STRANGER THAILAND

TitleSTRANGER THAILAND
BrandNETFLIX
Product / ServiceNETFLIX
CategoryE03. Integrated Campaign Led by Direct
EntrantWUNDERMAN THOMPSON BANGKOK, THAILAND
Idea Creation J. WALTER THOMPSON BANGKOK, THAILAND
Media Placement WAVEMAKER THAILAND Bangkok, THAILAND
Production TONGTA FILM Bangkok, THAILAND
Production 2 LIGHTHOUSE FILM Bangkok, THAILAND
Production 3 MINI P POST PRODUCTION Bangkok, THAILAND
Production 4 JACK MORTON WORLDWIDE Singapore, SINGAPORE
Production 5 THIS IS TOMMY PTE LTD Singapore, SINGAPORE

Credits

Name Company Position
João Braga J. Walter Thompson Bangkok Chief Creative Officer
Park Wannasiri J. Walter Thompson Bangkok Executive Creative Director
Jiradej Penglengpol J. Walter Thompson Bangkok Associate Creative Director
Natthaphol Hirunlikid J. Walter Thompson Bangkok Senior Art Director
Piyawat Chaiyabunphattharakun J. Walter Thompson Bangkok Copywriter
Sakila Banyen J. Walter Thompson Bangkok Associate Planning Director
Keeratad Kitiyadisai J. Walter Thompson Bangkok Strategic Planner
Supannapa Traitonwong J. Walter Thompson Bangkok Managing Partner
Nutthapong Wannakovit J. Walter Thompson Bangkok Client Service Director
Kasidit Khantee J. Walter Thompson Bangkok Account Director
Kewalee Charoenjit J. Walter Thompson Bangkok Account Manager
Nalin Tovatanasatid J. Walter Thompson Bangkok Account Executive
Pattira Uttaranakorn Verve Thailand Senior Influencer Relations
Pornthip Sarika Verve Thailand Influencer Relations
Pauline Chanasornarpa Verve Thailand Senior Influencer Relations
Jiroj Mechoojit J. Walter Thompson Bangkok Production Director
Attapong Chooamnard J. Walter Thompson Bangkok Digital Producer
Kanokwan Cheevawattanachai Wavemaker Business Director
Sitanun Taveebhol Wavemaker Associate Director, Integrated Planning
Natalie Huebenthal Wavemaker Supervisor, Integrated Planning
Sorasit Tunanunkul Wavemaker Supervisor, Integrated Planning
This is Tommy This is Tommy Creative Production
Kornkanok Srisomboon TONGTA Film Director

Why is this work relevant for Direct?

Since everything in Stranger Things starts with a portal opening in one town, we kickstarted the campaign with a post daring people across the country to open their very own portals to the upside-down world of Stranger Things locally. Within 1 hour all 77 provinces of Thailand got their own customized portals on social media, which soon after took over the entire country in billboards and local TV channels.

Background

Stranger Things is a global phenomenon, but was still a niche affair in Thailand. Netflix wanted to expand its base beyond Bangkok and go mass, but being an international streaming platform and relatively distant to most Thais, it had to find ways to bring it closer to home.

Describe the creative idea (30% of vote)

What if the whole country could just go stranger? Just like in the show, where a portal opens in the city of Hawkins, all 77 provinces of Thailand got their own customized portals to the upside-down world of Stranger Things.

Describe the strategy (20% of vote)

Netflix needed to build relevancy for the show within its Thai audience (primarily 18-34, movie fans) and expand its subscription base beyond Bangkok. So we set up the campaign to create online buzz and targeted our core fans first, as they would more easily engage and spread the word. But we wanted to go mass so new ‘portals’ would soon open, taking over OOH and local TV channels nationwide.

Describe the execution (20% of vote)

It all started on 15th June 2019, two weeks before the series launched. One post dared users to open local portals in their own cities across Thailand. Within one hour, people from all 77 provinces had replied and the customized portals appeared real-time. Soon after, they went from social media to real life portals-billboards across the country. The take-over continued on local TV stations and an portal-opening experience at Bangkok’s most iconic theatre.

List the results (30% of vote)

Within 1 hour, people from all 77 provinces in Thailand had responded. The campaign went on to amass 94 million impressions, with 27 million reach. Half of the new subscribers who joined in that period started with the old seasons, meaning we were effective not just in promoting the new season but on creating fans for the whole franchise.