The state of New York and Governor Andrew Cuomo tapped BBDO NY for the above TV spot, “The New New York, a Whole New Approach to Business.” And, before you pushed play, you could probably guess what celeb they got to narrate the spot, who they got to direct it, and what pop song they selected for its soundtrack.
Yes, Robert DeNiro, Spike Lee and Jay-Z are definitely the most New Yorkiest New Yorkers in all of New York-dom. Now, I’m not criticizing BBDO for going with the most obvious choices here. In fact, the spot would probably feel incomplete without DeNiro’s gruff voice and “Empire State of Mind” playing against shots of the New York City skyline. Not including DeNiro and Jay would be like the city of Chicago shooting a similar spot and not asking Vince Vaughn and Kanye West to take part. Sorry, Chicagoans, but you know that’s what would inevitably happen.
The spot is part of a state-driven $50 million business marketing campaign that, among other things, includes a $5 million contest to redesign the iconic “I ❤ NY” logo. Needless to say, some people in the media aren’t too fond of this initiative. Regardless, it’s a big win for BBDO, whose president and CEO John Osborn says in a statement, “We are a New York state business and have been here for over 100 years. We know what New York has to offer. So we wanted to create a campaign with a pace and energy that captures, celebrates and reinforces the State’s renewed focus on the business community. At the same time we wanted to demonstrate the depth and breadth of business services that New York State offers.”
Visit the campaign’s new website here and view credits for the spot after the jump.
Chief Creative Officer: David Lubars
Sr. Creative Director: Linda Honan/Joe Lovering
ACD/Copywriter: Nick Sonderup
ACD/Art Director: Kurt Lenard
Executive Producer: Ashley Sferro Henderson
Executive Music Producer: Rani Vaz
Logo Design Alex Martineau
Production Company: Pony Show
Executive Producer: Jeffrey Frankel
Director: Spike Lee
Post Production: Lost Planet
Exec Producer: Krystn Wagenberg
Producer: Lauren Addison