Dr. Evil is “Back For Good,” which is the title of this General Motor’s Super Bowl spot starring actor/comedian Mike Myers. Directed by Tim Kirkby via Bootleg Films, London for McCann Detroit, the commercial has Dr. Evil taking over General Motors. But in order to rule the world, he first has to save the world, reducing the global carbon footprint via GM’s line of electric vehicles.
Accompanying Myers as Dr. Evil are his Austin Powers co-stars including Rob Lowe (as “Young Number Two”) and Seth Green (“Scott Evil”).
Visual effects house on the Big Game commercial was AFX Creative. Nicole Fina, exec producer at AFX, noted. “This campaign started off with select VFX needs and grew to include VFX in every single shot,” she says. “We created the floor, the ceiling, a fleet of CG cars, CG stairs, animating robots, tricked-out walls, multi-leveled floors, backgrounds and so much more.”
Credits
Client General Motors Agency McCann Detroit Chuck Meehan, Brad Emmett, co-chief creative officers; Rob Legato, Tony Kaurse, group creative directors; Michael Musallam, Nick Marine, associate creative directors; Hafeez Saheed, executive integrated producer; Diana Ceausu, global head of strategy & research; Tim Rocklage, sr. art director Anna Jacobs, copywriter. Production Bootleg Films, London Tim Kirkby, director; Giles Nuttgens, DP; Greg Jordan, exec producer; Ira Brooks, line producer. U.S. Production Support Rocket Film Sara Eolin, managing director; Marla Whittaker, EP/head of production. Editorial Cosmo Street Tom Scherma, editor; Yvette Cobarrubius, exec producer; Marie Mangahas, head of production; Yole Barrera, producer. VFX AFX Creative, Santa Monica, Calif. Chris Noellert, creative director/2D supervisor; Tom Connors, VFX supervisor/3D lead; Felix Thedeby, composite supervisor; Alex Michael, sr. producer; Giulia Rocca, production coordinator; Esther Minitser, head of production; Nicole Fina, exec producer; Mark Leiss, managing director; Derek Hansen, colorist; Zachary Hetlage, assistant colorist; Jessica Amburgey, color producer. (Toolbox: Flame, Nuke, 3DSMax, Maya, Substance Painter, redshift) Music “Opening Title” from Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery; music by George S. Clinton, courtesy of New Line Productions, Inc. Music/Sound Design JSM Music Joel Simon, CEO/CCO; Jeff Fiorello, VP/exec producer; Norm Felker, sr. producer; Andrew Manning, Sharon Cha, producers; Seamus Kilmartin, Cecil Campanero, composers; Nathan Kil, sound designer. Stock Music BMG Production Music Audio Eleven Sound Jeff Payne, mixer/sound designer; Andrew Smith, assistant mixer; Melissa Elston, exec producer.
At the heart of this campaign for Pay.UK Current Account Switch Service (CASS) is a playful yet relatable narrative, brought to life in the hero TV commercial, “Blind Date.” Directed by Rosie May Bird Smith of Biscuit Filmworks for agency House 337, the spot follows a woman nervously meeting her blind date, only to discover the person waiting for her is someone you definitely wouldn’t want to meet on a blind date. The voiceover reassures: ”Blind dates. They’re a bit like switching bank accounts. You don’t want any surprises. That’s why we guarantee there won’t be any when you switch with the Current Account Switch Service.”
“Everyone knows the pain of a bad date, the gut-churning realization you’ve texted your boss instead of your mate, and being stuck next to someone eating the world’s stinkiest lunch,” said Ross Newton, creative director, House 337, who added, “Life is a minefield of unwanted surprises, so coming up with the campaign idea was the easy part. The real challenge was deciding which situations to include and which to ditch. Sadly, these scenarios are all too relatable for us all, myself included.”
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