We open on an arm wrestling match which on the surface appears to be mismatch–a geeky youngster against a big, burly guy. While a male audience urges the contestants on, it’s clear that the nerd is unperturbed, arm wrestling as he chomps on a hot dog in a bun with mustard. Meanwhile, his larger foe is struggling and straining just to keep the armwrestling at a level stalemate.
Finally the lad tires of the competition and, while still eating his hot dog, takes over the match and wins in an instant. The impact of the victory causes the table to explode and disintegrate as the once vocal crowd goes silent.
A supered message and a manly voiceover exhort us to “Eat Angus Beef Without Taking An Armwrestling Break.”
This offbeat spec spot was directed by Bo Mirosseni of Station Film.
Jon Peter was the DP.
Editor was Jai Shukla of Beast, New York.
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