In this web short the secret behind Nike Air sneakers is finally revealed–the Air in the shoes is actual oxygen from the lungs of the world’s greatest athletes. We see Maria Sharapova with an oxygen mask on, her very breath being stored as she plays tennis. Similarly we see star athletes like tennis great John McEnroe, Olympian Carl Lewis, and the NBA’s Brandon Roy exerting themselves and storing their oxygen in canisters. From these canisters, air is pumped into Nike Air shoes, helping to give those who wear them maximum performance.
A Nike warehouse stores canisters for as far as the eye can see. There are glitches here and there, however. For Sharapova, Nike had to invent a grunt removal system, the reference being to her grunting that can be heard each time she strikes a tennis ball. Our Nike host demonstrates the Nike Air sneakers with Sharapova’s unfiltered oxygen–he hits it against a hard surface and we hear it grunt. Then after grunt removal, the sneaker can pound the pavement quietly.
Mr. Sunderland of Great Guns, London, directed “Fresh Air” for Nike’s in-house agency. Editor was Will Judge.
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