Mcgarrybowen Navigates Airport Obstacles for United

United agency of record mcgarrybowen launched a spot for the airline ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics next Friday entitled “One Journey. Two Teams.”

The two teams in question? Team USA and Team United, naturally. As it turns out, Team USA does flight check in a little differently. The Olympic squad jumps over security gates, does backflips along railings, rows along moving sidewalks, and even pole vaults right onto the flight.

Set to a Brazilian take on United’s theme song, Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” and a voiceover from Matt Damon, the spot is meant as a lighthearted and fun reminder of the airline’s status as an Olympic sponsor, concluding with the message, “United for over 35 years.” The format also allows mcgarrybowen to squeeze in appearances from Olympic athletes including swimmer Missy Franklin, volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings and soccer player Carli Anne Lloyd. The spot was filmed on a 787 Dreamliner in L.A., with the athletes all performing their own stunts related to their respective sports.

“Our 2016 Olympics advertising was a great way to engage and showcase our employees and our partnership with Team USA,”  United managing director of marketing and product development Mark Krolick told Adweek. “The United team works incredibly hard year round to transport U.S. Olympians and Olympic hopefuls to training, competitions and the Olympics and this campaign demonstrates that in an upbeat, fun and optimistic way.”

Credits:
Agency: mcgarrybowen
Client: United Airlines
Title: “One Journey, Two Teams”
Managing Director, Executive Creative Director: Haydn Morris
Group Creative Director: David DiRienz
Group Creative Director: Erik Izo
Managing Director, Content Production: Dante Piacenza
Managing Director, Global Music Production: Jerry Krenach
Executive Producer: Stacy Kay
Group Managing Director: Jamie Ross
Account Director: Joey Ziarko
Account Supervisor: Kayla Friedman
Athletes: Simone Biles, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Carli Lloyd, Missy Franklin, Ashton Eaton, Logan Dooley, Dartanyon Crockett
Production Company: Pulse Films
Director: Michael Haussman
President of Commercials: Kira Carstensen
Executive Producer: Hillary Rogers
Producer: Linda Masse
Director of Photography: Paul Cameron
Editor: Jon Grover
Executive Producer: Raná Martin
Producer: Ellese Jobin
Visual Effects: Framestore
Audio Engineer: Michael Marineli
Audio Studio: Sonic Union
Composition: “Rhapsody In Blue” by George Gershwin
Arrangement and Production: Yessian Music
Arranger: Dan Zank
Record and Mix Engineer: Gerard Smerek
Partner/CCO: Brian Yessian
VO Talent: Matt Damon

United against Repetition / Ensemble contre les répétitions d’idées

THE ORIGINAL?
Save the Wealthy people (sauvons les riches!) – 2004
Euromillions Viral movie / web film
Agency : Young & Rubicam (France)
LESS ORIGINAL :
Save the Traders (Sauvons les traders!) – 2009
Volkswagen Polo Promotion web films by Nicolas & Bruno
Agency : .V. (France)
Deux parodies parmi tant d’autres de “we are the world” de USA for Africa (1986), déjà détourné avec des marionnettes, des enfants et des animaux. Sauf que dans ces deux versions l’éspèce “en danger” est plus où moins la même (les riches vs les traders), bref les sujets, les clins d’oeil, l’humour et les références sont très proches et que les deux ont été faites en France…