In this “Escape the Everyday” campaign for Harlequin Romance Novels out of BBDO Toronto, women eagerly indulge their literary fantasies, unbeknownst to their oblivious husbands. Pete Henderson of production company Someplace Nice directed the spots, including “Hero Cowboy” in which a housewife enjoys a romantic interlude with her cowboy lover atop the washing machine in the laundry room of her suburban home.
Her husband then walks in and pulls some shorts out of the dryer, at which point we see that she is merely reading a Harlequin novel. As soon as her hubby leaves the room, she’s back in the amorous embrace of her cowboy companion.
Credits
Client Harlequin Agency BBDO Toronto Carlos Moreno, Peter Ignazi, executive creative directors; Linda Carte, associate creative director/art director; Shiran Teitelbaum, Dylan Verway, copywriters; Linda Carte, Alice Blastorah, Manali Kulkarni, art directors; Aimee DeParolis, producer. Production Someplace Nice Pete Henderson, director; Chilo Fletcher, Estelle Weir, exec producers; Jonny Cliff, DP. Editorial Ricochet Matt Dell, editor. Music/Sound Ricochet Post Alter Ego Eric Whipp, colorist. Casting Jigsaw Casting Shasta Lutz.
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
