W+K Asks You to ‘Choose Your Winter’ for Nike

W+K Portland launched a campaign for Nike’s Hyperwarm line with the 60-second broadcast spot “Choose Your Winter.”

The spot enlists an unexpected guest for the brand in Chris O’Dowd (who you probably remember as Kristen Wiig‘s love interest in Bridesmaids). O’Dowd plays an alarmist newscaster making dire predictions about a “snow-mageddon” or “snow-tastrophe” — even claiming that ancient man went extinct during the Ice Age. His over-the-top warnings about the cold and snow are contrasted with images of athletes — including NFL stars Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson, figure skater Gracie Gold, soccer players Clint Dempsey and Brad Evans, middle distance runner Mary Cain and snowboarder Johnnie Paxson — decked out in Nike Hyperwarm and powering through the cold. The message is clear and effective: you can exaggerate the effects of the cold and use it as an all encompassing excuse or you can tough it out with help from Nike. 

Nike told Adweek the spot is the first in a series. Athletes who will appear in future spots include NHL star Dion Phaneuf and Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, who is currently playing in the 2014 Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series.

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Editor Lucas Eskin Joins Cut+Run

LucasAward-winning editor Lucas Eskin has joined production company Cut+Run.

Eskin spent years as an editor/owner at Mad River Post, before joining Beast as senior editor in 2009. He has worked on such notable projects as the Cannes Lion and Clio Award-winning Apple Vs. PC campaign for TBWA\Chiat\Day, multiple Nike spots for Widen+Kennedy, the “Boom De Yada” spot for Discovery Channel via 72andSunny, BBDO’s VISA Olympics “Extreme” featuring Gracie Gold and directed by Marcus Walter, and GM’s “Robot” spot directed by Phil Joanou (which was named one of Time Magazine’s best Super Bowl spots of all time).

“Lucas is so talented, which is evident in the scope and breadth of his work. He has an incredible passion for editing,” said Cut+Run EP, Carr Schilling. “When you say his name, people’s faces light up. Everytime.”

Eskin’s editing work for Cut+Run was already featured on the recent “Bedtime Story,” for the Newport Beach Film Festival via agency RPA.

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