This commercial grows on you as we open on two male lab technicians playing with a wand of “Comcastic high-speed juice,” a miracle potion that figuratively reflects the extra boost of Comcast’s high speed Internet service. One lab tech waves the wand over his upper lip, instantly creating a moustache and the proclamation that he’s Magnum PI.
The other tech worker uses the juice to form an instant beard and his transformation into Grizzly Adams. The wand is then back in the hands of the original tech who waves it liberally around his head and face to concoct a tangly yet princely mane that Zeus would be proud of.
A nearby female worker asks the guys to stop their silly conversation. They comply, only for a moment with one tech ostensibly brushing something off her face. Concerned, she asks if whatever it was is now gone. The camera reveals a zigzag of hairy growth across her countenance.
“Hair” is part of a three-spot campaign directed by Mike Maguire of The Directors Bureau, Hollywood, for Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, San Francisco. The visual effects house was Animal Logic, Sydney and Los Angeles. In the case of “Hair,” the Animal Logic team took numerous takes of the men wearing hair in various lengths and composited them together to create a realistic impression of instantaneous growth.
The agency ensemble consisted of creative director Jamie Barrett, associate creative director/copywriter Jim Elliott, associate creative director/art director Nick Spahr and producer Tanya LeSieur.
Barry Peterson was the DP. Editor was Ian MacKenzie of MacKenzie Cutler, New York.
Review: Director Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked”
It's the ultimate celebrity redemption tour, two decades in the making. In the annals of pop culture, few characters have undergone an image makeover quite like the Wicked Witch of the West.
Oh, she may have been vengeful and scary in "The Wizard of Oz." But something changed — like, REALLY changed — on the way from the yellow brick road to the Great White Way. Since 2003, crowds have packed nightly into "Wicked" at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre to cheer as the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba rises up on her broomstick to belt "Defying Gravity," that enduring girl-power anthem.
How many people have seen "Wicked"? Rudimentary math suggests more than 15 million on Broadway alone. And now we have "Wicked" the movie, director Jon M. Chu's lavish, faithful, impeccably crafted (and nearly three-hour) ode to this origin story of Elphaba and her (eventual) bestie — Glinda, the very good and very blonde. Welcome to Hollywood, ladies.
Before we get to what this movie does well (Those big numbers! Those costumes!), just a couple thornier issues to ponder. Will this "Wicked," powered by a soulful Cynthia Erivo (owner of one of the best singing voices on the planet) and a sprightly, comedic, hair-tossing Ariana Grande, turn even musical theater haters into lovers?
Tricky question. Some people just don't buy into the musical thing, and they should be allowed to live freely amongst us. But if people breaking into song delights rather than flummoxes you, if elaborate dance numbers in village squares and fantastical nightclubs and emerald-hued cities make perfect sense to you, and especially if you already love "Wicked," well then, you will likely love this film. If it feels like they made the best "Wicked" movie money could buy — well, it's... Read More