Venables Bell + Partners’ “Always On” campaign for Audi of America includes this spot, “Previous Owner,” directed by Sam Pilling of Pulse Films.
“Previous Owner” offers up a distinct Audi take on the current pandemic-fueled luxury housing boom, with a twist on the haunted house genre. A young couple shopping for a new home are willing to overlook some serious red flags when they discover the impressive RS Q8 parked in the garage and learn that the house “comes with everything you see.”
This campaign additionally marks the launch of the new voice of Audi for all marketing efforts in the U.S., actress Nkeki Obi-Melekwe.
Credits
Client Audi of America Agency Venables Bell + Partners Paul Venables, founder, chairman; Will McGinness, partner, executive creative director; Matt Miller, Matt Keats, creative directors; Allie Nordstrom, Elliot Nordstrom, associate creative directors; Lachlan Palmer Hubbard, sr. art director; Jake Reilly, sr. copywriter; Hilary Coate, director of integrated production; Melanie Fedunok, executive producer; Zach Zutler, producer; Mike Riley, group strategy director; Cody Levin, strategy director; Gabi Levi, sr. strategist. Production Pulse Films Sam Pilling, director; Davud Karbassioun, global president of commercials; Hillary Rogers, managing director/exec producer; Nick Fuller, head of production; Adriana Debada Mora, producer; Pat Scola, DP; Chris Jones, production designer; Jennifer Johnson, costume designer. Editorial Exile Shane Reid, editor; Ersin Dogruer, assistant editor; CL Kumpata, exec producer; Jennifer Locke, head of production; Michael Miller, sr. producer. VFX, Color Grade & Finish Blacksmith Gavin Miljkovich, shoot supervisor; Iwan Zwarts, lead compositor; Mikey Pehanich, colorist; Ashley Goodwin, VFX producer; Charlotte Arnold, exec producer. Sound Design Gus Koven, sound designer. Audio Post Matt Keith, mixer; Brad Beasley, assistant mixer.
After losing part of his right leg due to cancer, Terry Fox campaigned to raise national awareness and funding for cancer research by running his Marathon of Hope, a cross-Canada 42-km daily run, on his prosthetic leg. Fox, who died in 1981, is a national hero. His image will be on Canada’s new $5 bill.
In this two-minute video titled “Finish It,” the Marathon of Hope is recreated. It’s all done in one take, and it features an actor/marathon runner who uses a prosthesis on the same leg as Fox. CGI was deployed to make him look more like Fox. To further ensure the actor represented Fox accurately, not only did the actor and team watch and study many videos of Terry, but Terry’s brothers, Fred and Darrel, coached the actor on Terry’s running style and mannerisms. They also created a copy of Terry’s prosthesis for the actor to use for the shoot.
The message is clear. As the Marathon of Hope now marks its 45th anniversary, we now have the opportunity to “Finish It” for Fox, raising money and awareness to get a cure for cancer over the finish line, completing the work that Fox started. The public service film starts with Fox on the marathon run, eventually joined by a crowd of other dedicated runners from all walks of life who take over the race.
Mark Zibert directed via production company Scouts Honour for Toronto agency Diamond. The video features a never-before-heard version of the song “Courage” from Canadian band The Tragically Hip.
“We wanted to create a campaign that captures the magnitude of Terry Fox’s legacy while driving meaningful action,” said Peter Ignazi, chief creative officer at Diamond. “By revisiting the Marathon of Hope with such care and reverence, we aimed to reignite Terry’s mission and... Read More
