This spot airing in South Africa would likely have trouble gaining broadcast clearance in the U.S., particularly in the so-called red states given the recent uproar over gay marriage, an issue that had President George W. Bush at one point advocating a constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions.
But for some blue state residents and others who don’t regard gay matrimony as a hot-button issue, there is much humor to be found in Virgin Atlantic Airways’ “Love Story,” a risque commercial directed by Greg Gray of Velocity Films, Johannesburg and Cape Town, for Net#work BBDO, South Africa. (Gray is repped in the American ad market by bicoastal Velocity@Crossroads.
We open on a heavy-set man performing in a Karaoke bar, “singing” the Bee Gees Saturday Night Fever hit “How Deep Is Your Love?” He appears to be serenading another man who’s seated in the bar lounge. The spot then takes us through a montage of the two men romancing one another.
Their courtship includes them seated under a tree at the park, enjoying each other’s company in a rowboat, holding hands as they ride on separate bicycles, frolicking at the beach, having a young lovers’ posing session in a photo booth, even taking a bubble bath together. The torrid romance has our twosome, now shirtless, also recreating the famed sensual pottery wheel scene from Ghost, although the couple is a far cry from Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. There is also gift giving; the slender man seated on a bed, opening a package to reveal a large jockstrap. Additionally we see the lovebirds each eating the same strawberry, their lips about to meet in the center.
Next we witness the seemingly inevitable: a wedding ceremony. The guys exchange vows in a church before a minister and then full mouth kiss.
However, the nuptials are a bit removed from reality. The kiss jars the young thin man who awakens from a dream, which took hold while he dozed off in his airplane seat. He is roused from his dream by the slightly overweight would-be groom who turns out to be the passenger next to him. The heavyset man is fast asleep and has slumped over onto him, his lips touching his neighbor.
This somewhat compromising yet accidental position is then put into perspective by a female voiceover, which relates: “If you wanted to sleep with him, you would have married him. Rather fly Virgin Atlantic Upper Class and get your own suite.”
We then see upper class suite accommodations on Virgin Atlantic Airways, featuring an individual foldout flat bed.
A parting tag consists of the Virgin Atlantic logo, accompanied by the words “Upper Class Suite.”
Peter Carr executive produced for Velocity Films, with Helena Woodfine serving as producer. The DP was Alard de Smidt.
The agency creative team consisted of managing partners/creative directors Mike Schalit and Keith Shipley, art director Philip Ireland, copywriter John Davenport and producer Caroline Switala.
Editor was Ricky Boyd of Orchestra Blue, Cape Town, with Paula Pilliner serving as producer. Online editor was Laura Hollis of Condor Cape Town. Colorist was David Grant via Condor. Audio mixer/sound designer was Rob Schoeder of B&S Studios, Cape Town.
Principal actors were Tony Woolf and Kevin Otto.
