Work of the Week: 03/05/24
This week's top creative is a largely comedic collection with Ireland, Brazil, Spain, the UK and the US all contributing to a global - and star-studded - selection of work. For the luxury leather, pen and watch brand Montblanc, Hollywood filmmaker Wes Anderson directs and stars in a mountaineering movie in his familiar style (featuring Rupert Friend and Jason Schwartzman), while Christoph Waltz plays a tongue-in-cheek curmudgeon for energy company E.ON.
Throw in a talking badger, a robbery gone wrong and an unexpected billionaire, and this week's best is a varied array of creative, but with craft very much at the centre.
To see a woman fall in love with a corpse for Lynx, KFC bring heat to the soggy British summertime with a banging soundtrack, and a masterclass in subtlety from director Sune Sorensen, check out our full list of choices below.
Montblanc - 100 Years of MEISTERSTÜCK
Each Wes Anderson project has his very distinct style, and this ad for luxury brand Montblanc is no outlier. Co-directed with Roman Coppola at The Directors Bureau, the off-kilter three minute film stars frequent Anderson collaborators Rupert Friend and Jason Schwartzman, and takes the audience through a whimsical exploration of the company's mottos as they celebrate the centenary of the Meisterstück pen. For those writers looking for an alternative, however, the ad also unveils the new fountain pen that Wes Anderson has designed with Montblanc to truly 'leave his mark' on the brand.
Lynx - The Power of a Fragrance
LOLA MullenLowe and CZAR director Lionel Goldstein have collaborated to create two hilarious films for the deodorant brand. Both equally absurd takes on the idea of attraction, 'Robbery' follows a bizarre roadside café robbery that ends in romance (or is it kidnapping?), while 'Funeral' shows how the fragrance of the deceased sets off an unforeseen, but very funny, chain of events.
Gas Networks Ireland - Badger
Anyone planning excavation work needs to check for gas pipelines before breaking ground. That's the message from Gas Networks Ireland and Publicis Dublin, who have teamed up with director Tiny Bullet and Antidote Pictures for this surreal spot. However, the question is: Does this include burrowing animals? One anxious badger, called Keith, seems to think so. His lack of opposable thumbs only compounds his worries as the puppet freaks out on a pair of construction workers with some hilariously ridiculous line deliveries.
KFC - Ultimate BBQ Burger
KFC is turning up the heat with this campaign from Mother and director Sam Pilling that cheekily mocks the reality of summertime Britain for its new BBQ Burger launch. The protagonist dances joyously through the street, hot-stepping it through the cold, rainy weather without a care in the world, set to the smooth sound of Michael McDonald's 'I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)'. Creative OOH ads also accompany the spot, reflecting KFC's light-up logo in puddles, which are bound to continue to form throughout the supposedly sunny season in Britain.
E.ON - It's On Us to Make New Energy Work
Produced by BWGTBLD and directed by Tom Speers, this campaign from energy provider E.ON and BBDO Group Germany employs the help of two-time Oscar winner, Christoph Waltz. The star, known for his roles in Quentin Tarantino films among others, plays a man who is fed up of companies talking the talk about the future of energy, without walking the walk. As he demands action in various scenarios, he's blissfully ignorant of the E.ON employees pointing out to him that the company is, in fact, implementing the solutions he's calling for. Christoph's dismissive reactions and facial expressions alone are worth the watch.
Natura - Forbes' Billionaire List
Move over, Musk, Bezos and Gates! Following the World Banks' evaluation of $317 billion, this branded content activation from beauty brand Natura and DDB's Africa Creative shows that the Amazon rainforest sits at the top of Forbes' renowned list of billionaires. The cover takeover declares the rainforest as the richest entity in the world, and the print edition highlighting the 'achievement' will be released on May 10th.
Premera Blue Cross - More Than Employees
As well as standing out for their subtlety, this pair of films for health insurance company Premera Blue Cross, are cinematic, visually refined and heartfelt - a result of the collaboration between director Sune Sorensen and cinematographer Rasmus Heise. The spots, 'Applepie Pineapple' and 'Skip the 4.30', feel like they're taken straight out of a movie and show why employees deserve the best healthcare - because, well, they're more than employees; they're friends, supporters, lifesavers and more.
