This spot which launched last night with a high-profile placement during the MTV Video Music Awards marked the start of a relationship between State Farm and Lorne Michaels’ media and entertainment company, Broadway Video Entertainment (BVE), and its Saturday Night Live properties as SNL celebrates its 40-year anniversary.
The campaign features SNL characters such as Hans & Franz (Kevin Nealon and Dana Carvey) and Richmeister (Rob Schneider). It’s been 20 years since these iconic characters have come out of the SNL vault. Richmeister is featured in “Steve’s Kid” which was directed by Hank Perlman of Hungry Man for DDB Chicago.
Credits
Client State Farm Agency DDB Chicago John Maxham, chief creative officer; Barry Burdiak, John Hayes, group creative directors; Joe Cianciotto, chief digital officer; Gustavo de Mello, group strategy director; Penn French, group business director; Diane Jackson, director of production; Scott Kemper, executive producer; Luke LiManni, producer; Kurt Riemersma, Mike Porritt, Andrew Bloom, creative directors/art directors; Matt Ben Zeev, Frank Oles, Nathan Monteith, creative director/copywriters; Chris Bruney, art director; Nick Novich, copywriter. Production Hungry Man Hank Perlman, director. Editorial Cutters Matt Walsh, editor; Craig Duncan, exec producer; Patrick Casey, producer. Post/VFX Filmworkers Club Michael Masur, colorist; Rob Churchill, Daniel Pernikoff, Michael Anderson, visual effects artists; Derek de Board, exec producer; Casey Swircz, producer.
Director Sune Sorensen of production company Hey Baby teamed with The Wonderful Agency on this lovely story to ring in the holiday spirit for floral delivery service Teleflora.
The spot introduces us to Matty who’s hospitalized during the holiday season when a magical encounter with a snowman ensures. There’s something unusual--and familiar--about this snowman. And thanks to Make-A Wish, Matty sees the person whom the snowman represents--his father who’s away on naval duty.
The production was shot in Vancouver, Canada, and includes local talent and crew. Sorensen related, “It’s hard enough to find strong, believable, child actors let alone one who has to not only carry the story but also deliver complex emotions on cue.” Clearly, he found one. “When Aaron Stansberry auditioned, the entire room starting crying. I don’t remember the last time that has happened. It was clear that he understood what it meant to his character in a very profound way. His tears felt genuine.”
The commercial is part of the “Power of Wishes” campaign which empowers Americans to help Teleflora donate $250,000 to the nonprofit organization Make-A-Wish. More than 4,000 children will receive a devastating diagnosis this holiday season and through this partnership, Teleflora will help Make-A-Wish grant life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses. Donations are triggered when consumers order qualifying seasonal bouquets on Teleflora’s website, like the Teleflora and Make-A- Wish collaboration posts on Instagram or Facebook, or through an in-person activation at Rockefeller Center in New York City, where passersby can build a snowman on December 11. Teleflora will donate $10 to Make-A-Wish for every snowman built during the... Read More
