Figliulo & Partners launched the first-ever holiday campaign for the partnership of Delta and Virgin Atlantic, with a long-form spot entitled “The Prodigal Brother.”
Directed by Tim Godsall, the spot opens on the titular character arriving via taxi at his brother’s house, bearing gifts for his niece and nephews. The gifts come complete with a long-winded, bizarre story explaining their origin. Along the way to the story’s conclusion, the brother stumbles upon the explanation for his arrival and a long-awaited apology.
It’s one of the more unusual holiday ads of the year, for sure. Yet somehow the brother’s rambling story feels less contrived than the majority of saccharine Christmas ads from big advertisers.
“As two pioneers from either side of the Atlantic, we’re on a joint adventure to defy convention and break some marketing category rules” Virgin Atlantic senior vice president, marketing Claire Cronin said in a statement. “This is the first installment in a joint marketing strategy that has been developed by a highly collaborative marketing team from both organizations. As partners, we’re excited to co-create a better experience for our shared customers and a brighter, flying future.”
“Christmas advertising is filled with big, emotional storytelling. We wanted to deliver that feeling, so we went with the classic Christmas story about a dead yak, a magic spider, Socrates and karate,” added F&P partner, chief creative officer Scott Vitrone.
Credits:
Creative Agency: Figliulo & Partners
Creatives: Kerry Keenan, Ian Reichenthal, Scott Vitrone
CEO/Partner: Mark Figliulo
CCO/Partner: Scott Vitrone
Head of Production/Partner: Robert Valdes
President/Partner: Judith Carr-Rodriguez
Head of Strategy/Partner: Caroline Krediet
Executive Producer: Jill Landaker Grunes
Director of Integrated Business Affairs: Sara Jagielski
Account Director: Kristin Postill
Account Supervisor: Rafa Husain
Group Project Manager: Amy Blitzer
Production Company: Anonymous Content and OPC
Director: Tim Godsall
Executive Producer: Eric Stern
Head of Production: Kerry Haynie
Line Producer: Merrie Wasson
Director of Photography: Andreé Pineaar
Production Designer: Jay Pooley
Production Services Company: OPC
Executive Producers: Harland Weiss, Donovan Boden, Isil Gilerdale
Production Manager: Scott Rudderham
Editorial: Final Cut
Editor: Patrick Colman
Executive Producer: Sarah Roebuck
Producer: Penny Ensley
Assistant Editor: Geoff Hastings
Post Production Company: Significant Others
Creative Director/Lead VFX Artist: Dirk Greene
Flame Artist: Betty Cameron
VFX Producer: Alek Rost
Assistant VFX Producer: Kyra Hendricks
Motion Graphics Artist: Phil Brooks
Audio Company: Machine
Sound Mixer: T. Terressa Tate
Sound Assistant: Amanda Fuentes
Audio Producer: Alek Rost
Color: Company 3
Colorist: Tim Masick
Music Supervision: Future Perfect / Little Ears
Music Supplier #1: BMG Production Music
Music Title & Artist #1: “Deck the Halls” by The Craig Gildner Sextet feat. Tony Liberto & The Liberto Sisters
Music Supplier #2: Sony Music (Master) Warner Chappell Publishing (Publisher)
The Music Sales Group (Publisher)
Music Title & Artist #2: “There’s No Christmas Like a Home Christmas” by Perry Como