Highlights of a whirlwind summer at Beast include two 60-second spots that debuted during the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. “It’s Time” for Home Depot and “Disappear” for Chevrolet were both cut by our own Igor Kovalik (Santa Monica) and continue running through the end of the month. The August 8 Opening Ceremony annihilated NBC competitors with 34.9 million viewers (the most-watched night of programming since the finale of Friends in 2004). Ratings were even better during competition the following Sunday evening and the average weekly viewers since are almost 18 million!Put together by The Richards Group, “It’s Time” was created exclusively for the 2008 Olympic Games. Home Depot employs Gold Medal-hopefuls through its Olympic Job Opportunities Program (OJOP) and the 60-second spot is a poignant commemoration to those aspiring athletes. The OJOP compensates competitors for time spent training for the games. A dozen potential Olympians from various Home Depot departments competing in equally varied sports are highlighted. The ad is an inspiring reminder that even the local Home and Garden Center supports big dreams.
Since its debut during the Opening Ceremony, the “Disappear” spot for Chevrolet has created a flurry of press throughout the auto industry, as it offers the much-anticipated first visual of the Volt Plug-in Hybrid (estimated for release in 2010). The spot is a carefully crafted montage showcasing the evolution from gas to electric-powered vehicles. The ad reminds the viewer of Chevrolet’s American roots, its progress and presence in the auto industry today, and its intent to protect our environment without sacrificing mobility. The spot serves as a beautiful and effective method of communicating that the automotive powerhouse is actively engaged in exploring creative solutions for a better world tomorrow. The spot will encourage consumer confidence and assure viewers Chevrolet is committed to positive progression.
