Lucky Airlines’ Director, Nicolas Hill and Crosslin Bring Home The Spots’ Over-The-Top Comedic Energy

Territory editor Dave Crosslin’s talent and wry sense of humor were tapped for 5-hour ENERGY’s off-kilter campaign for the popular energy shot, directed by Nicolas Hill. Lucky Airlines, the Los Angeles and Detroit-based production company, also collaborated on the concepts for the spots, which are a departure from the tone of the company’s previous campaigns – bringing an over-the-top style and comedic energy to the popular brand.

The first commercial, "Yummification," opens with a series of people drinking energy shots as their exaggerated facial expressions make it clear that the taste is not pleasant. Cue the circa ‘70’s game show music, as ‘Creepy’ Clyde Brown, the iconic VO actor with a kitschy voice that captures that era, announces: “For those who still find the taste of 5-hour ENERGY a little… strong… don’t miss the 5-hour ENERGY $100,000 Yummification contest!” A young couple proceeds to demonstrate the simple steps he enumerates: Mix 5-hour with your favorite beverage, name it, shoot it and send in the video for a chance to win a share of $100,000. 

The pair’s excitement builds to a crescendo as money begins to fall from sky, and ‘$100,000’ flashes above their heads in big bold letters - game show style. Capping off the mayhem, a judge, dressed in colonial period garb, with gavel in hand, recites the disclaimer.

The second spot, "Yummazing," takes the campiness in another direction, with a competition challenging its customers to come up with a beverage concoction that improves upon the flavor of the energy shot by mixing it with other ingredients.  A bizarre array of characters, from a weight lifter with a waxed mustache, a preppy couple in tennis whites, and a rugged lumberjack - to a deep sea diver in vintage gear dodging a giant lobster claw - each devise a unique and tasty variation.

Lucky Airlines provided a very detailed storyboard for "Yummification,” enabling Crosslin to create a spot that was a near exact execution of their concept. During an after hours session the editor did some experimenting, integrating multiple viewing angles of the contest elements by repeating and skewing the footage, which added yet another layer of humor that played right into the parody.

“The spots’ comedic energy personifies the attributes of the product with outrageous concepts, visual style, and spot-on music and casting,” says Territory executive producer, Joan Porter. “Director Nicolas Hill provided us with great footage, and Dave’s editing helped take 5-hour ENERGY’s image campaign exactly where Lucky Airlines and their client wanted it to go.”

5-hour Energy’s creative team worked directly with the Lucky Airlines, developing every detail of the final concepts and fine-tuning the briefs for the spots. Shot in L.A., director Hill and DP, Florian Stadler spent one day shooting each of the commercials. Stadler, who also did the color grading, used an Arri Alexa camera system and a Gemini 3333 Arriraw Recorder for the studio shoots. Dave Crosslin edited the commercials on Final Cut Pro in Territory’s recently expanded facility.

“Lucky Airlines’ team was thrilled to have an opportunity to work both on the creative and production for a huge company like 5-hour ENERGY  - and give its brand a new twist with a campaign that elevated production values, while increasing brand awareness,” says Hansen, who is currently working on a new campaign for the client. 

“We had an amazing time collaborating with Dave Crosslin at Territory,” says Hansen.  â€œHis editorial acumen and storytelling sensibilities have made him an invaluable collaborator who we are planning to work with again on future campaigns.”

“Rich Hansen, Lucky Airlines’ executive producer, and Jereme Sanborn, 5-hour’s head copywriter, were incredibly open to my ideas and made this job a great collaborative experience,” says Crosslin. “The final result was a bold, comedic campaign that everyone was incredibly happy with - especially Carl Sperber, 5-hour's VP of creative, which was icing on the cake.” 

About Territory:

Territory is a full-service editorial and post-production boutique driven by award-winning multi-disciplined talent committed to the craft of creating visual stories that engage audiences and connects them to brands. The company’s one-stop approach allows clients to take advantage of its seamlessly workflow from rough-cut through delivery.  

Structured to efficiently meet the every-changing needs of advertising agencies, networks, digital content producers and corporation for high-end media content - all under one banner – the 13,000 square foot facility in metro Detroit is complemented by editorial services in Los Angeles, New York and throughout the country, providing clients with an efficient and comprehensive creative resource, regardless of where they’re based.

Territory is a certified minority owned and operated company with a prestigious roster of national and regional work to its credit. To learn more visit www.territorypost.com, or contact Marie Hansen at 248.548.1011 or mhansen@territorypost.com.

CREDITS:

Product: 5-hour ENERGY                                                                                                                 Genre: National Broadcast Spots                                                                                                          Titles: "Yummification” + “Yummazing”  (:30s)  

                                                                                                              

Client: 5-hour Energy                                                                                                                                    VP of Creative: Carl Sperber                                                                                                               Head Copywriter: Jereme Sanborn

Agency: N/A 

Production Company: Lucky Airlines (Detroit + Los Angeles)

Director: Nicolas Hill

Executive Producer - Rich Hansen

Cinematography + Color Grading Company: Bunte Farben (Los Angeles)        

DP + Color Grader: Florian Stadler    

Editorial Company: Territory (Detroit)

Creative Editor: Dave Crosslin

Executive Producer: Joan Porter

Graphics, Finishing + Audio Company: Hudson Editorial (Detroit)

Graphics Designer: Frank Marra, Finisher: Kevin Jones 

Sound FX Designer: Spenser Hall

Stock Music Company: Audio Jungle 

Voice Over Talent: ‘Creepy’ Clyde Brown