Imagine testing a self-parking car or experiencing a medieval jousting match from the hood of a MINI. Those were just two of the ideas that over 800 MINI owners submitted in a call to the brand’s 200,000 registered owners in its “Final Test Test Drives” competition as MINI sought contributions from its most passionate fans to launch its new MINI Cooper hardtop.
MINI and its marketing agency BSSP culled through over 800 ideas and shot 10 original films with Tool of North America that bring to life the real–and sometimes fantastical attributes of the new MINI Cooper hardtop www.MINIFTTD.com. Taking the input from its owners one more step, MINI then turned some designs and ideas into actual features that it is making available as ‘New Originals” custom options packages on select cars.
This "Anthem" commercial provides a taste of the overall campaign and the 10 films.
Credits
Client MINI Agency Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners John Butler, executive creative director; Steve Mapp, creative director/director; Lyle Yetman, creative director; Sinan Dagli, art director; Lucas Zehner, copywriter; Adrienne Cummins, director of broadcast production; John Riddle, producer; Richard Quan, executive producer. Production Tool of North America Erich Joiner, Ben Tricklebank, directors; Crille Forsberg, DP; Oliver Fuselier, managing director/exec producer; Kelly Christensen, line producer. Editorial Cleaver/Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners Eddie Ringer, Dave Becker, editors. Therapy Studios Doobie White, editor. Cut+Run Pete Koob, editor. Post Spy Post, Chris Martin, sr. colorist; Lori Joseph, exec producer. Music/Sound Design Yessian Michael Yessian, head of production/partner; Andy Grush, creative director; Dave Curtin, exec producer; Patrick O’Brien, producer; Jeff Dittenber, Weston Fonger, sound designers. Audio One Union Lauren Mask, studio manager; Joaby Deal, sr. engineer.
Director Marc André Debruyne--who’s handled by production house Open Swim for U.S. representation--brings Coca-Cola’s legacy of celebrating holiday traditions to life in this campaign spotlighting Filipino Balikbayan boxes. The spot--out of Toronto agencies Taxi and VML--features Tita Rosita, owner of the oldest Filipino-Canadian grocery store in Toronto, whose much-adored shop was wrapped like a massive Coca-Cola-themed Balikbayan box as she prepared hundreds of boxes for customers to send their loved ones, with Coca-Cola paying for the boxes and the cost of shipping them to the Philippines. The spot is a testament to the brand’s prevailing facilitation of cultural and generational connectivity, especially during the holiday season.
The collaborative project--produced by Toronto production company MOWAD--was particularly special for Debruyne, who’s Filipino, because of the large presence of Filipino crew members on set. “It’s a totally surreal feeling when a work project crosses over into your personal life. It’s not too often that happens,” shares Debruyne. “The number of Balikbayan boxes I’ve sent home since I was a child, being surrounded by so many Filipinos on set – both crew and cast, and even being served pancit by Tita Rosita for lunch (and getting yelled at after because I didn’t have seconds) brought back so many wonderful memories of my mom. It was such a fun vibe on set. This wasn’t even a job, it was truly something special.”
