Brandblack Teams Up With RSA Films, Jamal Crawford

Brandblack, the recently-launched “futurist performance sports brand” from David Raysse and Creative Director Billy Dill, teamed up with the L.A. Clippers’ “Sixth Man of the Year” Jamal Crawford and RSA Films, the production company founded by director Ridley Scott and Tony Scott, for a new campaign highlighting their high performance basketball sneaker, J.Crossover.

The global campaign, named “FUTURELEGENDS” after the opening track on David Bowie‘s 1974 album Diamond Dogs, centers around a 60 second spot of the same name. Directed by Antony Crook, the spot puts viewers in Crawford’s perspective in an examination of the “insightful and reflective approach he takes to each and every game.” Other heavy hitters tapped to collaborate on the project include creative director Glenn Kitson, executive producer Arrow Kruse, and director of photography Trent Opaloch (District 9Elysium, Captain America: Winter Soldier). The copywriting doesn’t quite live up to the production side of thing, with a somewhat predictable voiceover about being the ice “when they bring the fire” and finding order in the chaos. But it sure does look nice.

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Paul George Stars in New, Cheesy Papa John’s Spot

Papa John’s is releasing a new ad promoting their Sweet Chili Chicken Pizza today starring Indiana Pacers all star Paul George alongside Papa John’s founder, chairman and CEO, John Schnatter. While John’s named Grey its national agency of record back in February, this spot comes to us via ZGroup, an arm of Zimmerman Advertising.

The cheesy spot features typically terrible acting from Schnatter, who trades lines with George. “Here’s how I make my dough,” George retorts, before the spot cuts to footage of him dunking. “Sweet,” says Papa John, “like my new Sweet Chili Chicken Pizza,” in some of the most transparent copy we’ve seen in awhile. In a surprise move, George then dunks his slice in one of Papa John’s artery-clogging dipping sauces. The spot is the latest in Papa John’s line of sports-themed advertising that in the past has included the likes of Peyton Manning and Joe Montana. It’s a shame they couldn’t go a less obvious route with the Pacers star, but the Papa clearly likes to play it safe. The new ad will run nationally on cable entertainment and sports channels, as well as syndicated shows, until May 11th.

“Papa John’s is about fresh new tastes, which is why we love our partnership with Paul George,” said Schnatter in a painfully rehearsed statement. “Paul brings a fresh approach to basketball as one of the game’s new stars, which works perfectly with Papa John’s because new and fresh is the message we’re delivering with our partnership and with our new Sweet Chili Chicken Pizza.”

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Sid Lee Stokes Northern Pride for Raptors

Just in time for the playoffs, Sid Lee has launched a new spot for the Toronto Raptors which the Starks could totally get behind (there’s even a wolf). The new spot stokes fans’ anticipation of the upcoming games and northern pride with the tagline, “#WeTheNorth.”

The 60-second, Stark-approved spot starts with the line “We the north: In many ways we’re in a league of our own; one step removed; just beyond the boundaries…” and uses the Raptors’ distance from other NBA teams as a point of pride, a rallying call. “If that makes us outsiders, we’re in,” concludes the voiceover before a “Let’s go Raptors” chant emerges from the background. “#WeTheNorth,” which just launched yesterday, is part of a larger rebranding effort for the Raptors. If fans weren’t already excited for the Raptors’ bid in the NBA playoffs (starting tomorrow, against the Nets), the well-produced spot, which mixes game footage with stylized shots of a snowy Canada, should do its part to psyche them up. Credits after the jump.  continued…

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