Havas Strikes ‘Match’ for Cracker Barrel’s Campfire Meals

Havas Worldwide has a new spot for Cracker Barrel, promoting the chain’s limited-time Campfire Meals.

The 15-second ad, entitled “Match,” features a campfire set handcrafted from paper, wood and canvas. A toy owl perches on a stump, followed by a human hand lighting a match and lights a campfire illuminating a screen displaying Cracker Barrel’s Campfire Meals. Aside from the digitally inserted footage and CG embers on the fire, everything was “manually-operated, custom-built or hand-crafted” and shot in a single take. While it can come across as a bit hokey (which actually kind of makes sense for the brand), and the voiceover copy leaves a lot to be desired, the diorama set has a certain charm to it. It may have even been more effective with diorama stand-ins for Cracker Barrel’s Campfire Meals instead of the digital footage used. (more…)

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Nintendo, Leo Burnett Channel ‘Inception’ in Mario/Luigi Spot

In a spot that brings to mind Christopher Nolan’s Inception, doctors observe and interact with a sleeping Luigi to alter the dream world he resides in while sleeping.

At the beginning of the spot one of the doctors announces that the Nintendo 3DS “Will allow us to view the strange dreams of our friend Luigi.” The doctors probing a sleeping Luigi premise is balanced nicely with gameplay footage, including tiny Luigis forming a hammer and then a ball to battle enemies. At one point a doctor pulls on Luigi’s mustache, which acts as a slingshot for Mario in Luigi’s dream world. The typical Mario franchise charm is in full effect here.

“Sleeping Problems” incorporates gameplay into the spot in an organic way (not always easy to do), while making the game seem like a lot of fun. In fact, this makes me really want a 3DS. This is a problem, mostly because I can’t afford a 3DS any time soon. So thanks for that. Jerks.

Christopher Nolan could not be reached for comment. Credits and “bloopers” video after the jump.  continued…

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