How can you communicate something that you can’t talk about–namely top brands at great prices that can’t be advertised?  That’s the challenge that faced O’Keefe Reinhard & Paul (OKRP) and its production arm, Whiskey & Bananas Studios, when client Big Lots asked them to create online films for their Secret Top Brands.

The solution: Enlist the comedy chops of Second City alums and OKRP writing team, Jen Bills and Greg Mills, to create four sketch comedy shorts–filmed before a live audience–for distribution across digital and social media channels.

“This campaign leveraged universal truths and hilarious situations to turn a communications obstacle–deals so low, we can’t advertise them–into a fun and intriguing proposition for Big Lots,” explained Sue Gillan, creative director at OKRP who also served as director of the films via Whiskey & Bananas. “By capturing the comedy sketches on a stage with a live audience, we literally invited our target to become a part of the event audience giving the final films an authentic feel.”

OKRP assembled a live audience of 100 people and invited four other improv actors to entertain them between sets creating a high-energy atmosphere.  In two hours, Whiskey & Bananas filmed four sketches, which launched this month on various digital channels. 

Credits

Client Big Lots Agency O’Keefe Reinhard & Paul, Chicago  Tom O’Keefe, CEO; Matt Reinhard, chief creative officer; Sue Gillan, creative director; Greg Mills, Jen Bills, copywriters; Britt Whittaker, designer; Scott Mitchell, executive producer. Production Whiskey & Bananas Studios  Sue Gillan, director; Scott Mitchell, exec producer. Leigh Jones of BoomThrift, line producer. Editorial Whiskey & Bananas Mark Jepsen, editor. 

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