Thinking Machine’s Docter Twins remind Southern Nevada residents to stay “water smart” with their “Future Tripping” water conservation PSA for the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Award-winning directors Jason and Matt Docter strike a playful comedic tone with R&R Partners’ script about a Nevada couple’s struggle to adhere to the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s mandatory watering schedule.
Your average suburban guy goes “Dad Max” in the face of an ongoing drought as the Docter Twins deliver an overly cautious, neurotic character who is taking matters into his own hands, desperately preparing for the future. Injecting a little makeshift humor into the situation, the man cobbles together his DIY drought-defense armor, in his garage laboratory while his sprinklers carelessly run outside. His doomsday prep is interrupted by his far more sensible wife, who offers up an easier, less excessive solution by referring to the irrigation controller.
“The original board for ‘Future Tripping’ was already fun on paper,” explains Jason Docter. “A major part of bringing the concept to life was nailing the utilitarian Spartan-like costume the hero character creates in his workshop-garage.”
“The team at R&R Partners were super collaborative and open to the exchange of ideas,” says Jason. They entrusted the duo to enlist the incredible artistry of Kiel Johnson, a master of sculpture and interconnected machines, whom Thinking Machine has collaborated with in the past.
Once Kiel was on board, he did an initial sketch that the client loved, incorporating a strong hockey influence since the city of Las Vegas had recently gone crazy with the success of the Golden Knights. From there, the production team sifted through their own garages for commonplace materials they could use to craft the makeshift desert survival suit. Forging them together in Kiel’s East LA studio, the intricate and playful costume for the hero and his trusty sidekick fully came to life.
Known for evoking natural, comedic performances from actors, the Docter Twins expanded their repertoire with “Future Tripping,” directing Razzle, a superstar dog who appears at the man’s side, dressed as "Dog Max," equally prepared for desert life in a future without water.
Thinking Machine is on a roll, following a debut showing for the Docter Twins at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Their humor-driven “Data in Dollars” campaign for Xfinity won two Silver Lions for Data-Driven Targeting (Creative Data and Media Lions) and a Bronze Lion for Social – Targeted Communication (Mobile Lions), among five shortlisted entries.
Official link here: https://youtu.be/1lPUma6oyFs
