Xfinity and its agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P) are unveiling “The Big Questions” campaign that aims to push against the category status quo of internet and mobile network providers. The work raises questions designed to resonate with audiences, and then offers the answers, courtesy of Xfinity’s engineering prowess.
Directed by Tom Noakes of PRETTYBIRD, the campaign’s playful films include this spot titled “Hide & Seek” in which a woman returns home as well-known characters from the entertainment world–including Emily from Emily in Paris and the title character from Ted–scatter and hide throughout the house as a voiceover asks, “With so much great entertainment out there, wouldn’t it be easier if you could find what you want, all in one place?” The answer being Xfinity’s best-in-class content aggregation technology.
CreditsClient Comcast Brand Xfinity Agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners Jeff Goodby, co-creative chairman; Jim Elliott, executive creative director; Jon Wolanske, Ryan Tovani, creative directors; Sean Smith, associate creative director; Maria Sousa Machado, sr. art director; Claire Stokes, sr. copywriter; Jim Haight, director of production; Stephanie DeNatale, executive producer; Nick Goldsmith, sr. producer; Jackie Nelms, producer; Kelly Evans-Pfeifer, deputy director of brand strategy; Adam Arola, group strategy director; Lyniece Hill, brand strategist; Maren Severtson, group communication strategy director; Taylor Yada, sr. communications strategist. Production Company PRETTYBIRD Tom Noakes, director; Kerstin Emhoff, co-founder/CEO; Suzanne Hargrove, VP/exec producer; Jeanne Stawiarski, exec producer; Tracy Hauser, director of production; Maura McCoy, bidding producer; Michaela Johnson, line producer; James Brown, DP; Michael Salven, 1st assistant director; Rosanna Pandolfo, production supervisor; Kelly Smith, production designer. Production Services Company, Bulgaria. B2Y Alexander Kananov, Ivan Ivanov, service producers; Ivanina Burneva, production manager; Todor Chapkanov, 1st assistant director. Editorial Cabin Lucas Baynes, editor; Adam Becht, managing director; Liz Lydecker, director of production; Michelle Dorsch, head of production, LA; Britt Carson, exec producer; Alex Hooker, producer; Ginna Schilling, associate producer; Brian Raess, Erin McCaffrey, assistant editors; Joe D’Ovidio, Lawrence Ng, cutting assistants. VFX Framestore James Razzall, U.S. president integrated advertising; Aron Hjartarson, executive creative director; Alex Thomas, VFX supervisor; Pete King, exec producer; Adam Foster, sr. VFX producer; Jamie Runkle, Diego Bonora, Cydney Wong, Jose Alvarado, associate producers; Timothy Crabtree, compositing supervisor; Brian Creasey, CG supervisor; Maria David, VFX coordinator; Evan Langley, Vasco Cerqueira, Paul Krist, Christopher Halstead, compositors; Glenn Teel, Toby Brockhurst, Flame artists; Taylor Hodgson-Scott, CG animation; Joey Sila, Kevin Baker, CG lighting; Aidan Merryman, CG FX; Omar Taher, CG generalist; Kaho Horiuchi, CG modeling; Meg Pangiochi, CG rigging; Rebecca Teichner, Sean Dollins, CG layout; Menelaos Peristeridis, Benjamin Walant, Nick Hiatt, Steven Messing, digital matte painters; Jake Sadowsky, VFX editor. Framestore Melbourne Glenn Melenhorst, VFX supervisor; Ineke Majoor, VFX producer; Samantha Thrupp, head of digital production; Adela Popescu, line producer; Joe Murphy, production coordinator; Nijesh Sidharthan, CG look dev; Keristan Casey, Aedan Staats, CG modeling; Damien Rogers, CG rigging; Purab Singh, CG tracking; Keith Meure, paint roto; Nick Tripodi, CG animation; Luke Flanagan, CG layout; Drew Wood-Davies, Jon Ossitt, Andrew Dunkerly, CG lighting; Matt Omond, compositor. Sound Design & Mix Lime Studios Joel Waters, audio engineer; Kris Huayta, assistant engineer; Susie Boyajan, exec producer; Cassie Underwood, producer. Music APM Music
Top Spot of the Week: Director Jake Scott, Paramount Brand Studios “Make Your Gameday Epic” In “Gladiator II”-Inspired Pepsi Spot
Nearly 20 years after Pepsi’s “Roman Empire” made its mark on pop culture, the brand is returning to the arena with a colossal Gladiator-themed campaign titled, “Make Your Gameday Epic™.” Celebrating the start of the 2024 NFL season and the highly anticipated release of Paramount Pictures’ Gladiator II in theaters on Nov. 22, this short film--directed by Jake Scott via RSA Films for Paramount Brand Studio features Megan Thee Stallion, as Empress Megan, leading a legion of NFL superstars turned Gridiron Gladiators, including Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, Justin Jefferson and Travis Kelce, locked in an epic battle with ice-cold Pepsi at the heart of the action. A brand-new gameday anthem from three-time, Grammy award-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion soundtracks the campaign. The unmistakable “boom, boom, clap” from Queen’s epic track “We Will Rock You” is featured on a fresh sample with cutting new lyrics from Megan. The new track became available on all major music streaming platforms, and ahead of Megan hosting the 2024 MTV VMAs last night (9.11), where the track and music-video inspired spot were heard and seen throughout the show. “I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of the legends who appeared in this Gladiator campaign 20 years ago and proud to have carved my own new legacy,” said Megan Thee Stallion. “Pepsi really brought the worlds of music, sports and entertainment together in a powerful way to set off the new NFL season.” The spot opens with Lamorne Morris and Jake Lacy peering into a can of Pepsi Zero Sugar as it transforms into a colosseum. Empress Megan calls the shots, and the royal roster of NFL players are at her command as they all vie for her favor and a sip of an ice-cold Pepsi... Read More