Chicago stage actors featured in Leo Burnett’s new comedy campaign about saving energy.
Tips for energy savings are delivered with a theatrical flourish in a new campaign for ComEd directed by Accomplice Media’s Alberto Belli.
Conceived by Leo Burnett, the ads appear under the title of the “Single Bulb Theatre” and feature Chicago-area actors in light-hearted scenarios acted out on stage sets. In Break Fast, two actors play a couple in the midst of a domestic argument with the woman smashing plates in response to the guy’s lame attempts to cover up his flirtatious actions. A neighbor listening in through a wall, suggests a better way to save energy would be to only run the dishwasher when it’s full.
“It was a very cool idea to create awareness of ComEd’s products and services,” says Belli. “They’re unique spots. People will be sharing these on YouTube.”
A second spot, Slumber & Lightning, features members of Chicago’s Red Rose and SHINE! children’s choirs in a mini-musical about a spooky sleepover. A third spot, Dill Shakespeare, features the voice of John Byrnes from Chicago’s Shakespeare Theatre in a reenactment of Romeo and Juliet set inside an aging refrigerator with lonely pickles cast in the starring roles. The narrator quips, “Running an old refrigerator always ends in tragedy.”
“Alberto’s vision was spot on. He embraced the theatrical nature of the concept and introduced cinematic elements you wouldn’t expect from a stage performance,” said Gary Fox-Robertson, creative director at Leo Burnett. “The visual storytelling embraces local Chicago performers who communicate ComEd services, community programs and energy saving tips in a fun, engaging way.”
Belli, who was selected for this year’s Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors Showcase at Cannes, has a knack for coaxing funny and engaging performances from talent. He says that Break Fast had to be handled with a light touch. “It needed to feel like a funny moment between two people, and not something violent,” he says. “It was a matter of finding the right balance and chemistry.”
Video Credits
Titles: Break Fast, Slumber & Lightning, Dill Shakespeare
Client: ComEd
Agency: Leo Burnett Chicago
Production: Accomplice Media.
Alberto Belli, director; Mel Gragido and Jeff Snyder, executive producers.
Mel Gragido
Executive Producer
Accomplice Media
310.893.1147
Contact Mel via email
Jeff Snyder
Executive Producer
Accomplice Media
310.893.1147
Contact Jeff via email
“Ǝvolution” Comes Full Circle At The Chelsea Film Festival
The Chelsea Film Festival, running from October 16th through October 20th, 2024, at Regal Cinemas here in Union Square, is set to host the East Coast premiere of Ǝvolution, a thought-provoking experimental micro-short film that proves big ideas can come in small packages and in perfect circles.
In just 1 minute 16 seconds, this cinematic gem by Award-Winning Director Romina Schwedler, with original music by Argentine Composer Ignacio Montoya Carlotto, explores a cycle as old as time: life leads to progress, progress leads to destruction, and destruction, well, leads back to life. But is this vicious circle unbreakable? Ǝvolution suggests the answer is yes, unless we decide to open our eyes.
Inspired by the overwhelming number of recent events that threaten human existence, Ǝvolution, possibly the shortest film in this 12th edition of the festival, plays out entirely through the symbolism of circles, cleverly illustrating —in the blink of an eye— the repeating patterns of history, and confronting viewers with the uncomfortable truth that our so-called “progress” may, in fact, be guiding us to our own ruin.Premiering at the Regal 14 Union Square, New York City, on October 18, 2024, at 11 a.m., Romina Schwedler's micro-short, featuring Leah Young with cinematography by Alan J. Carmona, will be sure to spark conversations longer than the film itself! Forcing viewers to reconsider the true meaning of evolution, not just as a biological process, but as a reflection of our collective journey as humans.
With a string of festival appearances across the globe, including CineGlobe at CERN (Switzerland/France), Oscar®... Read More