Work of the Week: 26/01/2024

The iPhone 15 has an incredible camera. But that’s a given. Apple has boasted about its cameras’ capabilities since the dawn of time (or since the first iPhone, which is basically the same thing). So it comes as no surprise that a new campaign by TBWA\Media Arts Lab Los Angeles in collaboration with photographer Evan Kafka is here to remind us that a great camera is now becoming even greater.

The premise is simple: for the first time, iPhone 15 and 15 Pro give users the ability to turn any photo into a portrait, after the fact. So no more weird floating objects in the background, no more blinking, because with one simple click, things get professional. A notorious example - babies. The campaign showcases a series of the most adorable, expressive baby portraits of little humans going about their business as their parents are finally able to capture the perfect album cover photo - drool, toothless gums, and all.

Subway ANZ has embarked on a mission to express what eating a Subway sandwich feels like, literally. A new film by The Producers dubbed ‘Sub-Hoppers’ is directed by Mitch Kennedy and follows a green and gold bouncy ball feel-good procession to the uplifting soundtrack of “Dreamer” written by Roger Hodgson, Richard Davies.

We see office and construction workers, marathon runners and bike riders ditch their daily activities to grab a green or yellow inflatable and bounce their way through the city, as the main character takes her first bite of the fateful sandwich. It’s the feeling of pure joy, all wrapped up in a sub.

Sometimes, ordering food online can feel like magic - with one press of a button, dinner is served. Truth is, though, behind every stage of a good food delivery and preparation process, there are numerous parties acting like a well-oiled machine to get your burger to your front door.

DoorDash Canada has depicted this in an elaborate three-act campaign, made up of three 30-second-long films directed by Henry Scholfield. 'Act 1: The Party,' 'Act 2: The Order,' and 'Act 3: The Dash' depict a story of a birthday ruined by a dismembered cake, a quick order of a new dessert, a restaurant preparing it and a Dasher bringing it to the family, ultimately saving the day.

Shot on a complicated set with constantly moving platforms and a highly choreographed team of actors, the spot highlights the tireless work that goes into preparing the perfect meals and delivering them with precision.

Some people can move their ears, others can touch their nose with their tongue, and Burger King can create whopping good sandwiches - everybody has a talent - hidden or not. Birth UK’s Martin Jalfen explores this in Burger King Mexico’s newest campaign that taps into the bold, the bonkers and the brilliant talents out there. 

Spurred on by the release of the Crispy King, the campaign showcases people being able to play the flute with both their nostrils, some unforgettable dance moves, shower belting, rope jumping, and more.

Kraken Black Spiced Rum has created a 30-second mini film to celebrate its heritage story with new audiences in Australia and the UK. Made with the help of Purple Creative and production agency Fight Gravity, the film explores the dark story of the Kraken, a deep-sea octopus monster that is ready to wipe out anything in its way to the rum.

We watch a group of vibrant characters playing a rowdy card game on the Leviathan, a merchant ship mid-sail in the dead of night, 1870. Before they know it, a massive eye blink precedes tentacles enveloping the ship and tackling the characters one by one to the soundtrack of ‘I Won’t Go to Heaven, and That’s Alright’ by ALIAS. 

In this week’s list we’ve made space for not one, but two iPhone 15 announcements. This time, in collaboration with Biscuit director Andreas Nilsson, the brand comfortingly says: ‘Relax, it’s iPhone’. 

The campaign is made up of two films, each highlighting a unique feature of the new operating system and the iPhone 15. ‘New Driver’ sees a worried-sick father letting his daughter drive to school for the first time. Sitting by the phone, his thoughts and his heart are racing until the fateful ‘bing’ sound - his iPhone has automatically let him know that his daughter Megan has safely arrived at school. 

In another classic ‘dad moment’ the second film ‘One More’ sees a boy giving heads up to his dad to start filming him as he prepares for a sick trick - breaking a wooden plank with one hit. Things don’t go the right way for the first time, but the dad just signs that everything should be alright, keeping the video running. As the day comes to a close, the video is still going, as are the son’s attempts to break the plank. But, of course, the iPhone can handle it.

We end today’s otherwise joyful list with an important PSA. In January last year, the French High Council for Equality (HCE) found that young generations have gone backwards in terms of gender equality - or, rather, not much has really changed. 

No matter what we want to think about the progression of society, facts are simple: today, in France, a woman dies from femicide every 2.5 days. Harmful stereotypes and sexist clichés run rampant - the belief that men are entitled to inflicting violence and women are meant to take it silently, is still dominating modern society. 

This is why BETC Paris created an ad campaign for the HCE, comparing gathered public opinions from the ‘70s to excerpts from podcasts, personal posts and YouTube videos of men today. All shared the same sentiments - women are meant to be hurt. 

The video ends with a plea to the public: “Let’s make sexism a part of history.”