DIRECTV has launched its “GOATbusters” national campaign featuring baseball legends Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz, Ken Griffey Jr. and Randy Johnson, highlighting the company’s streaming product, DIRECTV STREAM.
Launching just in time for baseball season, the foursome comes together to combat supernatural forces and other would-be foes through the 2022 MLB season, just like the Ghostbusters.
The campaign builds on the first iteration of DIRECTV’s “Get Your TV Together” ad series–also from TBWAChiatDay Los Angeles–which shows how entertainment and sports come together on DIRECTV.
The new work contains nods to fan-favorite elements form the Ghostbusters movie franchise, with MLB mascots reimagined as ghosts, new baseball bat-style proton pack weaponry and the GOATs’ choice of transportation, a Ghostbusters Ecto-1 replica car.
In this :30 spot directed by Jim Jenkins of O Positive, we see GOATbusters Rodriguez, Ortiz, Griffy Jr and Johnson take on a huge MLB ghost mascot who towers over a stadium.
Credits
Client DIRECTV Agency TBWAChiatDay Los Angeles Renato Fernandez, chief creative officer; Jason Karley, group creative director; Mark Winters, Ryan Buckley, creative directors; Tyler Archibald, sr. copywriter; Will Holmes, sr. art director; Andrew Bae, jr. art director; Bruno Regalo, head of art & design; Jake Skirving, sr. designer; Andrea Nazario, jr. designer; Guia Iacomin, director of content production; Alicia Portner, sr. producer; Dena Moore, executive art producer; Elisabeth Fried, sr. art producer; Ryan McDonald, art producer; Jen Costello, chief strategy officer; Jesse Unger, group strategy director; Laura Gorder, sr. strategist; Hannah Schweitzer, jr. strategist. Production O Positive Jim Jenkins, director; Ralph Laucella, exec producer; Marc Grill, producer; Devon Clark, head of production; Gyula Pados, DP; Jason Edmonds, production designer; Greg McCollum, AD; Michelle Martini, costume designer. Editorial Arcade Geoff Hounsell, editor; Paulo Miramontes, assistant; Alexa Atkin, Tom Barnett, producers; Crissy DeSimone, exec producer. VFX The Mill New York Nathan Kane, executive creative director, shoot supervisor; James Mulholland, shoot supervisor; Clairellen Wallin, exec producer; Jack Williams, sr. producer; Chanelle Larios, producer; Kyla Graham, production coordinator; Siggy Chojnacki, production support; Justin Kurtz, Yong Chan Kim, 3D lead artists; Andre Vidal, Krissy Nordella, 2D lead artists; Jay Lee, Jeeun Lee, Yoon-sun Bae, Hailey Akashian, Felipe Passarani, Rajesh Kaushik, Noah Catan, Jiin You, 2D artists; John Wilson, animation lead; Jessica Castillo, animation; Matt Mcdonald, Anton Anderson, finish artists; James van den Elshout, graphic animation art director; Chris Szeto, designer; Maxim Kozhevnikov, concept design. (Toolbox: Houdini, Zbrush, Substance, Polycam, Maya, Arnold, Nuke, Flame) Audio Post/SFX String & Tins Culum Simpson, sound designer; Joe Wilkinson, additional sound design; Cobblestone Foley, foley; Laura-Leigh Smith, audio producer. Music Walker Sara Matarazzo, Stephanie Pigott, exec producers; Danielle Soury, sr. producer. Audio Mix Lime Studios Matt Miller, mixer; Ian Connie, mix assistant; Susie Boyajan, exec producer. Baseball Footage Stalkr Diego Speroni, retouching, digital artist; Francisco Speroni, digital assistant; Freddy Fabris, digital producer.
When dozens of Klick Health team members said they wouldn’t be able to hug loved ones over the festive season, the agency turned to AI and other magic to orchestrate a series of sentimental, surprise reunions captured in its “Holiday Hugs” video. The heartwarming four-minute video, benefitting the D.C.-based Foundation for Social Connection (F4SC), parallels recent findings from a Maru/Blue Public Opinion survey commissioned by Klick.
The poll found 74 percent of Americans and Canadians won’t be able to hug at least one person they wish they could over the holidays. And like those in the video, survey participants cited geographical distance and loved ones having passed away as the leading factors preventing their hugs.
“I just wish I could really squeeze her right now,” says teary-eyed New York Klickster Kari Bocassi watching her AI-generated hug with her sister Marlene, moments before she bursts onto the set for a long in-person embrace. The siblings have spent the past 14 years caring for their mother since her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, but haven’t been together for the holidays since Marlene moved to Virginia. Similarly, Toronto’s Fred Duarte gets the bear hug of his life when his brother Rico, who lives in Brazil, walks into Klick’s production studio for their first holiday reunion in seven years.
Directed by James Cooper via Cooper Films, “Holiday Hugs” also taps into the fact that hugs don’t just make people feel better emotionally, they also have numerous health benefits. According to the National Institutes of Health, hugs can lower blood pressure and boost the immune system.
“There’s nothing quite like the warmth and reassurance of a heartfelt hug,” said Klick’s chief creative officer Rich Levy. “With ‘Holiday... Read More
