With hoops season underway, Tom, Dick & Harry produced a multi media branding campaign to promote the Big Ten Network’s Big Ten men’s basketball schedule. The effort includes print, online, radio and television advertising. Twelve TV commercials were created in all, one for each of the 11 member universities along with one overall conference branding spot. In the Michigan State spot, Director Martin Rodahl was selected to capture Spartan head coach Tom Izzo’s daily free-throw regiment. Rodahl and crew filmed Izzo shooting in Breslin Arena as part of the coach’s ongoing personal penance for missing a shot years ago in high school.
TDH creative partner Bob Volkman served as a surrogate shooter for the close up camera work after Izzo left the building. In the final cut, one shot rims around the rim and falls out. “That shot was actually mine,” claimed a proud Volkman. “Coach Izzo shoots around 97%. They brought me in for the miss.” Rodahl also directed a spot about Northwestern coach Bill Carmody’s sideline antics.