Directorial duo Similar But Different’s latest music video, “Not the End of the World,” for Katy Perry is a stylized, tongue-in-cheek take on the Perry and Zooey Deschanel doppelganger internet phenomenon.
Set in a retro-futuristic, speculative sci-fi future, it’s 2020 and the Earth is about to self-destruct. Other intergalactic species know the end for humankind is near, including a Perry-obsessed breed of aliens, led by their captain who wants to save (abduct) Perry before Earth’s demise and bring her to the mothership to perform for them for eternity. Unfortunately, the alien duo in charge of the mission made a common terrestrial mistake; they grabbed Deschanel instead.
Smash cut to mission control on the mothership, a confused Deschanel comes-to and realizes she’s been mistaken (again) for Perry as her abductors also realize they’ve made a mistake. Terrified that they’ve captured the wrong person, and fearful of repercussions, Deschanel makes a deal with her abductors to play the role of Perry in exchange for them letting her save the Earth. Luckily, Earth’s fate is saved as Deschanel starts to embrace the role of intergalactic popstar.
Produced by division7 & North of Now, the video has fun with classic Perry music video tropes and shines thanks to its cleverness and stylized vibrance. It’s an expert exercise in concept, tone, set design, costume design and performance creating a wholly unique storyworld.
A joint statement from Similar But Different (aka Dani Girdwood and Charlotte Fassler) read: “We are such fans of Katy’s wit — her out-of-this-world imagination and creative brain. We’ve also always been obsessed with aliens and retro futurism — and after hearing the song for the first time our minds exploded with where we could take it. Not sure there’s ever been a project more meant for us than this one.”
CreditsProduction division7 & North of Now Similar But Different (Dani Girdwood and Charlotte Fassler), director; Daniel Yaro, producer; Elizabeth Doonan, exec producer; Carlye Burke, line producer; Matisse Gaillard, production manager; David Kim, production coordinator; Issac Bauman, DP; Emma Rose Mead, production designer; Ryan Capiro; Nicole Rodarte, set decorator; Daniel Lee Everson, art director; Joshua Hargrave, prop master; Paris Peterson, propmaker; Toogie Barcelo, choreographer; Alexandra Mandelkorn, Elissa Rumier, stylists; Anthony Nguyen, make-up; Mowgly Lee, additional photography. Editorial Stephania Dulowski, editor. Sound Design Jo Orso VFX Anuar Baza, Chris Riley, Matt Riley, George Ezda. Color Company 3 Jenny Montgomery, colorist.
Barilla, LePub Navigate Subway Commute To “Togetherness”
On World Pasta Day, October 25, Barilla partnered with the NYC subway to turn its iconic “Spaghetti n°5” pasta boxes into “Togetherness Tickets,” offering free subway rides. At a special Barilla newsstand near Hudson Yards station, commuters could pick up a pasta box that, with a tech insert, worked like a regular subway ticket to open the turnstiles.
More than just a ticket, Barilla’s campaign was an invitation for individuals to step out of their solitary routines and connect with their loved ones over a delicious pasta meal. According to a global survey commissioned by Barilla in August 2023, 60% of respondents confessed to eating alone more frequently over the past two years, forsaking shared meals for a quick bite on their own.
The primary reason cited for this shift toward solitary dining is busy work schedules. A significant 48% of people surveyed lamented that their working hours kept them from sharing meals with their loved ones, highlighting the impact of our on-the-go lifestyles on quality time spent with family and friends. Additionally, geographical distances from family and friends contributed to the rise of solitary meals, with 37% acknowledging it as a growing obstacle.
Although people are increasingly eating alone, as a resounding 63% of people admitted to eating solo during the week, a remarkable 93% believe that regularly sharing meals has a positive impact on relationships with friends and family. Building on this emerging desire, Barilla wanted to remind us of the impact of food and more specifically pasta, in fostering better human connections.
Sometimes a friend or family member is just a few subway stops away. So get together and share a pasta meal with a box of Barilla, which also serves as a... Read More