Chloé Zhao, who earlier this year won Best Picture and Director Oscars for Nomadland, directed this spot for Ford out of Wieden+Kennedy New York. Titled “Make It Revolutionary,” the commercial debuts during the opening ceremonies of the 2021 Olympic Games. For the film, Zhao brings the human side of the transition to electric vehicles to the fore, showing how this revolutionary technology can still feel incredibly familiar. Zhao’s human-centric approach to storytelling enabled her to draw out extraordinary performances from a cast of primarily non-actors.
Zhao–who directed the Ford project via production house Caviar–also has a personal connection with the Ford brand. She built a camper van out of a Ford Transit and often travels and works from it. The protagonists in her films are often seen driving a Ford vehicle.
“Make It Revolutionary” was a green production from end-to-end, indicative of the breadth of Ford’s larger sustainability goals as a company.
In 2021 alone, Ford has electrified three of its iconic nameplates, with the introduction of the F-150 Lightning, the Mustang Mach-E, and the E-Transit van, vehicles that are fun to drive and have unique performance and capabilities only possible because of electrification.
Credits
Client Ford Agency Wieden+Kennedy New York Karl Lieberman, executive creative director; Stuart Jennings, Eric Helin, creative directors; Jake Thompson, copywriter; Alex McClelland, art director; Nick Setounski, head of integrated production; Jess Griffeth, executive producer; Jordan Leinen, sr. producer; Rodrigo Nino, producer; Alix Toothman, strategy director. Production Caviar Chloé Zhao, director; Greig Fraser, DP; Rebecca Donaghe, line producer; Michael Sagol, managing partner. Editorial Joint Matt Burke, editor; Elaine Green, Matt Clark, editorial assistant; Kari Ickert, sr. post producer; Michelle Carman, exec producer. VFX Preymaker Adrian Hurley, VFX supervisor; Greg Cutler, Kevin Quinlan, VFX 2D lead; Kevin Quinlan , Simon Holden, Hieu Phan, Tim Bird, Raymond Volker, Matthew Tremaglio, Phil Massimino, Ben Weaver, VFX artists; Zach Fortin, Gwen Frey, Katherine Lannon, VFX producers; Melanie Wickham, Verity Kneale, exec producers. Color Company 3 Jill Bogdanowicz, colorist; Matt Moran, color producer. Music Emile Mosseri, composer. Music Premier Music Group Winslow Bright, music supervisor/exec producer. Audio Post Sonic Union Steve Rosen, sound designer/mix engineer; Joey Glick, assistant engineer; Justine Cortale, studio director.
Ford shared details of its campaign across Europe to cement the relaunch of its legendary Capri nameplate as an electric vehicle, following a provocative and successful unveiling earlier this year.
Developed by Wieden+Kennedy London, the “Mischief Rewired” campaign initially premiered on U.K. TV screens from Boxing Day (12/26), disrupting modern ad breaks with vintage ads from the Ford Capri archives--rewired with a bolt of modern mischief. Now, the full three films are fully rolling out across Europe, including this one titled “Prowl” in which panthers stalk the car as it drives through the desert.
From the 1960s to the 1980s, the Ford Capri was the car of choice for stuntmen, musical icons and movie stars. Now, these films--directed by Fredrik Bond of MJZ, with Academy Award-nominated Rodrigo Prieto as DP--tell audiences that the legend is back in an all-new, electrified and mischievous form for the modern era.
Pete Zillig, director of marketing, Ford in Europe, commented, “When you say ‘The Legend is back’ you need to be all in. What better way to do that than use some of those classic old Capri ads as a springboard into Capri’s electric future. Very proud of this brave work that stands out boldly in a sea of EV sameness.”
David Colman, creative director at Wieden+Kennedy London, said, “To relaunch the Capri as a new electric vehicle, we wanted to tap into its iconic past. From its role as the go-to car for stuntmen to its appearances alongside music legends and movie stars, the Capri was a symbol of excitement, individuality, and style. The idea took shape when our creative team, Georgina Brisby and Marcelo Duarte, discovered the archive of legendary vintage Capri ads and suggested ‘rewiring’ them. With... Read More
