It’s like the Abbott and Costello "Who’s On First?" routine. "Whassup" turned out to be what was up at the television portion of the 2000 Clio Awards competition. The "Whassup/True" spot for Budweiser, via DDB Chicago, took the Grand Clio in TV during a gala cermony last night (5/25) in New York. The ad-part of the campaign that has added the "Whassup?" query to hip American vernacular-was directed by and stars Charles Stone III, who helms commercials via C&C Films/Storm Films, New York.
The campaign is based on Stone’s short film called "True," which caught the eye of DDB copywriter Vinny Warren in ’98. Stone described "True" as "the quintessential couch potato short." The Budweiser spots it spawned, which debuted in De-cember A99, generated an immediate buzz within the industry and among the general public.
The "Whassup/True" spot opens on a close-up of Stone, who is kicking back on a couch in a room lit by the TV set; he’s holding a bottle of Bud. The phone rings and Stone answers, "Hello?" Cut to Stone’s friend, "B," who is sitting in a chair in front of his television, also holding a bottle of Bud. B asks, "Dude, what’s up?" Cut to Stone: "Nothin’. Watchin’ the game, havin’ a Bud. What’s up with you?" B responds, "Watchin’ the game, havin’ a Bud." Says Stone: "True, true." Soon after, Stone’s roommate enters the apartment. "Whasssuuuup!?" he says in greeting. Stone responds accordingly. B asks who’s there, and Stone tells his roommate to pick up the phone in the kitchen. More "Whasssssuuups!" are exchanged among the trio. Next, B’s roommate, "Dukie," who is siting in front of a computer in another room, is summoned to the phone. More "Whaasssuuups!?" You get the drift. A fifth friend then comes to Stone’s door and through the intercom buzzer he shouts "Whaasssuuup!?"-which inspires yet another round.
Finally, everyone disconnects except for Stone and B. "So what’s up, B?" Stone asks. "Watchin’ the game, having a Bud," comes the response. "True, true," Stone says, as the screen fades to black and the Budweiser logo and the word "true" appears supered across the screen.
"Whassup/True" also took a Gold Clio in the alcoholic beverages category, and teamed with "Whassup/Call Waiting" and "Whassup/Pizza Guy" to take a national campaign Silver.
Bud wasn’t the only brew to score impressively at the Clios. Guinness’ "Surfer-directed by Jonathan Glazer via Academy Commercials, London, for Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, London-copped three Gold Clios as well as a Silver. The Golds were in the alcoholic beverages, direction and editing categories. The editor was Sam Sneade of Sam Sneade Editing, London.
Additionally, the Guinness commercial entitled "Bet On Black"-directed by Frank Budgen of Gorgeous Enterprises, London, for Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO-won Gold for its cinematography by DP Peter Bijou, as well as Silver in the direction and editing categories. The editor was Paul Watts of The Quarry, London.
Garnering a pair of Gold Clios was Fallon McElligott, New York, for its work on behalf of MTV directed by Traktor of bicoastal/international Partizan. MTV’s "(Jukka Bros) Launch" earned Gold in the entertainment promotion category. "Launch," along with "Wrong Shoes" and "Sexy Dance," teamed for a national campaign Gold.
Another Partizan helmer, Michel Gondry, won a Gold Clio for best music video direction on the strength of the Chemical Brothers’ "Let Forever Be." Gondry was also honored when a spot he directed several years ago-Levi’s 501’s "Drugstore" for Bartle Bogle Hegarty, London-was inducted into the Clio Hall of Fame.
Taking a Gold for animation was Lipton Brisk Iced Tea’s "Dojo," directed by Ken Lidster of Loose Moose, London, for J. Walter Thompson, New York.
The Gold Clio in visual effects went to Levi’s "Invisible Woman," directed by Michael Bay of bicoastal/international Propaganda Films. The effects house was Digital Domain, Venice, Calif., with a team headed by visual effects supervisor Fred Raimondi, digital effects supervisor Scott Rader and compositing supervisor Perri Wainwright.
Almap/BBDO, So Paulo, Brazil, received two Gold Clios for Volkswagen’s "Double Checked," which scored in the corporate/institutional and budgeted under $20,000 categories. The spot was directed by Clovis Mello via Cine Cinematografica, So Paulo.
Taking Gold for best regional campaign was Crispin Porter+ Bogusky, Miami, for the Florida Anti-Tobacco Pilot Program’s "Fun With Stats," "It May" and "Daughters." The spots were directed by the agency team of art director Paul Keister and copywriter Tim Roper.
Besides the aforementioned Gondry-directed "Drugstore," the other spot to gain entry into the Clio Hall of Fame this year was the original Budweiser "Frogs," conceived by D’Arcy, St. Louis, and directed by Gore Verbinski, who at the time was at Los Angeles-based Palomar Pictures. (Verbinksi is now with bicoastal Anonymous).
A complete list of Gold and Silver Clio TV winners will appear in next week’s issue.
