Work of the Week: 09/12/22
This week’s selection of top creative work is a global tour to Tinseltown and back. In the past seven days, we've seen some outstanding work - Christmas-related or otherwise - from Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, the States, Italy and the UK - each piece with its own glorious style and shine. As we count down how many sleeps we have until the 25th, eagerly anticipating the gifts, time with family and mountains of food and drink, Christmas campaigns are still being rolled out to consumers, spreading good cheer and news of seasonal sales. Two such festive pieces of work, from Coca-Cola and Wonderhood Studios, made our list this week, as well as six other campaigns that have been chosen for their must-see creativity.
As well as the aforementioned projects, the second 'WOTW' selection of December also includes Volkswagen helping Brazil to get payback for its 7-1 Loss to Germany at the World Cup in 2014, a visually stunning and musical spot from Patrón’s agave fields, Heineken empowering workers to regain control of their time and a boy taking on the whole of the NBA in an action-packed PlayStation 5 campaign from adam&eveNYC.
See all of the choices in full below.
Coca-Cola - Christmas Always Finds Its Way
Coke has almost become synonymous with jolly old Saint Nick and his annual festivities - what else are you going to wash down that dry, dry turkey with? When they’re not parading around the UK with the ‘Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour’, they’re known to create some of the season’s most heartwarming and nostalgic content. This year, they’ve teamed up with Grey, OpenX and directors from PRETTYBIRD to produce the ‘Christmas Always Finds Its Way’ film anthology on Prime Video and YouTube. The diverse stories, ‘Alma’, ‘Les Petits Mondes De Noël’ and ‘Christmas Bites’, are global tales that celebrate the extraordinary power of Christmas in creating ‘Real Magic’.
Wonderhood Studios x Samaritans - Spot Me
Also celebrating Christmas this week was UK agency, Wonderhood Studios. Turning Xmas into Pecs-mas, the latest instalment of its annual festive film features an unlikely friendship between a lonely man and a muscular female bodybuilder. Directed by Theo James Krekis of Knucklehead, the film tackles adult loneliness - which millions of Brits suffer from - to raise donations and awareness for the Samaritans charity.
Fire & Emergency New Zealand - You're Cooked
From New Zealand this week, we've selected a hilarious alcohol-induced cooking show with a serious message. Motion Sickness’ 'You're Cooked' film uses a comical TV concept to show the not-so-funny side of cooking while inebriated - the cause of 50% of all fatal house fires in the country. This integrated public safety campaign also gives New Zealand’s ‘under the influence chefs’ an e-cook book containing recipes to make food, without making fire.
Patrón Tequila - Our Hands
In this gorgeous spot, filmed among the gloriously scenic vistas of Patrón's agave fields, the tequila brand demonstrates its pride in authentic tequila production - by hand. Anchored by the clapping soundtrack and Mexico-based designer Sandra Weil's stunning wardrobe, the film from MullenLowe US showcases the power of creating Patrón's product through a painstaking - but oh so worth it - process in the beautiful highlands of Jalisco, Mexico.
PlayStation 5 x NBA 2K23 - The Shot Caller
In this action-packed PlayStation 5 spot from adam&eveNYC, a boy goes from using his imagination while shooting hoops in his suburban driveway, to taking on the whole of the NBA head-on. Directed by Terence Neale and produced by Park Pictures, the film gives viewers a thrill-ride, providing the electrifying, high-octane NBA game feeling and simulating the immersion of the PS5 console. With jaw-dropping VFX from Blacksmith, a shot clock bursts through the roof of the boy's house, court lines crackle onto his driveway and an epic jumbotron lights up his yard before being transported into an NBA arena with Mavericks point guard Luka Dončič and eventually sinking a game-winning buzzer beater in front of the crowd.
Powershop - It's a Powershop
The best work of the week also includes a quirky spot for Powershop. It’s a shop. A shop that sells power. FINCH's campaign, directed by The Bobbsey Twins from Homicide, introduces a new brand world inside a surreal interpretation of the classic corner store. Many unique characters and luminous jelly monsters roam the aisles in the stylish and funny spot that shows the customer is king.
Heineken - The Office Cleaners
To support the Heineken #workresponsibly call to arms, the brand and Le Pub have created a dedicated activation that will entice people stuck in the office after hours to meet their friends at the bar. Thanks to a partnership with many local corporate cleaning companies, office cleaners will wear vests over their uniforms displaying a QR code that gives access to vouchers for a rewarding beer at nearby bars. Working with award-winning filmmaker Ali Ali, Heineken is on a mission to help workers re-establish healthy work-life boundaries - something that the campaign reports 81% of workers in Argentina struggle with.
Volkswagen - 7 Gols
The most popular car in Brazil is called the Volkswagen 'Gol', the Portuguese word for 'goal'. So as the car's production is coming to an end, after over 8 million vehicles being rolled out of the factories, and the World Cup being on, what better way of celebrating its legacy - and getting some closure after a traumatic event for the nation - than sending seven Brazilian-made, 2014 edition Gols back to Germany. This, of course, is in reference to the stunning match at the World Cup eight years ago where the Brazilian national team suffered the worst defeat in its history, a 7-1 loss to Germany. This ingenious move to reclaim some of the dignity lost at the Brazil-hosted tournament was concepted by AlmapBBDO and the comical accompanying film, produced by Cine, is an entertaining tribute to an icon of the Brazilian automotive industry and of the perseverance of football fans.
