Carnival Corporation is set to run its first Super Bowl ad which will ultimately be chosen from four semi-finalists created by BBDO Atlanta and directed by Wally Pfister whose commercial production house affiliation is Reset. The final Super Bowl TV commercial will be sourced from Carnival’s recently launched “World’s Leading Cruise Lines Marketing Challenge” that gives consumers across North America the chance to provide the company with input on its new advertising creative. Hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, this interactive crowdsourcing contest lets consumers “join the company’s marketing team” and vote for their favorite creative concept with a chance to win a grand prize of a yearly cruise for life. Consumers can visit Carnival Corporation’s new campaign hub created by BBDO Atlanta – WorldsLeadingCruiseLines.com – for details on how to vote in the Marketing Challenge. Rough-cut preview videos of the semi-finalist ad concepts are available for review and voting. The final elimination round will help determine which two finalists emerge from the following spots: “Getaway” which shows how cruising gives guests the chance to get away from all the stresses of life; “Cruise Virgin” in which people talk about their first cruise, which they happily remember; “Message in a Bottle” where special cruising moments are in a message in a bottle; and “Mystery Spot,” an idea based on a surprise that will serve as a reminder of how special the sea can be. All four semi-finalist concepts are now in full production via BBDO Atlanta and Pfister who made recently made his feature directorial debut with Transcendence starring Johnny Depp. Pfister earlier served as DP on dozens of films, including Moneyball, The Dark Knight trilogy and Inception, which earned him a Best Cinematography Oscar in 2011….
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More