Nike Basketball’s “Bring Your Game” campaign kicks off with a film exploring the unique ways seven of hoops’ finest athletes — Kobe Bryant, Elena Delle Donne, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Paul George, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James — prepare for success on the hardwood. From fishing to philosophy, the film’s vignettes might be comic, but each is rooted in the realities of its respective player. These prep rituals are observed firsthand by youngsters Peanut, Sean, Toni and Angel who set out to determine who deserves to be their favorite player.
Rick Famuyiwa of Superprime directed this five-minute Nike Basketball film for Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, Ore.
Credits
Client Nike Agency Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, Ore. Alberto Ponte, Ryan O’Rourke, creative directors; Edward Harrison, copywriter; Sara Phillips, art director; Erin Goodsell, Julie Gursha, Matt Hunnicutt, producers; Dan Viens, interactive director; Reid Schilperoort, interactive strategy; Brandon Thornton, strategic planning; Joe Staples, Mark Fitzloff, executive creative directors. Production Superprime Rick Famuyiwa, director; Rebecca Skinner, Michelle Ross, exec producers; Julia Roberson, line producer; Adam Kimmel, DP. Editorial Rock Paper Scissors Angus Wall, Damion Clayton, Austyn Daines, Lauren Dellara, editors; Ashley Bartell, post producer; Linda Carlson, Angela Dorian, post exec producers. VFX/Post The Mill Adam Scott, colorist; Chris Obal, Asa Fox, Sam Ziaie, color assists; Thatcher Peterson, exec producer, color; Diane Valera, color producer; Sue Troyan, sr. exec producer; Dan Roberts, sr. producer; Antonio Hardy, producer; Pat DeVaney, Chris Lewis, production coordinators; Tim Rudgard, Glyn Tebbutt, 2D lead artist; Don Kim, Lisa Ryan, Rob Winfield, Jeff Langlois, Chris Hunsberger, Remedy Huynh, Kelsey Napier, 2D artists. Sound Design Barking Owl Michael Anastasi, sound designer; Kelly Bayett, creative director/partner. Music Barry Cole, Agoraphone, Walker, music supervisors. Songs: “It’s Caper Time”-Quincy Jones “Dodgeball Theme Song”-Theodore Shapiro “Rebirth of Slick”-Digable Planets “Yamaji”-Yamato Ensemble “Rootbeer”-Under Control “Chopsticks”-Walker “Like a Boss”-Versy “Cut It Loose”-Chris Carthage Audio Post Lime Studios Rohan Young, mixer; Susie Boyajan, producer.
Director Marc André Debruyne--who’s handled by production house Open Swim for U.S. representation--brings Coca-Cola’s legacy of celebrating holiday traditions to life in this campaign spotlighting Filipino Balikbayan boxes. The spot--out of Toronto agencies Taxi and VML--features Tita Rosita, owner of the oldest Filipino-Canadian grocery store in Toronto, whose much-adored shop was wrapped like a massive Coca-Cola-themed Balikbayan box as she prepared hundreds of boxes for customers to send their loved ones, with Coca-Cola paying for the boxes and the cost of shipping them to the Philippines. The spot is a testament to the brand’s prevailing facilitation of cultural and generational connectivity, especially during the holiday season.
The collaborative project--produced by Toronto production company MOWAD--was particularly special for Debruyne, who’s Filipino, because of the large presence of Filipino crew members on set. “It’s a totally surreal feeling when a work project crosses over into your personal life. It’s not too often that happens,” shares Debruyne. “The number of Balikbayan boxes I’ve sent home since I was a child, being surrounded by so many Filipinos on set – both crew and cast, and even being served pancit by Tita Rosita for lunch (and getting yelled at after because I didn’t have seconds) brought back so many wonderful memories of my mom. It was such a fun vibe on set. This wasn’t even a job, it was truly something special.”
