Joel & Ethan Coen film television commercial

The Coen Brothers, Hollywood filmmakers behind such hits as 'True Grit,' 'No Country for Old Men,' and (my favourite) 'A Serious Man,' have taken to the small screen to produce and direct a commercial advertisement for television.

What product are the pair endorsing? Well, nothing--their advertisement is to oppose the media hype and misinformation surrounding the concept of clean coal. The commercial, which you can view below, is premised on the notion that there is nothing "clean" about clean coal aside from the moniker.

This is the first time that the Academy Award winning brothers have taken to the television airways... er... cableways, however their characteristic dark comedy and irony is seeping out of every moment of the advertisement. It also seems that this won't be the only commercial from the pair urging viewers to look deeper into clean coal; in the clip you can see below, the brothers are behind the scenes, hard at work on another advertisement.

Whether or not you agree with the message, this is a very rare and interesting opportunity to watch two superstar Hollywood writers and directors at work.

For more information on clean coal, visit the Alliance for Climate Protection.