In a new ad for Wienerschnitzel, A Common Thread director Eli Green enlists a slightly unhinged German techno band to introduce the brand’s latest offering, Chicken Schnitzel Sandwiches. Conceived by California agency Amusement Park, Schnitzelbration features a group of black-clad musicians strutting their stuff on stage while singing the praises of schnitzel in faux German. The show ends with a back-up singer pumping his fist and exclaiming, “Das awesome!”
Although he’s obviously going for laughs, Green directs the scene as if it were a Kraftwerk performance circa 1975. The musicians take themselves very seriously, even when they are joined onstage by Wienerschnitzel’s giant hot dog mascot. “Although the situation is outlandish, it should feel real,” he says. “You want viewers to be wondering, ‘What’s happening here?’ Later, we tip our hat enough to let them know it’s okay to laugh.”
Green credits Amusement Park’s creative team with having the moxie to go with a concept that’s out of left field. “It’s a big idea to convey in 30 seconds; they were taking a creative risk, and it paid off,” he observes. “I seek out projects like this and creative collaborators who are doing things that are interesting, funny and different.”
A second Wienerschnitzel ad, Hot Dogs Across the USA, introduces three specialty hot dogs. It centers on a cross country road trip where a group of millennials in an SUV visits beaches and night spots accompanied by the Wienerschnitzel mascot.
company
media
Benjamin Howdeshell Directs Milla Jovovich in Horror “Withorwithout”
Director Benjamin Howdeshell shows his mastery of the dark side in Withorwithout, his new horror film/music video about a couple who are the apparent victims of a home invasion in the Hollywood Hills. Set to...
Eli Green’s New Campaign For RaceTrac is “Wintastic”
Eli Green of A Common Thread has directed a new campaign for RaceTrac with Austin agency R/GA that rewrites the playbook for convenience store advertising in a very funny way. The series of :30, :15 and :06 second spots star...
Sheldon Candis Profiles More Strong Women in Ford Follow-Up, “Born to Roll 2.0”
Director Sheldon Candis of A Common Thread tells the stories of three women living their dreams in a sequel to Ford’s celebrated “Born to Roll” campaign from agencies Global Team Blue and UniWorld Group. As...
A Common Thread Signs Aussie Director Cassie De Colling
A Common Thread has signed Australian director Cassie De Colling for exclusive representation in the United States. De...
Peter Dietrich Hits the Bullseye with “Hole Maker” for Snack Food Chipita
For a new spot for snack food giant Chipita, director Peter Dietrich created a scene straight out of a classic Western. A clean-cut stranger walks into a bar and engages in a test of marksmanship with a surly tough guy. The...
2024 AICP Awards Tour Concludes with Stops in Dallas and Chicago
The 2024 AICP Awards Tour concludes with stops in Dallas and Chicago this month as it wraps up its tour of cities across the U.S. The National Tour brought presentations, panels and screenings to marketers, advertising agencies, production and post production companies. The AICP Awards will be in Dallas on Thursday, November 14th, at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, followed by the Chicago event, set for Thursday, November 21st at The Old Post Office. Tickets are available now for both events at www.aicp.com. In Dallas, the program kicks off at 6:45 pm with a happy hour, followed by the screening and panel discussion at 7:30. The evening ends with a networking reception from 8:30 to 11:30. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is located at 2201 N. Field Street in Dallas. Appearing in Dallas will be Abe Garcia, Chief Creative Officer, Dieste; Julia Melle, Director of Brand and Content, Southwest Airlines; and Isaac Pagán Muñoz, VP, Executive Creative Director of PepsiCo Foods. The panel will review selected winners from the suite of the AICP Awards programs, offering insights into what made them rise to the top of their respective categories and share their viewpoints on key trends in the industry. The Chicago stop starts at 6:00pm with a happy hour, followed by the presentation and screening at 7:00pm. A reception caps the event, starting at 8:00pm and concluding at 11:30pm. The Old Post Office is located at 433 W Van Buren Street in Chicago. The panel there will feature 2024 AICP Awards Curators and Winners from the marketer, agency, production and post production sectors who’ll highlight this year’s winners. The conversation will include a discussion about the winning work, including insights... Read More