THE (GLASS) ELEVATOR PITCH
The iconic Apple Store on Fifth Avenue is closed for renovations, so we found a doppelgänger location to host the launch of the latest iPhone. It just so happened to be a Subway station elevator on my street. That suspiciously looked like the famous glass Apple Store cube.
To help bring this to life, I brought this idea to the stunt based comedy group Improv Everywhere and got 50+ actors to form a really long line outside of the elevator, mimicking a huge iPhone release.
In under a week, the video received over 4 million views on YouTube and the story was picked up on major news networks across the country.
*Update - The video has reached over 10 million views and was selected as a 2018 Webbys Honoree in the Viral Video category.
PRESS:
Created by: Deanna Director, Maggie McClurken
Directed by: Charlie Todd
Executive Producers: Alan Aisenberg, Justin Ayers, Juan Cocuy, Andrew Soltys, and Charlie Todd
Music by: Tyler Walker
Director of Photography: Justin Ayers
Editor: Carina Jollie
Production Manager: Isabel Lopez
Art Director: Heather Yancey
Production Sound Mixer: Alan Kudan
Camera Operators: Sarah Charlee Harrison, Keith Haskel, Christian Mortensen, Andrew Soltys
Still Photography: Arin Sang-urai
Production Assistant: Jason Kasman
After stumbling across a phone booth in Chinatown that had a discarded office chair sitting inside, I was inspired to reach out to Improv Everywhere with another stunt idea.
With the surge of WeWorks popping up everywhere, it only made sense for them to expand to every corner of Manhattan - so I thought it’d be fun to re-brand a few unused telephone booths to look like mini WeWork office spaces.
Real New Yorkers were invited to try out the new “WeWork Street” service on 6th Avenue and learn about the many benefits of outdoor coworking. To heighten the believability, we handed out brochures that promoted all of the many “amenities” that come with the $300/month rent. Leaving no branded stone unturned, the brochures naturally lead people to WeWorkStreet.com, a real website for the fake service.
Check out the full story with behind-the-scenes content here.
Press:
Crew:
Created by: Deanna Director, Maggie McClurken
Directed by: Charlie Todd
Executive Producers: Justin Ayers, Andrew Soltys, and Charlie Todd
Producer: Aleks Arcabascio
Head of Special Projects: Jordan Seiler
Key Production Assistant: Jonathan Portee
Director of Photography: Justin Ayers
Camera Operators: Kate Montgomery, Kristopher Knight, Andrew Soltys
Still Photography: Arin Sang-urai
Production Sound Mixer: Alan Kudan
Editor: Dean Marcial
Music by: Tyler Walker
Cast:
WeWork Representative: Addie Weyrich
Office Worker: Deanna Director
Coffee Server: Jordan Seiler
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(Note - this project was not a collaboration with WeWork, but we hope they like it and will consider the idea for their ever-expanding empire.)
PAYDAY bars are salty on the outside and sweet on the inside. We brought this truth to life with the juxtaposition of salty yelling paired with the sweetest words.
The saltiest people in the saltiest situations yelling nothing but sweet nothings. That’s salty covered sweetness. PAYDAY!
Director: Evan Silver, Gifted Youth.
The best way to wrap up a meal is to unwrap a York.
When you're stuck in an awkward dinner conversation or at a meal that just won't end, reach for a York. Its smooth dark chocolate and refreshing peppermint cleanse your palette to close out the meal and the moment.
A pop-culture mash-up of "Jurassic Park" and "Parks and Recreation."
Less than a week after posting, the video had over a million views on YouTube, press from every major outlet, made the front page of Reddit, and got a tweet from Chris Pratt himself.
TIME
Mashable
College Humor - "The best mash-up of 2015"
Funny or Die
USA Today
Editor: Sean Nolan
AD: Maggie McClurken
Animation: Caroline Director
In an attempt to fulfill a lifelong goal of meeting Jim Carrey and the Farrelly Brothers, I collaborated with the Head Designer of A-list fashion label Haute Hippie to create "Dumbure Couture."
One day after tweeting a pic of the the hand-stitched "Dumb and Dumber" inspired dresses, the Farrelly Brothers personally invited us to the premiere of "Dumb and Dumber To" in LA. All expenses paid by Universal Pictures.
Head Designer: Matthew Demgen // Editor: Sean Nolan // AD: Maggie McClurken // Illustrator: Hannah Choi
press:
BroBible: ‘Dumb And Dumber’ Superfans Create Movie-Inspired Clothes — Farrelly Bros. Invite Them To Premiere After Finding Video
AdPulp: Creative Side Projects Can Be A Dumb And Dumber Idea (And That’s Good)
Ranked #32 on "The 50 Best Cosplays of New York Comic Con 2014"
I've been the author behind Taco Bell's hot sauce packets for the last 3 years. This may be my life's greatest accomplishment. Here's a small sampling.
The Sprite NBA Slam Dunk Contest is the perfect marriage of sport and creativity. This year we elevated the art of the dunk when Futura, the godfather of the graffiti movement, turned the basketballs used over the course of All-Star weekend into art, adding another layer of creativity to the contest.
After All-Star weekend, the original works of art were signed by the dunkers and auctioned on NBA.com for charity.
A Futura mini-documentary introduced the artist and the basketball art project.
We collaborated with Grammy award winning artist Zedd to create a Super Bowl commercial that launched his new hit single “Find You.”
Advertising bonus level points:
Zedd incorporated our "Turn Up Your Night" tagline into the chart topping song. 😎
Homeland Valentines
My sister and I are huge fans of the Showtime series Homeland. So naturally, we created a line of Valentine's Day cards that somehow made their way to the Homeland writer's room. Someone from the show actually cut them out and gave one to Claire Danes. The Internet is magic.
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Westworld Valentines
We also created a line of Westworld themed Valentine's Day cards, retweeted by real-life Dolores, Evan Rachael Wood.
Facebook application we created at Y&R New York for Valentine’s Day. It helps Facebook users determine their #1 digital admirer.
We teamed up with the world's oldest working mime, Richmond Shepard, to put a modern twist on the traditional routine by having him interact with technology & NYC.
Bud Light Platinum is what you drink when you want to let go and follow the intrigue of night. We worked with musician Steve Aoki to bring this idea to life.
Director: Tristan Patterson
Editor: Avi Oron
Sometimes I art.
GoOogle Glass
Little stunt filmed outside of Internet Week in NYC where we tried to sell knockoff Google Glass.
Westworld in the real world at Disneyworld.
We snuck in the most magical place on earth dressed as Westworld's Dolores and the Man in Black to pull off this stunt. Shot using GoPros and iPhones.
Sometimes I make videos and things get weird. I also enjoy creating fake sections for single people in the Valentine’s Day aisle at CVS. See below.
