This year, Uber Eats’ star-studded Super Bowl spot from agency Special U.S. highlights that you can get almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. But in order for folks to remember that, they have to forget something else…
In the ad, for example, Jennifer Aniston forgets she’s Friends with David Schwimmer, the Beckhams fumble to remember the Spice Girls, Jelly Roll doesn’t understand why the ink on his face won’t rub off, and USHER wishes he could host a Super Bowl halftime show.
Jake Szymanski directed the Big Game spot via production house Gifted Youth.
CreditsClient Uber Eats Agency Special U.S. Matthew Woodhams Roberts, David Horton, partners/executive creative directors; Kelsey Hodgkin, partner/CEO; Vic Palumbo, partner/chief production officer; Cade Heyde, global partner; Alice Blastorah, Josh Hacohen, Jon Marshall, Eron Broughton, creative directors; Karan Dang, social executive creative director; Dan Greener, Natalie Seitz, associate creative directors; Jen Dennis, executive producer; Nat Brickler, sr. producer; Kelsey Karson, head of strategy; Hanet Shih, group strategy director; Jen Rose, sr. strategist. Special Australia Julian Schreiber, Tom Martin, partners/chief creative officers. Production Company Gifted Youth Jake Szymanski, director; Josh Morse, exec producer; Cat Craven-Griffiths, head of production; Bernard Rahill, producer; Michelle Del Mese, Mike Garcia, production supervisors; Gabby Del Mese, assistant production supervisor; Larkin Seiple, DP. Editorial Exile Kirk Baxter, Matt Murphy, Zaldy Lopez, editors; Jonathan Rogers, TJ Lasure, Melanie Newton, Chris Messier, assistant editors; CL Kumpata, managing director; Jennifer Locke, Michael Miller, exec producers; Brian Schimpf, Adam Parker, sr. producers; Dylan Majerus, producer. VFX/Post Pariah Mark Tobin, managing director/EP; Matt Sousa, VFX supervisor; Kim Stevenson, Sam Kolber, Janice Lee, Flame artists; Amanda Elliott, online editor; Ryan Ross, Nuke artist; Reid Southen, matte painter; Elizabeth Hammer, tracking; Andrew Rosenberger, producer; Lily Hernandez, production coordinator; Michael Steinmann, exec producer. Color Grade Company 3 Tom Poole, Matt Osborne, sr. colorists; Shannen Troup, Jenny Roberts, producers. Sound Eleven Sound Jordan Meltzer, sound designer/mixer; Andrew Smith, sr. producer. Music Mazie, “Dumb Dumb” Music JSM Music Joel Simon, chief creative officer/CEO; Jeff Fiorello, VP/exec producer; Norm Felker, Andrew Manning, sr. producers; Sharon Cha, producer.
Filmmaker Natalie Johns Creates Spec Gun Violence Prevention PSA
Her social media feed is filled with frustration and “prayers” for families torn apart by yet another mass shooting as filmmaker Natalie Johns is engaged in the morning ritual of negotiating school attendance with her 4½-year-old. Between laughing and arguing with their daughter, the Johns think deeply about the prospect of waking up without her--deeply enough to feel an inch of what it might be like to lose her--a feeling profound enough inspire her most personal commitment to date as a filmmaker.
“Gun violence should not be a normalized part of life in America,” she noted. “I felt it was worth putting my whole heart on the line to deliver this message.”
The director invited her long-time collaborator and cinematographer, Bill Kirstein (Mean Girls, Happyend), to capture their family’s experience over several mornings in a spec PSA. She wanted to capture her own joy and truth as a parent with a view to inspiring action from the deepest love she has known.
On the third day of filming, Johns received an email from their daughter’s preschool notifying parents of a lockdown that had occurred due to a gunman outside the school. The children, aged 2-5, were gathered in a small bathroom for an hour, singing songs with their teachers while the man was apprehended by law enforcement. This was the family’s first narrow escape from tragedy.
“The coincidence of filming this PSA and experiencing my family’s first lockdown was both shocking and surreal. I simply could not wrap my head around it,” said director Johns.
Even more terrifying for Johns was discussing the incident with other parents who had already experienced several lockdowns with their older children. This reality is all too common and far too... Read More