Agency barrettSF has developed its first work for Bleacher Report, a division of Turner Sports, bringing rap duo Blackalicious into the studio to remix their “Alphabet Aerobics” hit with new sports lyrics, and turning the resulting track into an animated music video. The work aired on TNT during the Oklahoma City Thunder-Miami Heat game on December 3.
Just like the original “Alphabet Aerobics,” Blackalicious’s new “#SportsAlphabet” rap intensifies in speed as it runs through the ABCs, now riffing on football, basketball and everything else sport.
Gentleman Scholar animated the music video with 26 different styles, one for each letter of the alphabet. Everything from alley cats serving up alley oops to each other for “A,” to a 3D hockey goon getting a puck through his mouth for the letter “G.”
Pete Harvey, executive creative director of barrettSF, said, “Bleacher Report is sticking themselves out there with a film that rewrites the sports alphabet, and asked us, alongside Gentlemen Scholar, to surprise people with the execution.”
Credits
Client Bleacher Report Agency barrettSF, San Francisco Pete Harvey, Jamie Barrett, executive creative directors; Brad Kayal, associate creative director; Jake Reilly, sr. copywriter; Byron Wages, art director; Nicole Van Dawark, sr. producer; Patrick Wilkinson, producer; Charlotte Dugoni, associate producer. Production Gentleman Scholar William Campbell, Will Johnson, directors; Jo Arghiris, exec producer; Rachel Kaminek, head of production; John-Patrick Rooney, associate creative director; Jordan Lyle, art director; Tim Hayward, CG supervisor; Nikki Maniolas, producer; Nicole Smarsh, associate producer; Trevor Conrad, Chris Finn, Sarah Beth Hulver, Jordan Lyle, Macauley Johnson, John-Patrick Rooney, Calla Donofrio, Hana Eunjin Yean, design; Chris Finn, Sarah Beth Hulver, Jordan Lyle, Macauley Johnson, John-Patrick Rooney, Shawn Kim, 2D animation; Tristan Balos, Taik Lee, Stephanie Simpson, Harry Teitelman, cel animation; Blake Beynon, James Lane, character animation. Music Blackalicious Sound Design Barking Owl Michael Anastasi, sound designer; Kelly Bayett, creative director; KC Dossett, producer. Audio Post One Union Recording Matt Zipkin, engineer; Lauren Mask, exec producer.
The Ad Council, partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and AdoptUSKids, launched a public service campaign, created pro bono by Edelman, which aims to inspire prospective parents to consider adopting a teen from foster care.
This centerpiece PSA titled “The Rewards”--directed by The Hudson Dusters (Michael Kuhn and Niles Roth) via Greenpoint Pictures--spotlights real adoptive families who have personally experienced the mutual benefits of adoption. This longer form PSA (and cutdown versions) begins with a touching display of openness and vulnerability as adoptive parents reflect on their adoption journeys and their initial questions and hesitations about adopting a teen. Then, in a deeply emotional turn, the adoptive parents witness their children recounting the profound rewards of adoption in their lives. The teens speak of the love they share with their parents and how the decision to become a family is reciprocal. The campaign directs viewers to the AdoptUSKids website to learn more about adopting a teen from foster care.
