One-upmanship reaches new heights–or depths, depending on your perspective–in this humorous :30 for the Massachusetts Lottery.
The spot opens with two guys in the living room: a young boy on the couch, a man laid out on a recliner. Clearly, both are sick as dogs, looking listless and forlorn.
Carrying sandwiches and some orange juice on a tray, a woman comes into check on her two men–presumably her hubby and son. “Okay guys, how are we doing in here?” she asks.
She pulls the thermometer out of the mouth of her teenaged son. She reads out aloud his temperature: 101.
Next, she approaches her spouse, grabs the thermometer from his mouth. “Oh no, 102. Oh, baby,” says the wife, trying to be of some comfort. She then goes upstairs, leaving the sick ward behind.
Though pretty much wiped out from the flu or some sort of virus, the dad musters enough energy to look up and say to his son, “In your face!” The celebratory declaration is in reference to the fact that papa “won” the temperature battle by a single degree.
A voiceover the provides context to this silly victory: “If you love to win, play Cash Windfall: the new jackpot game where one out of six tickets win. From the Massachusetts State Lottery.”
“Thermometer” was directed by Stephen Kessler of bicoastal Sandwick Films for Hill Holliday Connors Cosmopulos, Boston. The job was co-produced by Sandwick Films and Boston-based Element Productions.
The Hill Holliday team consisted of executive VP/group creative director Spencer Deadrick, VP/associate creative director/art director Doug Champan, VP/associate creative director/copywriter John Simpson, executive producer Bryan Sweeney and senior producer Kellie Heartwell.
Bill Sandwick of Sandwick Films and Eran Lobel of Element served as executive producers. Heather Holladay was the producer. DP was Andrzej Bartkowiak.
Editor was Michael Coletta of 89 Editorial, New York. Assistant editor was Megan Swados. Bob Cagliero and Kris Polinsky were executive producer and producer, respectively, for 89 Editorial. Colorist was Dave Pickett of Finish Editorial, Boston. Smoke artist was Matt Rogers of Finish. Audio post mixer was Brian Heidebrecht of Soundtrack, Boston.
Principal actors were Michael Buscemi, Daniel O’Neill and Marylee Graffo.
