It is apt that "The Cardi B & Offset Meal," created for McDonald's via agency Golin, produced by Easy Mondays, and directed by LOBOS (the team comprising director/dps Carmelo Varela and Andrew Garcia), is intended for presentation online on and social media. The :56 conversation distinguishes itself from the commercial that aired on the Super Bowl (and is separate from the “Knowing Their Order” portion of the campaign – which the directing duo did not shoot) as a simple, intimate, and organic piece, just a sweet couple talking about their relationship.
“Carmelo and I love to let real-life moments unfold within our takes,” said Garcia. “For us, it's always less about what needs to be said and more about what feels right in the moment. We knew Cardi and Offset felt comfortable letting their personalities lead the story, versus having our script dictate every beat. So, we really leaned into that angle.”
Knowing how important it was to cultivate an intimate environment, the directors limited the number of people allowed on set, so the piece “could really feel like we were a fly on the wall listening in on a date with Cardi B and Offset,” Garcia continued. “With all that said, we also appreciate the couple’s willingness to share some intimate stories and give us a glimpse into their lives.”
While the concept was solid, Cardi B and Offset delivered responses that determined the flow of the segment, including those beats that revealed humor, tenderness, and mutual ease, all in under a minute. “I think there’s always a bit of challenge when it comes to making a semi-scripted piece feel cohesive,” said Garcia. “But this is where I think Carmelo and I let our documentary instincts kick in. The more we lean into the unexpected, the more beautiful the content comes out. The unpredictability of the moment always forms a beautiful story if you allow it to. We’re really happy that everyone has been connecting to the piece.”
Additional work by LOBOS includes projects for Timberland, Rolling Stone, and Miller.
About Easy Mondays
Easy Mondays is a bespoke production company established by a bunch of creative gourmands, voyagers, and trendsetters. We circled the world more than a couple of times last year. We produced moving pictures about cars, food, beverages, health, rock and roll, fashion, social issues, we published trendsetting magazines on travel and the pleasures of life, we wrote and photographed books. In short, we spent countless hours devoted to finding the most cinematic experiences around the globe, and we brought our babies and dogs as witnesses! Our pursuit in the never-ending circle of life is to create the most engaging content for our clients. We are known for our high-quality productions and our taste at selecting excellent restaurants in the most remote regions. And we do all of it because we love it, because it is in our ethos, and because we shine the most when we are crafting astonishing stories together.
The Easy Mondays roster boasts an eclectic mix of comedy (from all-embracing to zany), storytelling, live action, documentary, VFX, and tabletop, General Market and Hispanic Market, united in its cultural diversity and the distinct imprint of each director and team: Biceps, Rocio Crudo, Luis Gerard, Kristian Mercado, Alina Montero, Peter & Annie, and Beatriz Sanchez. The company talent pool also includes EM + Poster directors Sebastian Caporelli, Plastico, and Maca Rubio.
