We open on a fast food restaurant where a teenage girl goes up the counter to order. Waiting on her is a young clean-cut lad who is anything but customer friendly. When the girl hesitates as she thinks about what she wants to order, the teen boy hassles her. “Can’t make a decision?” he asks in a derisive manner.
He then gives her the once over, looking up and down her body, observing, “The last thing you need is a burger.”
The girl isn’t sure how to react, glancing back at another kid.
“Hey, did I say you can look at him?” asserts the fast food worker.
She understandably walks over to the next cash register station to place an order with another employee.
“Don’t you walk away from me!” screams the original counter boy.
A message then appears on screen in two parts: “It’s not okay here” followed by, “And it’s not okay from a boyfriend.”
As we hear the girl order a double cheeseburger at the other counter station, an end tag carries the Web site address equalityrules.ca, accompanied by a disclosure of the spot’s sponsor, the Government of Ontario, Canada (on behalf of the Ontario Women’s Directorate).
“Burger” was directed by Aleysa Young of Untitled, Toronto, for agency Bensimon Byrne, Toronto. (Young was one of the up-and-coming helmers singled out in SHOOT‘s Fall Directors Issue.)
The creative team at Bensimon Byrne consisted of senior VP/creative director David Rosenberg, senior copywriter Jen Wilson, Senior art director Rosalinda Graziano and producer Christine Pacheco.
James Davis executive produced for Untitled, with Rosalynn Hegan serving as producer. The DP was Jonathon Cliff. Editor was Tanis Darling of Relish, Toronto.
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