Dr. Evil is “Back For Good,” which is the title of this General Motor’s Super Bowl spot starring actor/comedian Mike Myers. Directed by Tim Kirkby via Bootleg Films, London for McCann Detroit, the commercial has Dr. Evil taking over General Motors. But in order to rule the world, he first has to save the world, reducing the global carbon footprint via GM’s line of electric vehicles.
Accompanying Myers as Dr. Evil are his Austin Powers co-stars including Rob Lowe (as “Young Number Two”) and Seth Green (“Scott Evil”).
Visual effects house on the Big Game commercial was AFX Creative. Nicole Fina, exec producer at AFX, noted. “This campaign started off with select VFX needs and grew to include VFX in every single shot,” she says. “We created the floor, the ceiling, a fleet of CG cars, CG stairs, animating robots, tricked-out walls, multi-leveled floors, backgrounds and so much more.”
Credits
Client General Motors Agency McCann Detroit Chuck Meehan, Brad Emmett, co-chief creative officers; Rob Legato, Tony Kaurse, group creative directors; Michael Musallam, Nick Marine, associate creative directors; Hafeez Saheed, executive integrated producer; Diana Ceausu, global head of strategy & research; Tim Rocklage, sr. art director Anna Jacobs, copywriter. Production Bootleg Films, London Tim Kirkby, director; Giles Nuttgens, DP; Greg Jordan, exec producer; Ira Brooks, line producer. U.S. Production Support Rocket Film Sara Eolin, managing director; Marla Whittaker, EP/head of production. Editorial Cosmo Street Tom Scherma, editor; Yvette Cobarrubius, exec producer; Marie Mangahas, head of production; Yole Barrera, producer. VFX AFX Creative, Santa Monica, Calif. Chris Noellert, creative director/2D supervisor; Tom Connors, VFX supervisor/3D lead; Felix Thedeby, composite supervisor; Alex Michael, sr. producer; Giulia Rocca, production coordinator; Esther Minitser, head of production; Nicole Fina, exec producer; Mark Leiss, managing director; Derek Hansen, colorist; Zachary Hetlage, assistant colorist; Jessica Amburgey, color producer. (Toolbox: Flame, Nuke, 3DSMax, Maya, Substance Painter, redshift) Music “Opening Title” from Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery; music by George S. Clinton, courtesy of New Line Productions, Inc. Music/Sound Design JSM Music Joel Simon, CEO/CCO; Jeff Fiorello, VP/exec producer; Norm Felker, sr. producer; Andrew Manning, Sharon Cha, producers; Seamus Kilmartin, Cecil Campanero, composers; Nathan Kil, sound designer. Stock Music BMG Production Music Audio Eleven Sound Jeff Payne, mixer/sound designer; Andrew Smith, assistant mixer; Melissa Elston, exec producer.
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
