From the perspective of peering through a car’s windshield, we see a young man driving along the road. He looks down to change the radio station or perhaps the CD selection on his player, causing him to take his eyes off of what’s in front of him momentarily, at which point, the car hits a bump on the road.
He looks into his rearview mirror and hits the brakes, running back to the site of the impact where he sees a seemingly lifeless porcupine-like creature lying in the middle of the roadway. Upset over the sight of this creature, the driver inexplicably takes off his New Balance Shoes, and rubs the soles together, placing them on the animal. An energy pulsates from the shoes as if they were electro-shock jump starters for the heart, reviving the porcupine, who then bursts into song, crooning the lyrics. “And the world is made of energy and there’s a lot inside of you and there’s a lot inside of me.”
The porcupine then continues his trek across the street as animation transforms the scene to one of idyllic splendor, replete with blooming flora and a rainbow.
A product end shot of the New Balance Zip shoes appears, accompanied by the slogan, “Energy In. Energy Out.”
Russ Lamoureux of Biscuit Filmworks, Los Angeles, directed the live action, with animation from New York studio Shilo. The spot was conceived by a creative team at Boston-based agency Almighty consisting of creative directors Chris Smith and Joe Polevy, associate creative director/art director Chad Portas, copywriter Andrew Jasperson, exec producer Matthew Charde and producer Liz Shook.
Live-action DP was Joost Van Starrenburg. For Shilo, creative directors were Andre Stringer and Jose Gomez.
Editor was Matt Rogers of Engine Room, Boston.
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