Toyota and Burger King Launch Musical Campaigns at the 2023 VMAs

Creative studio and post production specialists, STUCK IN MOTION worked with Paramount Brand Studio to launch campaigns for Toyota and Burger King at the 2023 VMAs, which took place at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ on the 12th September. 

Toyota returned for its fifth year as a partner of the VMAs, and for the first time, as a sponsor of the prestigious MTV Video Vanguard Award, which recognises artists for their outstanding contributions to and profound impact on music video and pop culture. Past recipients have included David Bowie, Michael Jackson and Beyoncé, this year the award was granted to pop sensation, Shakira. 

Paramount Brand Studio created a 90 second homage to Shakira’s art, music and cultural influence creative directed by Spencer Parker, directed by Steven Weinzierl and produced by Lair to air in show preceding her VMA performance. Driving audiences through the streets of New York in the all-new Toyota Prius, the car magically uncovers performances of some of Shakira’s biggest hits including Chantaje (feat. Maluma), Hips Don’t Lie and Suerte (Whenever, Wherever). 

STUCK IN MOTION were instrumental in bringing Toyota’s ambitious creative brief to life, which envisioned the Prius deftly moving through the three musical performances and environments. The vehicle was captured parked in position in the studio environments, and STUCK IN MOTION was able to propel the car through the performances with specialised VFX and compositing.

Tommy Shull, executive producer, creative and principal at STUCK IN MOTION commented, “Every spot we do for the VMAs has its own challenges but universally, time is of the essence. There’s almost zero room for missteps. We literally spend weeks preparing and running various scenarios so that post production can support production 100% and be extremely efficient once the footage is in our hands. We need to be ready for anything.”

For Burger King’s VMA spot, Paramount Brand Studio partnered with DJ Steve Aoki to remix the viral Whopper Whopper jingle, which launched earlier this year. In the 75”  film, creative directed by Brittany Chanel Greene, directed by Kajal and produced by Fela, audiences look on as Aoki is inspired by the repeated phrase, ‘Whopper, whopper, double whopper, junior, double, triple whopper.’ creating an insatiably catchy tune that travels through his studio speaker and into the world. The infectious beat gets heads nodding and people dancing, bringing friends together and amplifying the life of the party. 

Due to time constraints and Aoki’s availability, the shoot was delayed to only a few days before delivery was required. STUCK IN MOTION were on hand to VFX supervise and edit on set whilst travelling, in order to meet the intense deadline. In addition, the studio supervised VFX artists in house and in two other countries to achieve the final film, which was accompanied by a teaser social trailer and extra 15" spots which aired during the show. 

Deb Reichman, executive creative director, STUCK IN MOTION said, “Our process is to start “post” long before footage arrives.  We’re listening in on the earliest pre-pro calls, cutting an animatic prior to the shoot, and problem solving on set–allowing us to deliver a rough cut  within a couple of days rather than weeks.  Paramount Brand Studio brings us into the collaboration earlier and earlier each year, and the mutual trust we’ve built allows us to pull off the impossible no matter how ambitious.”