While coverage of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival understandably centers on the feature-length and short films making their debuts, another premiere under the radar is starting to gain attention–and it’s being screened multiple times throughout the proceedings as well as virally.
The until now overlooked debut is that of “Snack Dance,” a Tribeca trailer which at first hearkens back to a circa 1950s-style animation promo designed to lure movie-goers to the concession stand for popcorn, a soda, candy and the like. After all, as any movie theater owner will tell you, that’s where they make the real money.
However, the 21st Century iteration turns out quite differently in a classic misdirect. “Snack Dance” introduces us to four animated characters: a box of candy; a container of pop corn; a hot dog; and a soda in a cup with a straw. They prance through the theater singing, “Come with us to the snack stand…for something good to eat.”
But something happens that detours us from a Busby Berkeley song and dance routine extolling the virtues of snacking in the theater. Hot dog accidentally bumps into popcorn, and suddenly things get ugly.
“Watch where you’re going, pal,” affirms the popcorn character, setting off a street banter exchange that’s threatening and dotted with bleeps.
The popcorn guy is carrying a sign that reads, “Snacks.” He breaks off the sign’s stick to serve as a weapon which he brandishes in the direction of hot dog, who counters by grabbing the straw out of the nearby soda pop character. Hot dog also sheds his bun, as if it were a jacket, so that he can more freely do battle.
The duel begins and ends quickly with the popcorn character clocking hot dog with the stick, knocking him out cold.
Mr. Popcorn then asks, “Who else wants some?”
The screen then transitions to two supered messages against a dark backdrop–“It’s Movies. It’s New York”–as we hear the popcorn character continuing his rant. “You want a piece of this. I didn’t think so.”
End tag visuals include the Tribeca Film Festival logo, followed by a rundown of festival sponsors and their logos.
An ensemble of talent from Crew Cuts, New York, handled the animation and post for Ogilvy & Mather, New York.
The Ogilvy New York creative team included Steve Simpson, chief creative officer, North America; Lars Bastholm, chief creative officer, N.Y.; executive creative director Tommy Henvey; group creative director Terry Finley; copywriter Darius Alaie; executive producer Patti McConnell; and producer Dana Edelman.
The Crew Cuts contingent included lead animator Ian Glaum, animators Don Amatore and Nam Doan, executive producer Nancy Shames, producer Stephanie Norris and conform artist Josh Weiss.
Music was from JSM Music, New York. Audio post mixer was Philip Loeb of Sound Lounge, New York.
Voice actors were Tony Sirico, Vincent Pastore and John Scurti.
Here’s “Snack Dance”:
Review: Director Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked”
It's the ultimate celebrity redemption tour, two decades in the making. In the annals of pop culture, few characters have undergone an image makeover quite like the Wicked Witch of the West.
Oh, she may have been vengeful and scary in "The Wizard of Oz." But something changed — like, REALLY changed — on the way from the yellow brick road to the Great White Way. Since 2003, crowds have packed nightly into "Wicked" at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre to cheer as the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba rises up on her broomstick to belt "Defying Gravity," that enduring girl-power anthem.
How many people have seen "Wicked"? Rudimentary math suggests more than 15 million on Broadway alone. And now we have "Wicked" the movie, director Jon M. Chu's lavish, faithful, impeccably crafted (and nearly three-hour) ode to this origin story of Elphaba and her (eventual) bestie — Glinda, the very good and very blonde. Welcome to Hollywood, ladies.
Before we get to what this movie does well (Those big numbers! Those costumes!), just a couple thornier issues to ponder. Will this "Wicked," powered by a soulful Cynthia Erivo (owner of one of the best singing voices on the planet) and a sprightly, comedic, hair-tossing Ariana Grande, turn even musical theater haters into lovers?
Tricky question. Some people just don't buy into the musical thing, and they should be allowed to live freely amongst us. But if people breaking into song delights rather than flummoxes you, if elaborate dance numbers in village squares and fantastical nightclubs and emerald-hued cities make perfect sense to you, and especially if you already love "Wicked," well then, you will likely love this film. If it feels like they made the best "Wicked" movie money could buy — well, it's... Read More