Tons of marketers are getting in on election season, so it was only a matter of time before a Donald Trump impersonator made it into an ad. Thanks to a new 60-second spot, "The Wall," from camera company 360fly and agency 180LA, we now know what that looks like.
While the spot also features actors satirizing Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, it's the pitch-perfect Trump impersonation and the mockery of his plan to build a border wall that's sure to generate interest.
The point, of course, is to make consumers aware of the company's 360-degree camera technologies.
"We thought there was no better way than to look at the singularly focused Republicans and the singularly focused Democrats and to link them all together with a 360 point of view, and to do it with parody," said Peter Adderton, CEO at 360fly.
Adderton added, "Parties and politicians have a very singular point of view, so if you imagine a standard camera, people can only see what's in front of them. So the whole concept of only seeing what's in front of you means you're missing what's around you."
"The idea of building a wall is so narrow-minded, it deserves to be lampooned," said William Gelner, chief creative officer of 180LA. "And it's perfect for making the point about the importance of having a bigger perspective, which is the promise of the camera. Essentially, this is just a product demo spot dropped into the middle of a highly charged political issue. The spot demonstrates just how ridiculous and narrow-minded the notion is of building a wall. Broaden out a little—life's too big for one perspective."
Even if the political climate hadn't set the stage for parody, Adderton knows 360fly would need a compelling narrative to stand out in a crowded field.
"If we did a standard-action cam commercial, had guys jumping off cliffs or out of parachutes or backflipping on motorbikes, that really wouldn't get us the awareness we're looking for. And I don't think it would demonstrate the ability of the camera to do what it can do," he said.
CREDIT
"The Wall"
Length: 60/30
Spot: The Wall
Agency: 180LA
Client: 360FLY
Client: 360FLY
CEO: Peter Adderton
Chief Marketing Officer: Todd Waks
Chief Creative Officer: Scott Anderson
Agency: 180LA
Global CEO: Mike Allen
Chief Creative Officer: William Gelner
Creative Director/Art Director: Adam Groves
Creative Director/Copywriter: Zac Ryder
Managing Director: Chad Bettor
Head of Production: Natasha Wellesley
Executive Producer: Calleen Colburn
Brand Director: Mike Slatkin
Head of Business Affairs: Loretta Zolliecoffer
Production
Production Co.: MJZ
Director: Mike Maguire
President: David Zander
DP: Bob Richardson
Sr. Executive Producer: Eriks Krumins
Line Producer: Tracy Broaddus
Production Designer: Alexis Ross
Stylist: Ric Renae Hughes
Shoot Location: Big Sky Ranch, Simi Valley
Shoot Date: May 9, 2016
Editorial
Editorial Company: Whitehouse Post
Editor: Rick Lawley
Executive Producer: Joni Wright
Producer: Jennifer Mersis
Assistant Editor: Lauren Richardson
Post/Special Effects
Online/VFX: The Mill NY
Executive Producer: Sean Costelloe
Producer: Jacqueline Sand
Color Producer: Diane Valera
Colourist: Adam Scott
VFX Supervisors: Jade Kim, Steve Cokonis
2D lead: Jade Kim
3D lead: Wyatt Saverese
2D artists: Sung Eun Moon, Alex Wysota, Mina Mir, Yoon-Sun Bae
3D artists: Christine Kim, Todd Akita, Cole Clark, Tim Kim, Ivan Joy
Finishing artist: Lee Towndrow
Recording Mix
Recording Studio: Eleven Sound
Mixer: Jeff Payne
Executive Producer: Suzanne Hollingshead/Melissa Elston
Assistant Mixers: A.J. Murillo, Jordan Meltzer
Music/Sound Design
Sound Design: Beta Petrol