Happy Thursday(ish)! (It’s Friday. But who is counting? —Ed.) Let’s get into the work.
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Atlantic New York for Blockbuster
The Last Blockbuster on Earth continues to stand in Bend, Ore. — a vestige of entertainment’s simpler days — but traces of its once populous brethren remain, as this clever video from Atlantic New York shows.
We see in a series of intentionally grainy clips, accompanied by a mournful dirge, that rather than completely replacing Blockbuster’s distinctive, VHS-shaped signs, many small businesses such as liquor stores and taco eateries have simply covered the marquees with their own logos and new color schemes.
Simply seeing the repurposed bones of Blockbuster’s past is powerful in its simplicity and pathos.
civitas for Apple and MLS
You’ve never seen installations like this. Working with local artists, civitas and Apple TV created massive murals inside Major League Soccer Stadiums promoting the streamer’s soccer season pass. Truly huge, in more ways than one.
Cornett for Lexington Sporting Club
Also kicking around soccer-themed work is Cornett, which is promoting the all new Lexington Sporting Club stadium using the voices of the players themselves.
Elite Media for American Family Insurance
A wholesome and relatable spot for American Family Insurance shows a newly-nested family settling into their home and helping a little one conquer their fear of a thunderstorm—while remaining fearless in the face of potential damage. Very sweet and relatable as storm seasons churn ever more fiercely.
The Famous Group for Club Atlético Madrid + the NCAA Final Four (How They Did It)
What’s that on your face?! The Famous Group worked with Snap Inc. Camera Kit to bring Vixi Life AR experiences to Madrid’s Club Atlético de Madrid, adding sunglasses, spiders and other overlays to fan features on the big screens. Click the image to peep it.
Last year on CBS Sports, this mixed-reality work, er, transformed the NCAA Final Four court to bring Autobots to life ahead of the release of “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.” Now the agency is showing off its kickass storyboarding process with a behind-the-scenes video.
Left Off Madison for LUMIX
Sporty and thrilling, this work puts the focus on how the brand’s GH7 camera (and others in the line) helps capture high-intensity moments with pro-level accuracy. Click the image to see more.
FUSE Create for Gay Lea Foods
This spot doesn’t give a fluff about the pumpkin spice haters, but serves up a bold video promoting the brand’s limited edition Pumpkin Spiced Coconut Whipped Topping while inviting seasonal lovers to stand up as proud Pumpkin Spicers. Click the image to see it.
Uncharted for the White Ribbon Alliance
Big congrats to Uncharted for an Ad of the Day nod from Campaign UK. “Women Are Watching,” which was created in collaboration with women photographers and illustrators from Uganda, Kenta, Nepal, India and Indonesia, aims to help girls and women around the world determine the direction of their own lives. Check out the work in Campaign.
Fortnight Collective for OZZI
A bit of eye candy for design nerds here—this work for OZZI is simply heavenly.
PJX Media for Toyo Player
This imaginative, multi-city outdoor campaign makes the magic of audio storytelling for children into an attention-grabbing visual concept. We’re all ears.
Full Contact X Joe Cool for BODYARMOR
AdAge gave Full Contact’s NHL-centric work for BODYARMOR sports beverages a well-deserved nod.
Lewis for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Cheers to this whiskey-soaked work from Lewis Communications, which hosted a 24-hour livestream to celebrate the launch of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail’s new rebrand. Influencers, a mayor, Oprah’s personal chef and other figures joined in the Worldwide Toast to Kentucky bourbon.
Xpedition for Angel Dose
In a powerful, Emmy-nominated documentary short film, “Angel Dose,” Pennsylvania rep Tarik Khan hurries to deliver expiring vaccines to housebound patients in Philadelphia, and reflects on the need to revisit healthcare practices and policies clouded by systemic biases. Check out the documentary, directed by Academy Award nominee Sami Khan.
Haymaker for Olipop
Archeologists and aliens with questionable expertise star in this work for Olipop’s Ridge Rush product. You’ve got to check it out; it’s weird and wonderful in the best way.
Walrus for Hello
Big shout to Walrus for launching its first work for Colgate-Palmolive Co. brand Hello. Read about it in Ad Age.
Something Different for Spectrum
More dinosaurs and childlike wonder feature in this expansive work for Spectrum highlighting its new brand platform, Life Unlimited, and its commitment to new pricing plans and speed increases.
Stoltz Marketing Group for Idaho Falls Community Hospital
Realistically, people are going to enjoy life and engage in some risky behaviors. This work from Stoltz acknowledges that in a relatable video that subtly implies the ways one might end up needing a little medical TLC after pursuing one’s high-risk hobbies. No need to be too careful.
Serviceplan Hamburg for Die Techniker
This German language work for the health insurance brand focuses on empowerment for people who live with disabilities or have gone through major medical procedures. The brand platform and campaign inspire with the tagline “Du kannst. Machen wir’s,” or “You can. Let’s do it.” Read more (in German) here.
Highdive for Jeep
This epic video relies on preexisting brand awareness of Jeep’s capabilities and ubiquity throughout history. Good stuff.
Trade School for Home Depot
A creator vid gets highly relatable for Millennial and Gen Z homeowners who find themselves utterly lost when the need for unfamiliar handiwork arises.
Crown for Blue Nile
Celebrating a 10-year anniversary of an AAF win for diamond jeweler Blue Nile means opulent packaging and gorgeous gifting.
Nail Communications
And a little something outside our membership.
“Yes We Cancel” hopes to cancel out the votes generated by bad-faith actors on social media.
Doug Zanger is the founder and editor-in-chief of Indie Agency News. He is also the founder of the Creative Bohemian consultancy, lives in the Pacific Northwest and is insufferable about it.
