ZIONS INDIE FILM FEST
Winning Commercials
Every year, Zions Indie Film Fest runs a commercial contest that invites filmmakers to bring their creativity to the festival in a fun and competitive way. This year, we submitted two commercials and could not be more thrilled with how it turned out. Both spots placed in the contest, with one taking 1st place and the other landing 3rd place. This is honestly one of the coolest honors to kick off the year, and the feedback was insane. So thrilled to be part of such an awesome festival in Utah!
We had a blast working with Ben Burnett and Catherine Olsen as our couple enjoying what looks like a perfect date night, until Ben starts hearing a voice in his head, convincing him to become an actor. He leans into it a little too much and accidentally blurts out how much he loves ZIFF to his date, which Catherine immediately takes the wrong way. The twist at the end reveals the voice was never in his head at all, but coming from someone sitting in the chair behind them the whole time, wrapping the whole thing up with a fun nod to the festival. It was genuinely a joy to make, and we are so proud it connected the way it did.
Zions Indie Film Fest | Video Production | Festival Commercial | Festival Campaign | TV Broadcast | Creative Direction | Brand Content | Filming in Utah | Funny Commercial | Directing | Producing
We have all seen those prescription drug commercials that are somehow both dramatic and completely absurd at the same time. So we thought it would be pretty hilarious to do our own version with ZIFF as the cure. The commercial opens with two of the most depressed human beings you have ever seen. Ben is doing dishes with the kind of look on his face that suggests he has not felt joy in years, and Catherine is folding laundry with eyes that have clearly seen depression. Then, just when you think it cannot get any more bleak, both are drinking what can only be described as a warm cup of paste. It is rough. Then ZIFF slides into frame on the counter in the form of Jell-O, and everything changes immediately. Both of them dive in with their hands, no spoons, no dignity, just pure commitment to the bit, and their moods do a complete one-eighty. Big smiles, new lease on life, all because of ZIFF. It is silly, it is committed, and it landed a win at the festival, which felt just right for a commercial about eating prescription Jell-O with your bare hands.
Take a look below at some of the fun behind the scenes for this one. We had fun writing the script, producing, directing, filming, editing, choosing the perfect cast, and finding our locations. Special thanks to Wellers Bistro for allowing us to film at their location.
