In this promo for Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s HBO series Ballers, Johnson’s character grooms Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews for a post-NFL career as a SportsCenter anchor at ESPN.
Aptly titled "SportsCenter Basement," this spot reveals that Johnson has a full SportsCenter set–replete with anchor desk–in the basement of his house. We then see Matthews’ comedy chops as he clumsily tries his hand at the SportsCenter intro. ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt also appears in the promo.
Via Ignition Creative which served as hybrid agency/production/post house, the spot was directed by Jeff Aron Lable who recently joined the roster of production company Superlounge.
In Ballers, Johnson plays a retired NFL player getting his life on track in retirement while mentoring other current and former players.
Credits
Client HBO/ESPN Agency ESPN Marketing Christina Dunleavy. Agency/Production/Postproduction Ignition Creative Martin Kistler, creative director; Danielle Dormer, executive producer; Nate Wehrman, producer; Jeff Aron Lable, director (whose production house roost is Superlounge); Alex Jacobs, DP; Brady Heiser, first assistant director; Matt Silverman, GFX
Following World AIDS Day, which was celebrated on December 1, co-production companies Central Films and Freelance For track one man’s existential, and potentially career-altering, decision to “come out” as living with HIV in Spain in this public service spot titled “The HInVisible Celebrity.”
Out of agency Señora Rushmore for ViiV Healthcare Spain, in collaboration with GESIDA, SEISIDA, and Apoyo Positivo, the PSA--directed by Rodrigo García Sáiz via Central Films Spain--addresses the stigma against publicly living with HIV in Spanish society. In the more than 40 years since the first case of HIV appeared in Spain, no public figure in Spain has claimed to have HIV. Viiv Healthcare Spain asks, if there are 150,000 people with HIV in Spain (or approximately 1 in 300), why don’t we know anyone with HIV?
The central character, who dons a mask of television-pixelated anonymity, gives himself an introspective pep-talk ahead of announcing his status to the Spanish public. Along the way, he wonders what will become of his career, and reputation in general, even as he recognizes that his declaration could change Spain’s cultural landscape for the better and for all of those in Spain who live with HIV every day. As no public figure in Spain has ever announced living with HIV--due to fear of public rejection--this character realizes that such a role model could change that.
The character has already begun building social media awareness with his Instagram profile, @famosoinvihsible, which began cataloging his life as a public figure earlier this fall. Still, though, the figure either leaves himself out of the picture, faces away from the camera, or dons the pixelated mask associated with anonymous admission. “The HInVisible... Read More
