Oregon is a very sensitive, outdoorsy, non-flashy place—perhaps a little too much so. An occasional diversion to spice up life a bit is what this :30 sells, in a most offbeat fashion.
We open on a middle-aged, pony-tailed man at the side of a lake. He’s sitting on terra firma, carefully tending his little campfire, despite the rain.
Suddenly, we hear a clap of thunder. Out of nowhere a senior citizen appears. But this is not your typical 70-something guy; he looks like a refuge from the Vegas Rat Pack. Garbed in a crushed velvet jacket and bow tie, wearing a pinky ring and wielding a cigar, he’s lounge singer-like, somewhat cool—yet a bit ridiculous looking, given his age.
"Whadaya think you’re doin’?" he demands of the camper.
"Dad?" asks the man in disbelief, miraculously seeing his late father return from the dead.
"I came here to change your life, nature boy," explains Daddy-O. "You know what you need—nice cologne, a rack of poker chips and a slow dance with Lady Luck. Now, Daddy’s gonna take you to the swingin’ little joint I know."
Turn up the Vegas lounge music, as the scene cuts to a shot of a tall, illuminated sign against the backdrop of a bright blue sky. "Chinook Winds Casino," the sign declares. "Live A Little."
The spot returns to father and son, now walking along a dirt path away from the lake. For a moment, they appear to be re-bonding. But that mood is broken when the Dad opens his mouth.
"It’s on the [Oregon] coast. You can collect seashells and make hippie jewelry."
"Really?" responds the son, seemingly excited at that prospect.
"No," laughs the father.
Spooner/French—a.k.a. Nick Spooner and Andy French—of bicoastal The Artists Company directed this :30 and two similarly out-there spots for Chinook Winds Casino via Cole & Weber/Red Cell, Seattle.
The agency ensemble consisted of creative director/art director Guy Seese, copywriter Jim Elliott and senior producer Meleah Jacobs.
Spooner/French’s support team at The Artists Company included executive producer Roberto Cecchini, head of production Susan Burton and line producer Mary Ann Marino. The spots were shot by DP Bobby Bukowski.
Johnna Turiano of Slice Editorial, Seattle, cut the campaign. Dan Larson and Tim Maffia of Modern Digital, Seattle, served as online editor and colorist, respectively. Audio mixer/sound designer was Scott Weiss of Clatter & Din, Seattle.
Digital imagery of the Chinook Winds Casino neon sign was done at Playground, Santa Monica. The Playground artisans were lead animator Brad Haze, animator David Lombardi and Inferno artist Elliott Jobe.
