This spoof of action movie trailers is set to run during the Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 22, on ABC. Directed by Traktor for BBDO NY, the :30 titled “Big Movie” is designed as a mock movie preview, and highlights how watching movies is better with M&M’S. The ad features all six of the M&M’S Brand “spokescandies” putting a delicious spin on classic action-movie scenes–Orange driving a runaway bus; Red interrogating an alleged criminal; Blue leaping from a burning building–in a manner that so closely resembles a movie trailer you might start to believe “M&M’S: The Movie” is coming to a theater near you.
Although this marks the television debut of the commercial, a similar treatment of the creative ran in cinemas nationwide throughout 2014. That version served as a “public service announcement” asking for audiences to please turn off their cell phones during the movie.
Credits
Client Mars/M&M’s Agency BBDO New York David Lubars, chief creative officer, worldwide; Greg Hahn, chief creative officer, New York; Tim Bayne, Lauren Connolly, executive creative directors; Christopher Cannon, Eduardo Peterson, associate creative directors; Regina Iannuzzi, executive producer; Samantha Errico, producer. Production Traktor Sam Larsson, director. VFX House Special Kirk Kelley, animation director; Julianna Cox, Greg Kyle, Chris Ohlgren, Kevin Phelps, animators; Rex Carter, compositing lead; Michael Corrigan, Cam Williams, editors; Patrick Van Pelt, lead TD; Zilpha Yost, sr. producer. (Toolbox: Maya, Flame, Flint, FumeFX, Nuke, Photoshop)Editorial PS 260 Maury Loeb, editor; Matt Posey, assistant editor; Laura Lamb Patterson, sr. producer.
FCB Health New York, an IPG Health company, and SAFE Project have joined forces to create “The Snowball,” a short film that spotlights winter as a common catalyst for dangerous increases in alcohol consumption. In collaboration with creative studio LOBO, “The Snowball” combines a compelling visual metaphor with cutting-edge animation and a haunting soundtrack from Billie Holiday.
As millions embrace “Dry January,” the onset of colder, shorter winter days still leads to an uptick in alcohol misuse, which can lead to liver cirrhosis and other medical maladies and dangerous consequences for one’s life. Speaking to casual drinkers, “The Snowball” visually illustrates how anyone is at risk of becoming addicted to alcohol during this time of year when external climate variables can lead to excess consumption, even if the drinker does not immediately realize it.
Making good on the metaphor, the film follows one man as a quick liquor run gradually devolves into a full-blown addiction as a snowball gradually grows beside him, engulfing his whole life and eventually causing his demise. Set to the tune of Billie Holiday’s “Everything I Have Is Yours,” the film’s pathos is drawn from the sonic integrity of Holiday’s original recording maintained in the sound design as well as the singer’s tragic battle with substance abuse.
This entirely animated film was created using a hands-on, collaborative process rooted in traditional animation techniques, with every aspect of the artwork creation, design, and craftsmanship crafted entirely by human hands. AI-driven tools and processes were brought in during the animation rendering stage, helping the film achieve a distinct visual style that would have been difficult to achieve through... Read More
