It’s time to expand the target market for lottery tickets to four-legged creatures. After all, while underage people cannot buy lotto tickets, there’s no rule against dogs picking up a couple of scratch-off games. Anyway, a three-year-old canine would be 21 in human years, so the field is pretty much wide open.
This spot for the Oregon Lottery opens on a birthday cake—with many lit candles perched on top of it—as it’s being carried into a room of waiting partygoers. However, these people aren’t exactly in a partying mood. Instead, they appear to be long-suffering guests who have been dragged to attend a celebration. While they sing a half-hearted chorus of "Happy Birthday," some guests are shown rolling their eyes.
Soon we see why. It turns out that the birthday boy or girl is actually a birthday poodle. Carrying the cake is an eccentric old woman who’s clearly in a festive mood as she sings to her beloved pet.
As soon as the song is finished and the lights come back on, a male guest hands the old woman some Oregon Lottery scratch-off tickets, including one for a dog-related game. "These are for you, Aunt Millie, and for Mr. Whiskers," he says, adding hastily, "Thank you. We have to go."
The man and his significant other quickly exit the room, clearly anxious to get on with their lives. Next, we see the old woman blowing out the candles on the cake as her poodle looks on.
We cut away from the party to a supered message against a black background. It simply reads, "Got an occasion? Get Scratch-Its."
The spot then returns to the party—but by now, all the guests have left. The only revelers left in the room are the eccentric lady and Mr. Whiskers. The woman is holding the lotto tickets and she’s clearly pleased. "I know someone who’s invited to your next party," she says to Mr. Whiskers.
An end tag with the Oregon Lottery concludes the spot.
"Mr. Whiskers" was directed by Jarl Olsen via Motel Films, Hollywood, for agency Moffat Rosenthal, Portland, Ore.
The agency creative team consisted of creative director Rob Rosenthal, copywriter Geoff Rogers, art director Ben Carter and producer Jay Howard.
Michael Crapser executive produced for Motel, with Terri Brook serving as line producer. The DP was Joe Meade.
Offline/online editor was Scott Jackson of DownStream digital, Portland. Colorist was DownStream’s Jim Barrett. Audio post mixer/sound designer was Eric Stolberg of Digital One, Portland.
