As we continue to adjust to working remotely, Microsoft Teams has introduced new features to help people stay connected and work together by making meetings more dynamic, productive, and engaging. The new campaign from Microsoft and McCann New York–“More Ways to be a Team”–demonstrates how the newest features in Teams continue to push this spirit forward. We see the magnetic power of Together Mode, how Whiteboard enables teams to share ideas, and the new way to see more people in Large Gallery View.
Buck served as production studio on this anthem piece for a campaign that uses engaging visual metaphors to communicate how Teams enables organizations to work together in new ways, and inject the personal connection that people experience when working in the same physical space. With the help of superheroes, sand artists and an astronaut, Microsoft explores what it means to come together, and collaborate in the same place. This campaign features 3D animation, illustration, live action, and shows how each of these tools are giving people more ways to be a team.
“More Ways to be a Team” launched in the U.S. across TV, digital video, digital display, social, PR, and search.
Credits
Client Microsoft Agency McCann New York Sean Bryan, Tom Murphy, co-chief creative officers; Shayne Millington, Piper Hickman, EVPs, global executive creative directors; Brad Soulas, Kristine Salm, creative directors; Nick Ciomperlik, Ricardo Munoz, associate creative directors; Mikey Bready, jr. art director; Enoch Lui, jr. copywriter; Yung Lee, designer; Malik Dupree, jr. designer; David Cliff, director of creative technology; Hiya Vazirani, Alicia Foor, creative technologists; Sanjoo Ryou, project management & creative resource director; Lauren Kosche, sr. project manager; Nathy Aviram, chief production officer; Mel Senecal, VP, executive producer; Morgan Edstrom, producer; Eric Johnson (aka DJ Bunny), SVP, executive music producer; Dan Gross, music producer; Patty Visconti, VP, sr. interactive producer; Charlotte Popper, Sean Flanigan, digital producers; Caroline Sollmann, art producer. Ash Far, EVP, global director of strategy & research; Jordan Berger, strategy director; Carra So, associate strategist. Production Buck Orion Tait, executive creative director; Thomas Schmid, group creative director; Stevie Watkins, associate creative director; Doug Hindson, art director; Joe Nash, exec producer; Kitty Dillard, head of production; Kevin Hall, sr. producer; Irka Seng, producer; Dara O Cairbre, Deanna Rivera, production coordinators; Gilles Desmadrille, animation lead and design; Dan Cantelm, 2D animation, design; Enle Le, 2D animation, design; Bill Dorais, CG supervisor; Carmel Gatchalian, Liron Eldar-Ashkenazi, Taylor James, Theo Glad, Trey Holt, Vinicius Naldi, Yeojin Shin, Zuheng Yin, Bernardo Henning, Justin Cassano, design; Jordan Scott, Lily Padula, Rachael Park, Tim Beckhardt, 2D animation; Taylor James, Filipe Machado, Joy Tien, 3D modeling; Jing Huang, rigging; Arvid Volz, 3D-CG lead; Taylor James, Zuheng Yin, Kevin Nguyen, Daniel Zucco, Mohammed Elberkawi, Selah Kwon, animation; Shane O’Hare, Ylli Orana, lighting; Seth Ricart, colorist; Paal Riu, roto VFX pick conform. Audio Post Sonic Union Steve Rosen, mix engineer; Patrick Sullivan, sr. producer. Content Licensing Catch and Release Kerri Helliwell, project manager; Helen Giano, Mattia Nuzzo, Anelka Agiro, Shelby Shariatzadeh, Buck Spillner, Jackson Rockowitz, curation; Zoe Ani, Jordan Vail, Brent Lovell, Cris Walters, Akimi Biggs, clearance.
After losing part of his right leg due to cancer, Terry Fox campaigned to raise national awareness and funding for cancer research by running his Marathon of Hope, a cross-Canada 42-km daily run, on his prosthetic leg. Fox, who died in 1981, is a national hero. His image will be on Canada’s new $5 bill.
In this two-minute video titled “Finish It,” the Marathon of Hope is recreated. It’s all done in one take, and it features an actor/marathon runner who uses a prosthesis on the same leg as Fox. CGI was deployed to make him look more like Fox. To further ensure the actor represented Fox accurately, not only did the actor and team watch and study many videos of Terry, but Terry’s brothers, Fred and Darrel, coached the actor on Terry’s running style and mannerisms. They also created a copy of Terry’s prosthesis for the actor to use for the shoot.
The message is clear. As the Marathon of Hope now marks its 45th anniversary, we now have the opportunity to “Finish It” for Fox, raising money and awareness to get a cure for cancer over the finish line, completing the work that Fox started. The public service film starts with Fox on the marathon run, eventually joined by a crowd of other dedicated runners from all walks of life who take over the race.
Mark Zibert directed via production company Scouts Honour for Toronto agency Diamond. The video features a never-before-heard version of the song “Courage” from Canadian band The Tragically Hip.
“We wanted to create a campaign that captures the magnitude of Terry Fox’s legacy while driving meaningful action,” said Peter Ignazi, chief creative officer at Diamond. “By revisiting the Marathon of Hope with such care and reverence, we aimed to reignite Terry’s mission and... Read More
