Macy’s and BBH NY unveiled this “Old Friends” film to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The spot, which will air on NBC during this year’s Parade, honors the magical ability of the Parade to bring people together and make us believe.
Told with no dialogue to the sound of a musical score, the spot, directed by Noam Murro of Biscuit Filmworks, is a fable about two old friends (one of whom is human) and the special role the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has played in their lives for 90 years. Beginning with a young boy viewing the Parade with his parents, the spot authentically recreates historic New York City.
Credits
Client Macy’s Agency BBH New York John Patroulis, creative chairman; Ari Weiss, chief creative officer; Hemant Anant Jain, creative director/copywriter; Shannon McGlothin, creative director; Kate Morrison, head of content production; Abbie Noon, executive content producer; Sarah Watson, global chief strategy officer; Samantha Cescau, group strategy director. Production Biscuit Filmworks Noam Murro, director; Simon Duggan, DP; Shawn Lacy, Rick Jarjoura, exec producers; Charlotte Woodhead, producer. Postproduction Work Editorial Stewart Reeves, editor; Adam Witten, editor assistant; Erica Thompson, exec producer; Sari Resnick, producer. Music Woodwork Music, Salford, UK Philip Kay, composer; Andy Oskwarek, music producer. Sound Design Henry Boy, Brooklyn, NY Bill Chesley, sound designer, Kate Gibson, producer. Audio Post Sound Lounge, NY Tom Jucarone, engineer. VFX MPC NY Justin Brukman, managing director; Camila De Biaggi, exec producer; Brendan Kahn, sr. producer; Ashley Bernes, VFX supervisor; Amanda Amalfi, lead Flame artist; Andrew Cohen, lead CG artist; Mark Gethin, colorist (MPC LA); Meghan Lang, EP, color; Rebecca Boorsma, color producer; Tobey Lindback, Elijah Lamond, Karen Weiss, Leslie Chung, Jeric Pimentel, 2D compositors; Butch Belair, Mike Lombardo, Chris Ribar, Graeme Revell, Angela Carafas, Jacob Fradkin, Sue Jang, Laura Sayan, Monica Manalo, Madeline Jackson, Liz Martin, Michael Nieves, Andres Weber, David Kin, 3D artists; Trevor Williams, Jhowee Chiang, additional design support. (Toolbox: Flame, Nuke X–including the Nuke Particle System, Mocha, Maya, Houdini, Zbrush, Substance Painter)
FCB Health New York, an IPG Health company, and SAFE Project have joined forces to create “The Snowball,” a short film that spotlights winter as a common catalyst for dangerous increases in alcohol consumption. In collaboration with creative studio LOBO, “The Snowball” combines a compelling visual metaphor with cutting-edge animation and a haunting soundtrack from Billie Holiday.
As millions embrace “Dry January,” the onset of colder, shorter winter days still leads to an uptick in alcohol misuse, which can lead to liver cirrhosis and other medical maladies and dangerous consequences for one’s life. Speaking to casual drinkers, “The Snowball” visually illustrates how anyone is at risk of becoming addicted to alcohol during this time of year when external climate variables can lead to excess consumption, even if the drinker does not immediately realize it.
Making good on the metaphor, the film follows one man as a quick liquor run gradually devolves into a full-blown addiction as a snowball gradually grows beside him, engulfing his whole life and eventually causing his demise. Set to the tune of Billie Holiday’s “Everything I Have Is Yours,” the film’s pathos is drawn from the sonic integrity of Holiday’s original recording maintained in the sound design as well as the singer’s tragic battle with substance abuse.
This entirely animated film was created using a hands-on, collaborative process rooted in traditional animation techniques, with every aspect of the artwork creation, design, and craftsmanship crafted entirely by human hands. AI-driven tools and processes were brought in during the animation rendering stage, helping the film achieve a distinct visual style that would have been difficult to achieve through... Read More
