AUNZ Work of the Week: Telstra with Bear Meets Eagle on Fire

This week, Telstra launched a surreal series of silent black-and-white films for cinemas, using a blend of practical and computer generated effects to create memorable characters including a magnetic boy, a dancing table, and a werewolf.

Developed with Bear Meets Eagle On Fire and FINCH director Dougal Wilson, the campaign reimagines the traditional "silence your phone" message as three vintage-inspired shorts.

The films – ‘Mirror Mirror’, ‘Four-Legged Friend’, and ‘Magnetic Boy’ – deliberately avoid conventional advertising tropes. As Micah Walker, founder and CCO of Bear Meets Eagle On Fire explained to LBB, "With cinema, you have a captive audience that has come to be entertained."

Director Dougal Wilson drew inspiration from classic Hollywood. ‘Mirror Mirror’ transitions from 1930s romantic drama to 1950s horror, while ‘Four-Legged Friend’ channels MGM musicals.

“I loved these ideas, and crafting them with my wonderful production team and crew was a hugely enjoyable experience," Dougal said.

The campaign continues Telstra's pattern of unconventional work, following ‘The Cobber’ and ‘Dominos’ spots. And the concept is both clever and risky. The vintage aesthetic creates instant standout in a cluttered pre-roll environment, and the practical effects lend charm that pure CGI often lacks.

Another clever play for the category, and a boon for the cinema medium: audiences will be magnetised to the ads on the big screen.