Neighbour’s dog and a laser-sword create insurance drama in Budget Direct’s latest TV campaign via 303 MullenLowe, Sydney
Special Detectives Sarge and Jac are back in Budget Direct’s latest instalment created with 303 MullenLowe.
The new spot titled “Bad Dog” features a badly-behaved dog, a high-powered laser-sword, a couple of confused police officers and a very unlucky neighbour.
The action goes to show, that there are times when the damage to your home is so bad, you need temporary accommodation for up to year while it gets repaired.
Says Jonathan Kerr, chief marketing and delivery officer at Budget Direct: “Budget Direct has Insurance Solved for Australians and this ad highlights another great example of that promise. We enjoyed bringing that message to life in our own unique style.”
The advert was shot by Danny Kleinman through Rattling Stick / Good Oil and photographed by Mat Baker through Louis & Co.
Says Joanna Gray, managing director, 303 MullenLowe Australia: “The Budget Direct work continues to lead the category in terms of cut through, memorability and effectiveness. Equally important is that it’s a genuine ongoing campaign with longevity and popularity – an increasing rarity these days! It’s work we’re immensely proud of and is a great reflection of how well our two teams work together.”
The campaign runs on TV, cinema, radio, OOH and online.
Find out more about Budget Direct here: www.budgetdirect.com.au
Budget Direct
Chief Marketing & Delivery Officer – Jonathan Kerr
General Manager – Brand & Media Marketing: Warren Marsh
Marketing Manager – New Customer Acquisition: Catherine Harty
303 MullenLowe
Executive Creative Director – Scott Huebscher
Creative Director/ Art Director – Adam Whitehead
Creative Director/ Copywriter – Sean Larkin
Managing Director – Joanna Gray
Group Business Director – Ben Glasson
Head of Strategy – Jon McKie
Head of Broadcast – Meredyth Judd
Production Partners
Production Company – Good Oil Films / Rattling Stick
Director – Daniel Kleinman
DOP – Ginnie Loane
Executive Producers – Sam Long / Johnnie Frankel
Producer – Chana McLallen
Editor – Mark Burnett @The Editors
Post Production – alt.vfx
VFX Supervisor – David Edwards
VFX Producer – Celeste Fairlie
Music and Sound Company – Sonar Music
Executive Producer – Sophie Haydon
Sound Designer – Timothy Bridge
Stills Photographer – Mat Baker, LOUIS & CO
Stills Digi Op – Carl Baker, LOUIS & CO
53 Comments
Nice one
This is fun. Good one lads.
Love it. Client and agency alike on a total roll.
Love it best ever !!!
. . . It’s quite nice, but I’ve seen this ad a million times, one incident escalating into a disaster, for lots of different insurance companies.
So Budget Direct insure you against non existent hazards now?
Stupid. Please Please Please don’t spend $3million in media.
I really, really enjoyed this.
Well done all! Love it.
There must be a lot of money in insurance. Given the client is called BUDGET direct it amuses me they spend heaps of money on both producing the work and then promoting it.
Its a bit of a contradiction to what they stand for as its only insurance.
Made me smile.
I’d rather watch this than the dreadful self-congratulatory Braveheart nonsense.
@Money also makes a valid point. For a brand called Budget, the medium is certainly NOT the message.
Looks awesome.
Great work guys.
Fun to watch.
Given the dramas of drought, fires and covid over the last 12 months, why does the agency/client use an overseas director. Such bad form given there are so many good Australian directors. Get your shit together guys and support local.
Because the client insists on using Danny Kleinman for every spot.
More money than sense then.
Funny pay-off. Nice.
Funny pay-off…only to those that worked on it.
A fun memorable ad.
good retail ad
Wouldn’t it be deemed an ‘act of dog’.😭
Wasn’t a fan of the launch of this campaign I’ll admit. Found it a bit convoluted and confusing. But I really started to like it when the guy was stuck in the UFO beam in super slo-mo and the female detective winced at her own line ‘Probe a little deeper’. I think we all had a chuckle at that one.
This though – I love it. It’s my favourite ad on TV at the moment. Honestly, whoever was the one who said “I know! A Jack Russell running around fucking shit up with a Light Saber!” – well done. This next iteration of the campaign is going from strength to strength and I just want to see more now.
And hats off to the production and post-production team – flawless visual effects, comedic timing, performances, editing.
Not real smart standing over “live” power lines !!! Do you do funeral insurance too! ??
A bit too over the top for me. Isn’t there copyright issues using the Star Wars lazar beam?
Not if you call the Light Saber™ a ‘lazar beam’
Same thing – still ripped off.
Oh for God’s sakes – get a sense of humour. You’re obviously one of the clients competitors. The entire campaign is built on pop-culture references, from X-Files to Twin peaks to Close Encounters to Poltergeist. Don’t be such a stick in the mud.
Bloody brilliant! Well done everyone involved.
HaHaHa…stop it. Twin peaks etc etc etc. You are joking aren’t you?
We all know were it came from. As the Agency/Client please stop posting positive comments, the commercial is just average.
Why are Sarge and Jac at the home of a lady who isn’t one of their customers, before the dog runs through ?
Why aren’t the actors mentioned above?
Opening shot has a fish tank sliced in half. Sarge and Jac are obviously there to investigate another strange happening.
You might want to rewatch the rest of the ads – none of others involve Budget Direct customers either. Thats the point.
Who owns the dog?
What’s the breed of dog ?
Got it right this time-love this ad.Thumbs up!
Oh dear, just listen to all the humorless whiners, many proudly broadcasting their ignorance of commercial realities. It is an excellent advertisement, a considerable cut above the boring pap that infests our TV screens most of the time. It is a very clever idea well presented. I’m curious as to how it was filmed – must investigate.
Please give the names of the actors who do a wonderful job! I could only find Butterscotch the dog – of course a star!!
I could have swore after the power pole falls on the house there was a live wire swinging and sparking in front of the women on the right upstairs. Now I can’t see it and think I’m tripping balls. Anyone??….help!!?
I’m not in advertising. I just found my way here after Googling, “I hate that Budget Direct dog ad”. I wanted to know if anyone else felt the same way.
I generally like the ad, but how come the fallen power pole has no power lines attached? Can’t think of a purpose for a power pole without cables.
I suggest YOU watch it again there are wires attached to the pole
Why does the lady’s accent change from British to Australian? …and where is she looking at the end when the dog drops the light sabre?
I believe Butterscotch is a ‘she’ (pink collar) and she is a Jack Russell. My male Jackie is still in the ‘DOG BOX’ for not scoring this gig – MY CRUZY IS WAY MORE HANDSOME!
It’s just an ad, people, and I wouldn’t have given it a second thought if it wasn’t for the dog. He/She is adorable.
Want to know the name of lady in stripe blouse thanks
The fallen power pole has no wires on it!!!
Why was the the frantic lady police person running in circles (early ad), cut out ?
Who is the actress that owns the home? She looks so familiar
My guess is that ‘it’s the neighbour’s dog” is a cute term / condition for when temporary accomodation is available. If it were her dog, no luck – it’s your fault. Too sceptical?
I can’t believe people are commenting about a TV ad about insurance, and yet here I am….
Would love to see how the ad was made.
Great special effects.
The owners of the dog would be liable, surely!