Submitted for your approval, a holiday party that wouldn't feel out of place in the Twilight Zone.
A new commercial from Miller Lite and DDB Chicago and San Francisco transports us to a workplace gathering that's far from jolly. If you're wondering why the non-revelers appear frozen in time and space…
… it's because they ARE frozen in time and space! They're not actors, but incredibly lifelike sculptures created by hyperrealist artist Alex Prager. Surrounded by cheap tinsel and festive lights, they're trapped in cringey poses, checking their phones, clutching cocktails, and flashing insincere seasonal smiles.
We don't care if that hirsute cube drone making butt copies isn't flesh and blood. Dude's totally lit! Backlit, in fact. You'll never catch him knocking back eggnog with nerds!
"With many companies nixing the traditional holiday party, we're focused on the silver lining—more time with a few real friends, which is what Miller Time is all about," says Courtney Carter Dugan, the brand's activation manager. "Not having to make awkward small talk or being forced to take photobooth pictures with co-workers is a holiday gift in and of itself."
Figures from the spot—which ends with the line " 'Tis Miller Time"—will appear in an outdoor exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art from Nov. 21 through Jan. 3, and headline a virtual experience at LACMA.org. (They're not alive, but they sure get around.)
"Miller Lite and DDB trusted me to make 15 life sculptures with complete creative autonomy," Prager says. "It's one of those dream collaborations that comes along once every five years or so."
"It touches on many things I've been exploring in my artistic practice—the line between reality and artifice, and how we find ways to connect as humans through both raw emotion and performance, or projected realities," Prager says. "This year has been a disaster in terms of connecting with people we share common realities with, so I was very excited to work on a project that is ultimately about love and the human condition seen through an elegant and humorous lens."
The brand's festive push also includes a 6-pack giveaway—visit @MillerLite on Twitter to learn more—and a selection of "ugly" holiday knitwear (for the not-so-discriminating mannequins on your gift list!).
CREDITS
CLIENT: Molson Coors, Miller Lite
CMO: Michelle St. Jacques
GLOBAL VP, MILLER FAMILY OF BRANDS: Sofia Colucci
MARKETING DIRECTOR: Courtney Dugan
MARKETING MANAGER: Jeff Schulman
ASSOCIATE MARKETING MANAGER: Kristina Hebenstreit
PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Kirby Nardo
AGENCY
CREATIVE AGENCY: DDB Chicago
CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, DDB WORLDWIDE: Ari Weiss
CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, NORTH AMERICA: Britt Nolan
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Ben Wolan
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Nick Howard
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Nick Stoner
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Ruth Bellotti
SOCIAL & DIGITAL DIRECTOR: Mike Norgard
CHIEF PRODUCTION OFFICER: Diane Jackson
SVP, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Matt Blitz
EXECUTIVE ART PRODUCER: Suzanne Koller
SVP, GROUP ACCOUNT DIRECTOR: Kiska Howell
ACCOUNT DIRECTOR: Diana El-Chantaf
ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR: Kristen Miller
CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER, DDB NORTH AMERICA: Eric Zuncic
STRATEGY DIRECTOR: Jonathan Palmer
STRATEGIST: Biz Anderson
MANAGER OF PRODUCTION OPERATIONS: Zoe Grubbe
PRODUCTION MANAGER: Jillian English
TALENT MANAGER: Chris Quinn
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC: Alec Stern
PROJECT MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR: Jen Polan
AGENCY
MULTICULTURAL AGENCY: ALMA
VP, EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Jorge Murillo
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Ricardo Chuecos
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Vanessa Castaneda
VP, GROUP ACCOUNT DIRECTOR: Beatriz Del Almo
ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR: Adriana Pineda
STRATEGY DIRECTOR: Mauricio Cadena
PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Arts & Sciences
DIRECTOR: Alex Prager
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Hoyt Van Hoytema
MANAGING PARTNER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Marc Marrie
PARTNER, MANAGING DIRECTOR: Mal Ward
PARTNER, Director: Matt Aselton
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER (NY): John Benson
HEAD OF PRODUCTION, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Christa Skotland
PRODUCER: Casey Byron
LINE PRODUCER: Alex Waite
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR: Ashley Holloway
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Ciara Budds
RESEARCH & OPERATIONS MANGER: Ivy Jane
ALEX PRAGER STUDIO DIRECTOR: Lisa Ziven
STATUE FABRICATION: Van Dyke Studios
EDIT
EDITORIAL: Arcade
EDITOR: Paul Martinez
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Dean Miyahira
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Crissy DeSimone
SR. PRODUCER: Kristen Thon-Webb
MUSIC & SOUND
AUDIO POST: Lime Santa Monica
SOUND DESIGNER: Matt Miller
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Susie Boyajan
POST PRODUCTION
COLOR: Framestore
LEAD COLORIST: Beau Leon
SENIOR PRODUCER: Cat Pavitt
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION: David Michaels
OTHER
PR AGENCY: IFC Next
MEDIA AGENCY: Connect
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