Created by Goodby Silverstein & Partners, this 60-second spot plays off Christopher Walken’s instantly recognizable voice and signature speech cadence, following the actor throughout a typical day as he encounters a never-ending stream of imitators–from his hotel valet to his tailor, makeup artist, and even his drive-through barista.
Promoting the all-new generation of the BMW 5 Series, highlighted by the first-ever, 100% electric BMWi5, the commercial–directed by Bryan Buckley of Hungry Man–also features actress Ashley Park (Emily in Paris, Beef, Joy Ride), and GRAMMY Award-winning global superstar and Super Bowl LVIII halftime performer, USHER.
The “Talkin’ Like Walken” spot was lensed by cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema (Oppenheimer, Interstellar).
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Credits
Client BMW of North America Agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners Rich Silverstein, partner; Margaret Johnson, chief creative officer; Matt Edwards, Wes Phelan, executive creative directors; Zak DeLange, Colin Nissan, copywriters; Andrew Congleton, Sean Farrell, art directors; Jim Haight, head of production; Matt Flaker, executive broadcast producer; Daniel Chang, sr. broadcast producer; Jim King, director of graphic services; Hanna Hegnell, sr. interactive producer; Rachael Stamps, design studio manager; Joanna Pham, Maria Leung, production artists; Bonnie Wan, partner, head of brand strategy; Katie Coane, group brand strategy director; Nik Poon, brand strategy director; Christine Chen, partner, head of communication strategy; Dong Kim, group communication strategy director; Charlotte Cordova, sr. communication strategist; Jane Warren, deputy director of research strategy; Whitney Thomas, sr. research strategist; Meredith Vellines, head of communications. Production Company Hungry Man Bryan Buckley, director; Matt Lefebvre, producer; Caleb Dewart, Kim Dellara, exec producers; Hoyte van Hoytema, DP; David Skinner, production designer; Will Vudmaska, production manager; Craig Owens, 1st AD. Editorial Cabin Chan Hatcher, editor; Katy Lester Zamora, producer. Telecine Company 3 Tom Poole, colorist; Shannen Troup, color producer. VFX/Finishing The Mill John Leonti, creative director; Nhat Tran, VFX supervisor, shot supervisor, 2D lead artist; Hillary Thomas, exec producer; Sherilyn Martin, producer; Sandra Ross, 2D artist; Rachel Dorrothy, production coordinator. Sound Design Sonic Union Steve Rosen, sound designer. Audio Post Sonic Union Steve Rosen, Kelly Oostman, sound designers/mix engineers; Graham Carpenter, Alex Thiel, assistant mixers; Justine Cortale, studio director.
Featured on war memorials in 900 communes across France, the statue of the “Victorious Soldier” has embodied for over a century the image of a heroic, invincible soldier, frozen in glory. A workshop model, created by sculptor Eugène Benet, opens the permanent exhibition of the Museum of the Great War in Meaux, reminding visitors that in every commune in France, a war memorial honors the sacrifice made by those children who died for their country during the Great War. But what does this symbol of victory truly conceal?
Part of the BBDO Paris campaign “Broken Souls” for the Museum of the Great War, this film about the Victorious Soldier offers a moving reinterpretation of this national symbol. Through a series of close-up shots of a static and triumphant statue, we are drawn into an intimate and deeply troubling exploration.
Carried by the music “Remains” by Volker Bertelmann and the voice of Finnegan Oldfield, the narrative gradually fractures the frozen image.
Behind his triumphant posture emerge other realities: fear, anguish, distress. The cry of victory transforms into an inner cry--silent yet deafening. The inner cry of a soldier who returned alive, but forever traumatized.
By subverting a symbol deeply rooted in collective memory, “The Victorious Soldier” shifts our perspective: beyond the hero, it reveals the man.
With this film--directed by BBDO Paris art director Julien Beuvry via production company WAD--the museum continues its mission: to uncover a more human and lasting memory of war, shedding light on those soldiers for whom suffering did not end when combat ceased.
The film is on the Museum of the Great War’s website and social media.
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