’ve read that you started out working and living on the top floor of a whorehouse, sleeping in adjoining bookcases by night?XxxWhat was the first job R Greenberg Associates were paid for?XxxI was excited to see you worked on ‘The Rutles', how did you get that gig in those early days?Xxx

Your lives were changed by Steve Frankfurt,little known today, but was a huge figure at the time, what do remember of him?Xxx

Producing titles like 'Superman' today would be pretty straightforward, but how on earth did you do it without computers?XxxIt’s rare for brothers to go into business together, were there teething pains?Xxx

Portrait with Richard, Robert Greenberg: R:GA

I love the uber-minimal 'Alien' titles, you have to have a tremendous amount of confidence to recommend something where barely anything happens?Xxx

What’s the driving element in creating good film titles;Plot?Feel?Emotion?Originality?Xxx

You start pitching ideas for titles that you’ve no idea how to produce. Ultimately it takes R/Greenberg into special effects?Xxx

You were creating computer graphics before it became computer graphics?XxxYou've produced the titles to seven Woody Allen films, fun?Xxx

You move to a proper building in 1982, what did you gain what did you lose?XxxWhat changed when your other half, Richard, left R/GA?Xxx

When did you become aware of the internet and what were your first impressions?XxxGoogle is stuffed with some of the geekiest tech people on planet Earth, why would they pay R/GA to make the Google Wallet?Xxx

Google Wallet, Robert Greenberg: R:GA

I presume that some of your ideas for Nike must be the result of R/GA initiatives, rather than being briefed?Xxx

Nike 'ID', Robert Greenberg: R:GA

Did you think you’d be seeing that black band on people’s wrists across the globe?Xxx

Nike Fuel Band, Robert Greenberg: R:GA
Getty Watermark, Robert Greenberg: R:GA

What DNA do the film title company R Greenberg Associates share with R/GA, the...Multi media company?Xxx

I was surprised by your choice of art you’ve bought for the company.R/GA are known for slick, uber-functional tech based ideas, but the walls feature the work of Calvin Black, William Hawkins and George Widener, the exact opposite; full of imperfection, idiosyncracy and thus humanity.Do the two worlds ever collide?Xxx

William Hawkins, Robert Greenberg: R:GA
possumtrotdolls_
History-of-Plant-Farm-Museum, Robert Greenberg: R:GA

You are the only person in the communications business that I could recognise in silhouette, has that been useful?XxxName a piece of work you wished you’d done?XxxYour work is primarily visual, your biggest influences are aural; Dylan, Bach, Glenn Gould, John Cage.How does that work.XxxWhat do you look for when you hire?XxxThe R/GA history looks so smoothly plotted. Did you make any mistakes?XxxFilm titles.Special Effects.Tech.Advertising.Where next?Xxx

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Comments
Graham Pugh
11.12.24
I still talk about ‘floating on the bouillabaisse of life” and expect people to know what I’m on about. Lovely stuff as ever – thanks Dave!
dave dye
11.12.24
Thanks Graham, Yep love that line, it’s John voicing it, in fact the whole ad stands up incredibly well. Dx
Graham Pugh
11.12.24
I still talk about ‘floating on the bouillabaisse of life” and expect people to know what I’m on about. Lovely stuff as ever – thanks Dave!
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