George Moir is the ice cream van man with his own weird, wonderful range of ice lollies, in George McCallum's video for Patio - arguably the staycation anthem of the summer.The West Country-based singer-songwriter's sweet, catchy song will ring true with nearly everyone this year - it's all about not being able to go on a foreign holiday, and having to make the best of it at home. Instead, its about working (mostly), and saving up 'to go next summer'.First-time director McCallum visualises this idea with inventiveness that owes something to his day job as an ad agency creative, and also to his 'side-hustle' - as a baker of cakes disguised as very unlikely things - like a cigarette-filled ashtray.So Moir is not just a regular ice cream van guy, toiling through an English summer of variable weather - but also selling eccentric ices at odd prices, that are advertised on the side of the van, as you might expect, but which also come alive as animated characters throughout the video. And then, some are real - like a baked bean ice lolly, or one made out of loose change, or a diamond-studded ice cream.George Moir himself has a background as an animator, and this is his first video he has not directed himself. But McCallum has impressively built upon those previous DIY efforts, and allowed the singer's unassuming character to shine. And the attention to detail with the product range - designed by McCallum, animated by Jack Bailey - are the sprinkles and chocolate sauce on the 99.
Promonews - 22nd June 2021