“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Those venerated words spoken by Neil Armstrong from the Moon on July 20, 1969 signaled a new chapter for the human race. And they serve as the inspiration for a new national spot which premiered on Super Bowl Sunday from Xfinity and Goodby Silverstein & Partners to announce the arrival of the Xfinity 10G Network which takes connectivity–as well as next level gaming–to a new level.
The 30-second spot features a detailed recreation of the Apollo 11 lunar landing which we quickly learn is actually the plotline of a futuristic video game, when a group of young gamers appears on the Moon to break the news of 10G to the celebrated astronauts. The astronauts soon realize they’re merely characters in this action-survival-thriller filled with the spectre of truly perilous moments for our unsuspecting heroes. The game, of course, is being played by these kids on Xfinity’s new and incredibly powerful 10G network.
Directed by Park Pictures’ Lance Acord, the spot—which will feature a longer form cut on YouTube—stars “SNL” vet Will Forte (“The Last Man on Earth,” “MacGruber”) and Chris Bauer (HBO’s “True Blood” and “The Wire” as well as the Apple TV+ NASA-based series “For All Man Kind”).
“10G is Xfinity’s Moon-landing moment,” said GS&P executive creative director Jim Elliott. “What it will enable for human connectivity is nothing short of awe-inspiring. We felt the occasion demanded an equally miraculous film, and Lance Acord was the perfect partner to help us revisit such a significant moment in human history with a distinctly fun, modern twist.”
CreditsClient Comcast/Xfinity Agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners Jeff Goodby, Rich Silverstein, co-chairmen; Margaret Johnson, chief creative officer; Jim Elliott, executive creative director; Jon Wolanske, Jon Wyville, creative directors; Anthony DiMichele, Sean Smith, associate creative directors; Ryan Self, design director; Bonnie Wan, partner/head of brand strategy; Adam Arola, group strategy director; Nick Reggars, group content strategy director; Jim Haight, director of production; James Horner, executive producer; Kateri McLucas, sr. producer; Senait Hailemariam, associate producer. Production Park Pictures Lance Acord, director/DP; Jackie Kelman Bisbee, founding partner/exec producer; Scott Howard, exec producer; Caroline Kousidonis, line producer; Philip Messina, production designer. Editorial Exile Edit Matt Murphy, editor; Lee Bacak, assistant editor; CL Kumpata, managing partner; Jennifer Locke, exec producer; Jamie Perritt, Chris Meadows, post producers. Audio Post Lime Studios Rohan Young, audio engineer; Jeremy Nichols, assistant mixer; Susie Boyajan, exec producer; Cassie Underwood, producer. Sound Design LSD Michael Anastasi, sound designer; Susie Boyajan, exec producer; Cassie Underwood, producer. Music Elias Audio Branding Eric Ronick, executive creative director; Matt Phenix, head of production. VFX Pariah Pat Murphy, VFX supervisor; Michael Steinmann, head of production; Mark Tobin, managing director/EP; Gladys Bernadac, VFX producer; Russell Fell, Richie White, Steve Wolff, Fed Saccone, Rod Basham, Flame artists; Diego Binatena, jr. Flame artist; Ean Carr, Nuke artist; Mike Wynd, CG supervisor; Pete Jensen, Mitchell Jaeger, Elizabeth Hammer, CG artists; Reid Southen, matte painter; Jonathan Ficcadenti, After Effects artist. Color Trafik Mark Gethin, colorist; Nate Seymour, color assistant; Greer Bratschie, color producer; Meghan Lang Bice, exec producer.
NHS England, M&C Saatchi UK, Director Tom Tagholm Team On PSA Highlighting The Overlooked Signs Of A Stroke
National Health Service (NHS) England has unveiled a multichannel campaign, “Act FAST,” to raise awareness of the individual signs of a stroke and get people to call 999 as soon as they suspect they may be experiencing any one symptom. The push, which is part of the ongoing “Help Us, Help You” campaign, was developed in partnership with M&C Saatchi UK.
The campaign depicts everyday situations where everything might seem relatively normal, but where there’s the sign of someone experiencing a stroke.
A key component of the campaign is this :30--directed by Tom Tagholm of Various Films--which sets up the idea that initially, a stroke might not seem like much, highlighting key symptoms: from struggling to use a paint roller, to not being able to smile when watching TV, to slurring your speech when reading a story to your grandchild. The PSA emphasizes that time is critical, ending with the line: “Face or arm or speech, at the first sign, it’s time to call 999.”
Jo Bacon, Group CEO, M&C Saatchi UK, said, “We want to ensure people take action on the first symptom, rather than waiting for more conclusive signs. To help them understand that even when everything seems normal, something serious might be happening.”
Matt Lee, executive creative director, M&C Saatchi UK, commented: “This is important work. We wanted to explore that precise moment when your world shifts, quietly yet powerfully, off its axis during a stroke. We highlight how a tiny external moment can actually be seismic—an extraordinary gear change, framed in a really ordinary way.”
Director Tagholm shared, “My Dad suffered a stroke a few years ago and was saved from the worst by acting quickly, and by the work of the NHS. So there’s... Read More