This spot thrusts us into the center of a hot party with young people dancing, talking, eating and scoping each other out. We see two guys take notice of an attractive blonde woman who looks great in a pair of jeans. The guys are clearly interested as they eye the babe, who then proceeds to stick her right forefinger in her right nostril and pull a wet, sticky booger out of her nose.
The guys seem unperturbed and still turned out by the woman. In fact, both young men start picking their own noses.
The camera takes us to other nooks and crannies of the party, including an area where two girls are seated on a couch, gabbing away. They too are picking their noses, with one gal placing a booger into a nearby ashtray.
Next, we see a young woman in the foreground digging a finger into her nose. In the background, a guy and a gal are doing the same; they make out afterwards.
A supered message then appears alongside a guy picking his nose, reading, "What’s so cool about a filthy habit?"
A parting super identifies the sponsor, The National Council Against Smoking, accompanied by a phone number.
This spot for the South African market was directed by Leigh Ogilvie via her Frieze Films, Johannesburg, for BBDO Johannesburg. "Filthy Habit" is also significant from a career standpoint in that it provided the impetus for New York-headquartered Notorious Pictures to pursue Ogilvie in order to introduce the director to the American ad market. Ogilvie recently signed with Notorious for exclusive representation in the U.S.
Neil Roberts executive produced "Filthy Habit" for Frieze Films, with Lisa Jaffee serving as line producer. The DP was Clive de Klerk.
The BBDO creative team consisted of creative director Mike Schallit, art director Thomas Cullinan, copywriter Matthew Barnes and producer Phumi Mkhwanazi.
The spot was edited by Tumelo Ditshego of Visual Assault, Johannesburg. Online editors/Flame artists were Marios Nicolettis and Clinton Anderson of visual effects/post house Ministry of Illusion, Johannesburg. Colorist was Alex May of The Refinery, Johannesburg. Audio post mixer was Johan Theron, also from The Refinery.
