Bob Israel is receiving the 2023 Clio Entertainment Lifetime Achievement Award on Nov. 9. He is a former entertainment marketing leader, a producer of theater and film and an avid philanthropist.
Bob is the co-founder (with Ron Moler) of Aspect Ratio, one of Hollywood’s premier advertising agencies. The pair created campaigns for 100s of hits, including The Naked Gun, The Simpsons, The Addams Family, Ghost, Philadelphia, Groundhog Day, Forrest Gump and Jerry Maguire.
Bob’s feature film producing credits include Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. He also produced the cult classic Bachelor Party, based on his original story.
In 2013, Bob created the Broadway & Vine Fund to develop properties for the stage. He is currently adapting The Flamingo Kid as a musical for Broadway with Tony-winning writer and lyricist Robert Freedman and War Paint’s Scott Frankel.
We spent two minutes with Bob to learn more about his background, his creative inspirations and recent work he’s admired.
Bob, tell us …
Where you grew up, and where you live now.
I grew up in the ‘burbs of NYC and now live in the ‘burbs of L.A. (Brentwood.)
Why you pursued a career in entertainment.
To explore my creative impulses, impact audiences and make a difference.
Three movies/TV shows you couldn’t do without.
Clockwork Orange is Kubrick at his finest. A dark, comedic film inspired by a brilliant dystopian novel. Right up my alley.
Moulin Rouge—I love the operatic nature of Baz Luhrmann’s work. And I love musicals. A touching mash-up of Bohemian Paris circa 1899, and pop music circa 1999.
Succession—I never worked at a major corporation, but I worked in the entertainment industry, and I know how insidious power can be. Add great writing and stellar performances. Wow. It’s Shakespeare without the old-timey accents.
Your favorite movie trailer or poster.
The Shining teaser.
One of your favorite projects you’ve ever worked on.
My favorite was Aspect’s very first national campaign, Time Bandits. An independent studio, Avco Embassy, entrusted us two shleppers (me and Ron) with opening a whimsical, odd fantasy (the A/V campaign, that is). We knew very little about how to sell a movie, so we made it up as we went. It worked. The film opened beyond anyone’s expectations and provided Aspect with our first loyal customer.
