The Awakening of The Un-Dead in Commercials
In 1897, writer and business manager, of London’s West End Lyceum Theatre, Abraham Stoker, born in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland, published his Gothic horror novel, Dracula, under the name of ‘Bram’ Stoker, that became the world’s most famous vampire horror novel of all time.
Phantasy vampire screenplays have enthralled audiences since the dawn of motion picture films, and in many parts of the world, vampire myths have become part of popular culture, a favourite Halloween theme, and an enduring creative inspiration for advertising commercials and short film parodies.
1. Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut, Silent Movie
Advertising Agency: Leo Burnett, London, UK
Production Company: Rattling Stick, London,UK
Post Production and VFX Studio: Framestore, London, UK
Leo Burnett’s amusingly creative ‘Crunchy Nut’ scenario, was inspired by the 1922 silent movie classic ‘Nosferatu’ by German film director, producer, and screenwriter, Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, that was based on Bram Stoker’s acclaimed Dracula novel.
Filmmaker Daniel Kleinman faithfully recreated the monochromatic look and feel, and even some short scenes of the German Expressionist horror-film, and skilfully injected an element of humour, in a masterly produced commercial, with a soundtrack published by de Wolfe Music, featuring a stirring piano piece titled “Agitato Tragico’ by British composer, pianist and theatre organist, Ena Baga, famously known for her improvisations of silent film accompaniments.
2. Pedigree Pet Nutrition, Vampire
Advertising Agency: BBDO, New York, USA
Production Company: The Corner Shop, Los Angeles, California, USA
Post Production and VFX Studio: Framestore, Los Angeles, California, USA
With half of the world’s canines being homeless annually, Pedigree in 2001 decided to add impetus to their ‘Adopt’ initiative, with a global campaign by BBDO encouraging people to re-home shelter dogs, with the message that pet shelters are full of good dogs, they just need good homes.
Directed by filmmaker James Rouse, the ‘Vampire’ pet-owner scenario, is brought to engaging filmic life, with many amusing props, like the empty ‘vegan blood substitute’ cartons.
3. CANALPlay, Movie Addicted Vampire
Advertising Agency: Buzzman, Paris, France
Production Company: Henry, Paris, France
Advertising Agency Buzzman’s inventive scenario, for French video on demand, Internet service provider, CANALPlay, was directed by filmmaker Bart Timmer, with a stellar performance from renowned actor John Malkovich as a vampire Bank Manager, with a planeload of offspring, in an impressively produced cinematic commercial that is engagingly fun to view.
4. Audi S7, Vampire Party
Advertising Agency: Venables Bell & Partners, San Francisco, California, USA
Production Company: MJZ, Los Angeles, California, USA
Post Production and VFX Studio: The Mill, Los Angeles, California, USA
Directed by filmmaker Matthijs Van Heijningen, and featuring a resonant soundtrack of “Killing Moon” by Echo and The Bunnymen, ’Vampire Party’ is a fun dramatisation of Audi’s LED Headlight Technology, and its consumer benefit of ‘daylight-bright’ illumination at night, in a excellently produced commercial parody.
5. Mercedes-Benz X G-Class, Immortal Love
Advertising Agency: Antoni Garage, Berlin, Germany
Production Company: Anorak Film, Berlin, Germany
For St.Valentine’s Day last year, Advertising Agency Anton Garage and Mercedes-Benz, released an 8 minute, ‘mini-movie’ epic, masterly directed by filmmaker Sebastian Strasser.
The ‘Immortal Love’ scenario, revolves around the reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic Romeo and Juliet, in a latter-day love story of adversity and diversity, that portrays Juliet as a vampire Pop-star, who leads a double life, and Romeo as a journalist admirer.
The role of Juliet, is played by Eritrea born singer-songwriter, Rimon, raised in Amsterdam, and renowned for her emotive songwriting, resonant vocals, and blending elements of hip-hop, neo-soul, and dancehall music genres.
The cinematic commercial, suggesting with a confident smile that the Mercedes-Benz G-Class range, that has defied the ordinary for more than forty years, will like vampires, live forever, is an engagingly unexpected take of a classic love story.