CURRAN BACK TO DIRECT TELSTRA BIGPOND ‘AUSTRALIA DAY’ COMMERCIAL
John Curran of Cherub Pictures has directed the latest Telstra BigPond commercial, featuring their much loved father and son team, Patrick (played by actor Patrick O’Meara) and Daniel (Brandon Fraser). This ongoing series began in 2005 with Rabbits and has continued through Scotsman, Kombi and Collingwood, up to this latest installment Australia Day.
Curran is best known for directing the feature film The Painted Veil starring Naomi Watts and Edward Norton, released in April of this year to rave reviews. Previously his feature film work has included the multi-award winning Praise (1998) starring Sacha Horler and We Don’t Live Here Anymore (2004) starring Naomi Watts and Laura Dern.
Curran returned to Australia specifically to direct the Australia Day Telstra BigPond TVC, working in collaboration with Cherub Pictures’ Michele Bennett as producer.
The scene is set at a parent / teacher interview discussing Daniel’s performance at school. Classic Australia Day activities are discussed, but it seems that perhaps Daniel can still “learn more with BigPond broadband”, the concluding line of the TVC.
Working closely with agency BWM Sydney, Curran aimed to retain the integrity of the original style of the first TVC, with understated performances that are comically timed to perfection. Using the same location and actors from the previous ads, Curran has created the perfect 5th installment to this 3 year series that highlights the global trend towards storytelling in advertising.
27 Comments
So.. let me get this right.
The Dad lets his son get utterly humiliated at school with a school report that states that the Great Wall of China was built to keep rabbits out.
Now, two fucking years later, the kid hasn’t got a clue what Australia Day’s all about because his thickie Dad still refuses to get the internet. Or, presumably hasn’t got a clue himself.
That’s quality parenting. Quality.
Or Telstra think their consumers are stupid.
Knowing Telstra it’s the latter.
That’s odd, the PR release forgot to mention the KFC commercial with Noah Taylor.
Trust me it isn’t easy, working on this brief involve people who don’t know what they want, who change their mind every minute and let their massive egos get in the way of any decent idea that could have been made.
Then it actually leaves the agency…
I know this is really against the spirit of the blog to be so measured, but in my humble opinion, this is not as good.
Should have shown Monty first.
This is just not very good.
PR’S OK.
I really liked the first two. Strange I know, they didn’t pick up, but I always got a chuckle out of them.
Hope this gets the same amount of endearment across. Good to see a big bad mainstream piece of poo do it’s job on a cynical fuck like myself.
there’s a global trend towards storytelling in advertising?
I believe that this works because the characters and scenario will resonate with the individuals they are targeting. The understated performances will ensure that the commercial is still enjoyable to watch after being seen many, many times.
I’m sure that it will drive me crazy eventually, but I know that it will always bring a smile to my father’s face – and that’s one way in. To know and like the characters leads to knowing, liking and trusting the brand.
The original Rabbits was fantastic. Fantastic script, superbly delivered.
This is really, really bad. Saw it the other night on the tele. Butchered. Don’t give a fuck who the director is, if the script is shit it’s always an uphill battle.
I saw this the other day, and laughed. Still wouldn’t touch Telstra with Monty’s pole, but it’s a nice, funny ad. I like it.
Can’t wait to see the kid kick his dad’s lily ass for giving him such a bum steer in life.
I give it 6 months before they’re slugging it out on the lawn.
Ok. I liked the first one. Thought it was beautifully cast, should have picked up more too.
But surely selling Bigpond on the fact that the internet is great for learning is like selling beer on the fact that it gets you pissed.
I’m sure thousands of people have watched the ads and thought fuck it, let’s go Virgin. The kids can learn off the ‘net and it’s free.
Odd.
I must agree with 2:13. Strategically they did a great job at growing the category, but possibly not Australia’s most expensive broadband network.
John Curran is very talented. The Painted Veil, in particular, was just wonderful. Home Hudson wasn’t too shabby either. But why didn’t they get the original director to do the follow ons for Telstra? The new spot is just one percent off being just right … but the one percent is the one that counts. Maybe it was the script. Maybe it’s to do with the fact that JC is an American and doesn’t quite get the Aussie irony??
Lovely performances.
Shit script.
Could have been sooo much better.
Same script as last time – but not as good – i.e. one gag vs about 3 gags in the first ad.
Surely the formula is “learn more on Big Pond”, not “my dad is a deadshit….”
Lets hope the next one isn’t “my dad is a deadshit – Take 3”. That said he is a great deadshit….
DS
this one misses Vicky’s light direction touch. Maybe it’s the script….. ? Maybe not.
It’s the script or rather the lack of one that lets it down. The talent is good,but if it’s not on paper,it’ll won’t be on film.
The original ‘Great Wall’ spot was a one-off idea, beautifully written, cast and performed.
The success of the rabbits inevitably spawned a series, in an attempt to extend the life of the idea. Unfortunately, the idea now seems to be the father and son, who were originally merely a vehicle for a generic message about broadband from the industry leader trying to grow the category.
Bizarrely, they have now become the brand property.
I imagine the agency has retro-fitted a persuasive strategy document to reassure the client.
It’s an interesting Buddhist conundrum.
You spend your whole life emptying your mind in an attempt to find nirvana.
Once you finally attain nirvana, you become so obsessed with re-discovering it, that you can’t quite relax enough to ever discover it again.
Happens to monks. And monkeys.
Let it go. You didn’t recognise the idea then, and you’re just chasing your own fluffy white rabbit tail now.
Which team did the original ‘Rabbits’?
7.36
bell end
How come the dad is about a hundred years older than his kid?
What was the point of bringing back John Curran for this spot? Was it worth it? Like getting Polson back to do the other lacklustre spot.
Not the same agency is it?
Anonymous said:
Which team did the original ‘Rabbits’?
August 12, 2008 7:53 PM
Matt Lawson and Onur Kece.
Last I heard Matt was heading to Colombia, where he is now I have no idea.
i think the ‘learn more with…’ instead of give your kids the right education spoils it a little as well.
could’ve been better. scriptwise.
Just remember people, when you read a blog submitted by The Buddist, he’s just squashed an ant. It makes his rantings easier to take.
Move on Telsta. We get it. The web is a source of information that is helpful. Google a new strategy, pleeeeeeeeeeeeese.