By MILLIE TAKAKI
An idle mind is the devils workshop. In the case of Rink, a :30 for Shoppers Drug Mart out of TBWA/Chiat/Day, Toronto, that adage represents a slight exaggeration; more accurately when Santa Claus finds time on his hands, it translates into something devilish, with his trusty elves becoming unwilling helpers.
The adadirected by Spencer Antle of bicoastal Fahrenheit Filmsaopens on a spotlight that is pointed at and then turned on to illuminate an ice-skating rink. Two elves are in the center of the rink, arguing. Youre lying down, says one. No, Im not, responds the other. Cut to Santa whos perched upon and revving up a specially outfitted motorbike, with ice studs on its tires.
With a ho-ho-ho attitude, Santa merrily heads straight for the elves who fearfully hit the deck, lying alongside what the camera reveals to be a row of elves. The Santa-driven motorcycle hits a ramp running, successfully hurdling his terrorized little helpers and then making a perfect landing, sending chards of ice flying.
The explanation for St. Nicks behavior comes in the form of a camera pan across a series of personal articles and toiletry gift packages accompanied by a voiceover that relates: Thanks to the ready-made gifts at Shoppers Drug Mart, Santa has a little more time on his hands.
The spot cut backs to the two elves who were originally seen arguing. Hes pushing my buttons, says one elf of Santa. Easy Chucky, easy, replys elf number two, trying to calm down his friend. Rink ends with a super of the Shoppers Drug Mart logo.
The agency came to me with a spot that was initially just Santa on an ice rink jumping them [the elves] on skates, recalled Antle. I suggested why not get crazy? Lets go with an ice bike and some Evil Knievel action. By opting for an extreme sports, on-the-edge approach, it sort of heightened the storys humor, with the elves becoming almost like slaves to Santas perversion.
Underscoring the relationship between Santa and the elves was Antles decision to infuse the little helpers with personalities. Whenever you see a Christmas spot, the elves are dressed in the standard dumb outfits, the same pointed shoes, related the director. We wanted to show them in a different light, depicting how they are when theyre not on the job. We got some fine little-people actors, dressed one in a track suit, showed another one kind of whiny, kind of like the different personalities youd see from the ASmurfs. That way its easier to identify with them as victims to Santas daredevil behavior. The daredevil part also presented some challenges. Even the experienced stunt guys in Canada hadnt ever tried to jump a motorcycle on ice before, said Antle. So we tested things out, starting out with short jumps and then gradually seeing how far we could lengthen them. The motorbike never actually jumped over the elf characters; deft editing only made it appear as if the bike had cleared Santas fright-filled helpers.
Fahrenheit teamed with Avion Film Productions, Tor-onto, to produce the Toronto shoot. Fahrenheit maintains a relationship with Avion, which represents the stateside shops directors in Canada and provides production support when needed for Canadian filming. DP was Pete Warrilow.
Greg Pappas and Michael Schwartz were exec. producers for Fahrenheit and Avion, respectively. Head of production was Fahrenheits Matthew McManus, with Marily Kastelic line producing for Avion. Editor was Alex Eaton of Stealing Time, Toronto.
The TBWA/Chiat/Day contingent included creative director Duncan Bruce, art director Jeremy Carr, copywriter Steve Gardner and producer Pat Lyons.
Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. Explore Generations,ย Old School vs. New School, In “Poppa’s House”
Boundaries between work and family don't just blur in the new CBS sitcom "Poppa's House" starring father-and-son comedy duo Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. They shatter.
"It's wonderful to come to work every day and see him and some of his kids and my sister and my brother and nieces and nephews. They all work on this show. They all contribute," says the senior Wayans. "I don't think there are words to express how joyful I am."
Wayans plays the titular Poppa, a curmudgeonly radio DJ who's more than comfortable doing it his way, while Wayans Jr. plays his son, Damon, a budding filmmaker who's stuck in a job he hates.
"My character, Pop, is just an old school guy who's kind of stuck in his ways," says Wayans, who starred in "In Living Color" and "My Wife and Kids."
Pop yearns for the days when a handshake was a binding contract and Michael Jordan didn't complain if he got fouled on the court. Pop laughs at the younger generation's participation trophies.
"It's old school versus new school and them teaching each other lessons from both sides," says Wayans Jr., who played Coach in the Fox sitcom "New Girl."
"They (the characters) bring the best out in each other and they're resistant initially. But then throughout the episode they have revelations and these revelations help them become better people," he adds.
The two have worked together before โ dad made an appearance on son's "Happy Endings" and "Happy Together," while son was a writer and guest star on dad's "My Wife and Kids." But this is the first time they have headlined a series together.
The half-hour comedy โ premiering Monday and co-starring Essence Atkins and Tetona Jackson โ smartly leaves places in the script where father and son can let... Read More