BLAZED

Gold Spike
TitleBLAZED
BrandNEW ZEALAND TRANSPORT AGENCY
Product / ServiceROAD SAFETY
CategoryA11. Casting
EntrantCURIOUS FILM Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
Entrant Company CURIOUS FILM Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
Advertising Agency CLEMENGER BBDO Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
Production Company CURIOUS FILM Auckland, NEW ZEALAND

Credits

Name Company Position
Taika Waititi Curious Film Director
Matt Noonan Curious Film Executive Producer
Brigid Alkema Clemenger BBDO Wellington Creative Director
Mark Dalton Clemenger BBDO Wellington Creative Director
Mike Gwyther Clemenger BBDO Wellington Writer

Brief Explanation

Three Maori boys find themselves in a situation familiar to most kids growing up in New Zealand - sitting outside in the car, waiting for one of their dads to come out and drive one of them home. The only thing is, the dad has been blazing, and the kids know it. We watch them change from comical to contemplative, as they examine their own awareness of their dads' behaviour in the raucous, imaginative way only young boys can.

Creative Execution

Director Taika Waititi, Executive Producer Matt Noonan and Casting Directors Stuart Turner and Joe Fisher explored countless schools throughout Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand, 2013, in search of 3 unique Maori boys perfect for the TVC. The three boys were asked to demonstrate the behaviour of their 'blazed' parents. After weeks of castings and improvisation sessions, 3 boys were selected for the spot, Ruamoko Toatoa (age 10), Julian Dennison (age 10) and Te Ahorangi (age 8). The 3 boys were a perfect fit for the ad as we watch them change from comical to contemplative, and as they examine their own awareness of their dads' behaviour in a raucous, imaginative way only boys can.