Created by Venables Bell & Partners, Reebok’s “Sport the Unexpected” campaign kicks off with “Storm the Court,” a film featuring an unexpected, and seemingly uninvited guest who interrupts a pick-up basketball game–stopping people in their tracks. The film showcases the Reebok Aztrek Double, an all-new update to the brand’s original all-terrain adventure shoe from 1993.
Tom Noakes of PRETTYBIRD directed “Storm the Court” with music supervision and sound design from Barking Owl. The music track was “Prayer Hands” by A-Trak and YehMe2. Editor was Shane Reid of Exile.
CreditsClient Reebok International Agency Venables Bell & Partners, San Francisco Paul Venables, founder, chairman; Will McGinness, executive creative director; Byron Del Rosario, creative director; Allie Nordstrom, sr. art director; Elliot Nordstrom, sr. copywriter; Hilary Coate, director of integrated production; Namrata Abhyankar, producer. Michael Davidson, associate partner, head of strategy; Dylan Phillips, sr. strategist; Raquel Bedard, director of Lumberyard Production PRETTYBIRD, Culver City, Calif. Tom Noakes, director; Kerstin Emhoff, co-founder/exec producer; Rika Osenberg, head of production; Julie Sawyer, producer; Larkin Seiple, DP; Jason Hougaard, production designer. Editorial Exile, Santa Monica, Calif. Shane Reid, editor; CL Weaver, exec producer; Jennifer Locke, head of production; Michael Miller, sr. producer; Kyle Behrens, Jay McConville, Erin Mccaffrey, assistant editors. VFX/Finishing Framestore, Los Angeles James Razzall, president, advertising, North America; Bethan Thomas, director of production & operations; Aron Hjartarson, executive creative director; Ben West, Chris Waitt, creative directors; Georgina Poushkine, integrated advertising producer; Raul Ortego, sr. Flame/lead artist; Humberto Reynaga, Toby Brockhurst, Flame artists; Jose Alvarado, VFX coordinator; Jamie Runkle, production coordinator; Telecine Color Collective, NY Alex Bickell, colorist; Alex Jimenez, color assistant; Claudia Guevara, exec producer. Music/Sound Design Barking Owl, West Los Angeles Track: “Prayer Hands” by A-Trak and YehMe2; Kelly Bayett, creative director/partner; Jessica Dierauer, music supervisor; Morgan Johnson, sound designer; KC Dossett, producer. Audio Post Barking Owl, West Los Angeles AJ Murillo, engineer; Eolyne Arnold, assistant Exile, Santa Monica, Calif. Shane Reid, music edit
Top Spot of the Week: Director Jake Scott, Paramount Brand Studios “Make Your Gameday Epic” In “Gladiator II”-Inspired Pepsi Spot
Nearly 20 years after Pepsi’s “Roman Empire” made its mark on pop culture, the brand is returning to the arena with a colossal Gladiator-themed campaign titled, “Make Your Gameday Epic™.” Celebrating the start of the 2024 NFL season and the highly anticipated release of Paramount Pictures’ Gladiator II in theaters on Nov. 22, this short film--directed by Jake Scott via RSA Films for Paramount Brand Studio features Megan Thee Stallion, as Empress Megan, leading a legion of NFL superstars turned Gridiron Gladiators, including Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, Justin Jefferson and Travis Kelce, locked in an epic battle with ice-cold Pepsi at the heart of the action. A brand-new gameday anthem from three-time, Grammy award-winning artist Megan Thee Stallion soundtracks the campaign. The unmistakable “boom, boom, clap” from Queen’s epic track “We Will Rock You” is featured on a fresh sample with cutting new lyrics from Megan. The new track became available on all major music streaming platforms, and ahead of Megan hosting the 2024 MTV VMAs last night (9.11), where the track and music-video inspired spot were heard and seen throughout the show. “I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of the legends who appeared in this Gladiator campaign 20 years ago and proud to have carved my own new legacy,” said Megan Thee Stallion. “Pepsi really brought the worlds of music, sports and entertainment together in a powerful way to set off the new NFL season.” The spot opens with Lamorne Morris and Jake Lacy peering into a can of Pepsi Zero Sugar as it transforms into a colosseum. Empress Megan calls the shots, and the royal roster of NFL players are at her command as they all vie for her favor and a sip of an ice-cold Pepsi... Read More