When the Dolphins NRL marketing team comes to you with a brief like that, you know you’ve got to bring out your best.
We needed to make an online video ad that informed and entertained, that kept people’s attention and appealed directly to diehard NRL fans. So we made our writer Jessie Hughes watch a ton of NRL, XXXX & Ladbrokes commercials until she became a burly mid-thirties Queenslander. From this she came up with what will undoubtedly become an iconic zinger for every commentator’s toolbox – Dolphin Smart!
Tony Walsh brought his trademark snappy dialogue and dad jokes to polish up the script, and working with cinematographer Brian Loewe cooked up some visually mesmerizing transitions and punchy coverage.
Our editor Christopher A. dialled the humour up to 11 with some crisp sound design, knocking out shorter and alt versions for the marketing team to experiment with. But for us, we love the full unabridged version below.
Big thanks to Dolphins marketing & events legends – Amir Rezaee & Katie Croll for bringing us in for this one.
Featuring the incredible comedic talents of Sam Monaghan, Gabby Carbon, Sasa Lemalu & Chris Slater.
Produced by Genevieve Larin
Concept & Creative – Jessie Hughes
Direction & Dialogue – Tony Walsh
Cinematography – Brian Loewe
Sound Rec. – Josh O’Donnell
Light & Focus – David Aponas, Owen Smith, Zac Emmerton
Prod. Design – Keely Hall
Prod. Assist – Luke Schamburg
MUA Aislynn Maczyszyn & Pedita Gould
Challenge
Inform & entertain
Format
Walk & Talk
Concept
Dolphin Smart!
Genre
Comedy / Sport
Result
A totally unique campaign in NRL
