Waitrose is putting community spirit at the heart of its Christmas campaign with this 90-second TV spot shot in black and white.
The ad is set in a remote pub in the Yorkshire Dales, where local villagers gather for a drink on Christmas morning. When a terrible snow storm hits the area, we witness how a generous act of Christmas spirit brings the community together in the most unconventional of Christmas Day meals.
The pub, The Tan Hill Inn near Richmond, is the highest pub in Britain (at 1,732 ft (528m) above sea level) dates back to the 17th century and has been snowed in 50 times since 2005.
Martin De Thurah directed “Snowed In” via production house Academy for adam&eveDDB, London.
The original music in the ad is ‘Carol of the Bells’ by composer Mykola Leontovych. The track was rearranged by musician and composer Guy Farley.
Credits
Client Waitrose Agency adam&eveDDB, London Ben Priest, group chief creative officer; Richard Brim, chief creative officer; Matt Gay, creative; Kreepa Laxman, producer; Laurelle May, assistant producer. Production Academy Martin De Thurah, director; Simon Cooper, exec producer; Medb Riordan, producer; Niels Thastum, DP. Editorial Rock Paper Scissors/Trim Mikkel Nielson, editor Postproduction The Mill Alex Fitzgerald, executive post producer; Kirsty Ratcliffe, post producer; Jonathan Westley, creative director; John Thornton, 2D lead artist; Ed Poulson, 2D artist; David Hempstead, 3D lead artist; Michael Hunault, Jack Harris, Walter How, Tom Hales, James Hansell, Sergio Xisto, 3D artists; Can Y.Sanalan, Cameron Johnson, Katherine Ross, Jiyoung Lee, Victoria Canfora, matte painting; Fergus McCall, colorist. Audio Post 750mh Sam Ashwell, mixer. Music SIREN Sean Craigie-Atherton, music producer/supervisor. Soundtrack: “Carol of the Bells,” composed by Mykola Leontovyvh and arranged by Guy Farley.
When dozens of Klick Health team members said they wouldn’t be able to hug loved ones over the festive season, the agency turned to AI and other magic to orchestrate a series of sentimental, surprise reunions captured in its “Holiday Hugs” video. The heartwarming four-minute video, benefitting the D.C.-based Foundation for Social Connection (F4SC), parallels recent findings from a Maru/Blue Public Opinion survey commissioned by Klick.
The poll found 74 percent of Americans and Canadians won’t be able to hug at least one person they wish they could over the holidays. And like those in the video, survey participants cited geographical distance and loved ones having passed away as the leading factors preventing their hugs.
“I just wish I could really squeeze her right now,” says teary-eyed New York Klickster Kari Bocassi watching her AI-generated hug with her sister Marlene, moments before she bursts onto the set for a long in-person embrace. The siblings have spent the past 14 years caring for their mother since her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, but haven’t been together for the holidays since Marlene moved to Virginia. Similarly, Toronto’s Fred Duarte gets the bear hug of his life when his brother Rico, who lives in Brazil, walks into Klick’s production studio for their first holiday reunion in seven years.
Directed by James Cooper via Cooper Films, “Holiday Hugs” also taps into the fact that hugs don’t just make people feel better emotionally, they also have numerous health benefits. According to the National Institutes of Health, hugs can lower blood pressure and boost the immune system.
“There’s nothing quite like the warmth and reassurance of a heartfelt hug,” said Klick’s chief creative officer Rich Levy. “With ‘Holiday... Read More
