“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.” That classic line from the Paddy Chayefsky-scripted Network is pretty much the tongue-in-cheek spirit of this offbeat Wendy’s spot which finds us in the middle of a forest with people kicking trees repeatedly in synchronized fashion. This robotic-like behavior represents mindless conformity, which is begging to be broken.
The agent for change turns out to be guy wearing a red haired, ponytailed wig–perhaps the Little Red Riding Hood rebel of the forest. He exclaims that he is tired of frozen burgers, that he deserves a hot, juicy burger. He begins to chant, “We all deserve a hot, juicy burger!”
Momentum builds and the tree kickers around him begin to chant along with him and abandon their nonsensical routine to to out in the world and find their fortune–a hot, juicy Wendy’s burger.
Baker Smith of Santa Monica-based harvest directed “Kicking Trees” for Saatchi & Saatchi, New York.
The Saatchi ensemble consisted of executive creative director Jan Jacobs and Leo Premutico, executive producer Colin Pearsall and producer John Doris.
Bonnie Goldfarb executive produced for harvest, with Shelby Ross serving as producer. The DP was Bill Pope.
Editor was Rick Lawley of The Whitehouse, New York.
Visual effects supervisor was Lesley Robson-Foster of The Mill, 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