Christoph Waltz Is Every Busy American in W+K’s Amusing Olympics Ad for Samsung

Samsung wants Americans to know that its new phone, the Galaxy Note 7, will work just as hard as they do. 

During the Olympics' opening ceremony, the company will debut a new 90-second spot from Wieden + Kennedy in Portland featuring Oscar-winning actor Christoph Waltz.

The effort spans decades, making a point to show how American ambition has influenced history.

The fact that the company is using an actor of Austrian-German decent for an ad conveying American patriotism isn't lost on Jesse Coulter, Samsung's chief creative officer. 

That's part of the point. "What we liked about Christoph is that he's able to convey the perspective outside the U.S.," said Coulter. "He's such a great actor that he's able to take on these relatable characters throughout the ad." 

Coulter also noted that, since the company is releasing the new phone around the Olympics it made sense to "have a conversation around American ambition."

CREDITS

Client: Samsung

Agency: W+K Portland

Group Creative Director: Craig Allen

Creative Directors: Brandon Mugar / Tim Roan

Copywriter: Jonathan Marshall

Art Director: Helen Rhodes

Integrated Executive Producer: Erika Madison

Senior Producer: Erin Goodsell

Account Team: Phil Williams / Drew Widell

Executive Creative Directors: Mark Fitzloff/Susan Hoffman

Production 

Production Company: Biscuit Filmworks

Director: Noam Murro

Managing Director: Shawn Lacy

Executive Producer: Rick Jarjoura

Producer: Kathy Rhodes

Heads of Production: Mercedes Allen Sarria / Rachel Glaub

Director of Photography: Simon Duggan

Production Designer: Bruce McCloskey

Editorial 

Editorial Company: Arcade

Editor: Geoff Hounsell

Managing Partner: Damian Stevens

Executive Producer: Crissy DeSimone

Head of Production: Kirsten Thon-Webb

Senior Producer: Adam Becht

Assistant Editors: Dean Miyahira / Andy Trecki

VFX

VFX Company: The Mill

Executive Producer: Enca Kaul

VFX Producer: Anastasia von Rahl

Creative Directors/Set Supervisors: Robert Sethi / Chris Knight

2D Lead: Chris Knight

3D Lead: Gawain Liddiard

2D Artists: Tim Bird, Ed Black, Krysten Richardson, Joy Tiernan, Don Kim, Yukiko Ishiwata

3D Artists: Blake Sullivan, Jason Monroe, Ed Laag, Itai Muller, Jason Kim, Dave Vander Pol

Production Coordinator: Alana Giordano

Grade

Company: Company 3

Colorist: Siggy Ferstl

Executive Producer: Ashley McKim

Producer: Matt Moran

Music

Music Company: Mutato Muzika

Composer: Mark Mothersbaugh

Engineer: Bradley Denniston

Producer: Natalie P. Montgomery

Mix

Mix: Company Lime

Engineer / Sound Designer: Rohan Young

Executive Producer: Susie Boyajan