In just 13 days, Major League Baseball and the boys of summer will kick off their 2011 season. With the NFL heading for a lockout, it just might be baseball’s big year to reclaim the title as “America’s Game,” and really, when was the last time you saw this much patriotism crammed into a 30-second television spot? What about Obama and Bush throwing out pitches back-to-back? Everyone’s happy.
The guys at W+K got Mr. Field of Dreams himself, actor Kevin Costner, to give the ad a little celebrity push. Aside from making a movie about the sport every two years, Costner co-owns a northern Illinois independent league team and regularly visits University of Texas games and practices. Generic-sounding voice notwithstanding, he is the Hollywood personification of baseball, and the right man to give the league his endorsement.
Not into the MLB? Look at it this way: once March Madness subsides, the Bulls win the NBA championship and the NFL lockout is official, baseball is all we have. And, until we fix the BCS and take away Cam Newton’s Heisman Trophy, NCAA football will always disappoint. If you’re looking for a bandwagon to jump on this year, word has it that the Milwaukee Brewers finally got themselves some pitching. Credits after the jump.
Creative Directors: Stuart Jennings
Brandon Henderson
John Parker
Copywriter Scott Hayes
Art Director Gary Van Dzura
Producer Alison Hill
Account Team Brandon Pracht
Matthew Mauriello
Katie Jensen
Executive Creative Directors Kevin Proudfoot
Jerome Austria
Head of Content Production Gary Krieg
PRODUCTION
Production Company Biscuit Filmworks
Director Aaron Stoller
Executive Producer Holly Vega
Line Producer Rick Jarjoura
Director of Photography Toby Irwin
EDITORIAL
Editorial Company Mackenzie Cutler
Editor Gavin Cutler
Post Producer Tatiana Vasquez
Post Executive Producer Ryan Steele
GRAPHICS
Company SwitchFX
Artist Jon Magel
Executive Producer Diana Dayrit
POST VFX
VFX Company Jimmy Hayhow
Brendan Hogan
VFX Artist Schmigital
Titles/Graphics Jon Magel, Switch FX
MUSIC + SOUND DESIGN
Music+Sound Company Beacon Street Studios
Composer Andrew Feltenstein
Sound Designer Sam Schaffer, Mackenzie Cutler
Song (if applicable) Americana
Producer Adrea Lavezzoli
MIX
Mix Company Sound Lounge
Mixer Philip Loeb