Taco Bell and Deutsch released this mock-movie trailer titled,“Chasing Gold,” featuring Golden Globe-winning actor Darren Criss and actor/comedian Chris Diamantopoulos. Watch the rise-and-fall of a singer who makes it big off Nacho Fries, only to learn that fame is fleeting in that Nacho Fries, are available for a limited time only.
Alongside the mock-trailer is a fully produced, original song written by Jingle Punks and sung by Criss.
“Taco Bell fans continue to go through this emotional rollercoaster when Nacho Fries disappear and reappear on the menu,” said Brett Craig, chief creative officer, Deutsch Los Angeles. “We leaned into this to create a rise-and-fall love ballad all about Nacho Fries that will leave people wanting to hear more…from Darren Criss because he is a ridiculously good singer.”
Live-action director on “Chasing Gold” was Jeremy Saulnier of Neighborhood Watch, Brooklyn, NY. Food/tabletop director was Brett Froomer of French Butter Films, L.A.
Credits
Client Taco Bell Agency Deutsch Los Angeles Brett Craig, chief creative officer, Los Angeles; Jeremiah Watson, Chris Jones, creative directors; Mikey Sison, associate creative director; Daniel Chen, sr. copywriter; Diego de la Maza, head of production; Paul Roy, executive integrated producer; Samantha Bonom, sr. integrated producer; Steven Frailey, integrated producer; Eryk Rich, music director; Chase Butters, sr. music supervisor; Dez Davis, music supervisor; Laura Tron, executive integrated producer, digital; Ariel Theraube, sr. integrated producer, digital; Kemi Adeniji, associate integrated producer, digital; Jean-Lou Renoux, design director; Erica Park, designer; Jeremy Gozzip, jr. designer; Pete Favat, chief creative officer, North America. Production Neighborhood Watch, Brooklyn, NY Jeremy Saulnier, director; Larkin Seiple, DP; Richard Peete, Matthew Snetzko, Traci Carlson, exec producers; Theolonious Brooks, line producer. Production-Food French Butter Films, Los Angeles Brett Froomer, director/DP; Ivo Knezevic, exec producer; Tim Harris, first AD. Production Services/Mexico City The Lift, Mexico City Avelino Rodriguez, managing director; Fuad Abed Dalton, line producer, live action; Jose Aguirre, line producer/food. Editorial Union Editorial Jim Haygood, editor; Brian Leong, assistant editor; Joe Ross, exec producer; Michael Raimondi, president/managing director. Color Company 3 Stefan Sonnenfeld, colorist; Gabriel Wakeman, sr. producer; Ashley McKim, exec producer. Post (VFX/Finishing) Chimney, Marina del Rey, Calif. Ron Moon, exec producer; Susie Cobb, producer; Frederick Ross, VFX supervisor; Felix Thedeby, VFX artist. Audio Lime Studios, Santa Monica Mark Meyuhas, mixer; Peter Lapinski, assistant mixer; Susie Boyajan, exec producer. Music Jingle Punks Jared Gutstadt, CCO/songwriter/producer; Jesse Siebenberg, songwriter/track production; Scarlett Burke, songwriter; Matt Chambless, executive creative director; Miles Kennedy, sr. producer. Sound Design Lime Studios Mark Meyuhas, sound designer.
Dancer turned director Ezra Hurwitz collaborates with Ailey II artistic director Francesca Harper, featuring movement as museum pieces against the Whitney Museum of American Art’s striking architecture for this short film titled Echoes of Ailey. Commissioned to celebrate “Edges of Ailey” at the Whitney Museum, the film accompanies the first large-scale exhibition on the life and enduring legacy of visionary artist and choreographer Alvin Ailey. “Edges of Ailey” is currently on view at the Whitney until February 9.
Animating iconic images from Alvin Ailey’s 20th-century repertory, the film expands on the exhibition by constructing a visual narrative around his storytelling and influences. Set to Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Place,” dancers from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, and The Ailey School capture the emotional core of the company’s history--physically situating Ailey’s masterworks amongst the Whitney’s collection.
“As a child, my grandmother took me to Ailey’s Revelations once a year,” said Hurwitz. “No matter how often I saw it, the work captivated me. There isn’t one specific thing I hope viewers take away from the film--or one way to interpret its images. It’s meant to be an abstract work, like Ailey’s creations.”
Turning to his archive, Hurwitz and Harper illuminate key sequences symbolic of Ailey’s profound legacy, closing on an uninterrupted sequence from "I’ve Been Buked," the opening movement of Ailey’s legendary "Revelations." Carrying a watershed moment back to its own medium, Echoes of Ailey captures the multigenerational impact of Ailey’s work, continued by his organization. The short film first premiered on Nowness.
