If you were on the fence about whether to become a pro surfer this summer, Coors Light is out with a new campaign that might make you wonder why you ever hesitated.
The ads, created by 72andSunny, combine a couple of themes that are currently popular among marketers—appealing directly to millennials' perceived appetite for adventure, and the use of 360° video.
In the first ad, pop on a virtual reality headset (or just spin around with your cursor on the video's desktop version) for a stunning view of the ocean, shot at surfing hot spot Ship Stern Bluff in Tasmania, Australia, from the perspective of a dude or dudette catching a huge wave. Twist the camera to see the water towering above—imposing enough to be thrilling, beautiful enough to put a smile on your face.
Naturally, there's a cold beer waiting for you onshore.
"Every climb deserves a refreshing finish," reads the copy. "We all have mountains to climb; what's yours?" This is welcome clarification for a mixed-sporting metaphor that would've felt wonky if the footage weren't so charming.
It's masterfully paced, with a slow crescendo in both the visuals and the soundtrack, building to a clear, splashy high point and making otherwise boring sports footage come across as surprisingly satisfying.
Two more clips—one for whitewater kayaking, shot at Behana Gorge in Wooroonoran National Park in Queensland; the other for downhill biking in nearby Cairns—offer similarly fun rides, though the cycling spot is probably the weakest of the three (a precipitous drop in the kayaking clip, meanwhile, is simply too good).
The campaign genuinely capitalizes on the 360° perespective. Many of the moments are exciting from any direction, making this a far better application of the technology than, say, inviting viewers to turn and face a Holiday Inn shower head just to avoid looking at Rob Riggle yammering in a yellow raincoat.
Other marketers have illustrated how VR footage can be useful for populations that can't be where they want to, for reasons ranging from illness or work obligations. But Coors Light's treatment captures how, for a broader audience, the technology can be a window into new experiences.
Whether that's enough to sell more seltzer beer to twentysomethings isn't clear, but there are worse ways for a brand to package its lifestyle. And while spurring adventure might be its purported goal, the approach also promises that, soon enough, nobody will ever have to go anywhere or do anything for kicks.
Popping on a VR headset is way easier—and much dryer—than actually learning to ride waves.
CREDITS
Client: Coors Light
Chief Executive Officer: Gavin Hattersley
Chief Marketing Officer: David Kroll
Senior Director Marketing: Elina Vives
Director of Marketing: Ryan Marek and Brendan Noonan
Associate Marketing Manager: Jen Naye Herrmann
Agency: 72andSunny
Chief Executive Officer, Founder: John Boiler
Chief Creative Officer, Co-Founder: Glenn Cole
Executive Creative Director, Partner: Bryan Rowles
Executive Creative Director, Partner: Jason Norcross
Creative Director: Jed Cohen
Creative Director: Galen Graham
Lead Designer: Anthony Alvarez
Sr. Writer: Alberto Garcia Orte
Jr. Designer: Chris Ruh
Jr. Writer: Matt Fink
Executive Film Producer: Jim Haight
Sr. Film Producer: Perrin Rausch
Jr. Film Producer: Jamie Glass
Group Brand Director: James Stephens
Brand Director: Andrew Krensky
Brand Coordinator: Anthony Fernandez
Business Affairs Director: Christina Rust
Jr. Business Affairs Manager: Noah Winter
Group Strategy Director: Matt Johnson
Strategist: Eddie Moraga
Production: Unit 9
Executive Producer Unit 9: Luca Delaurentiis
Production/Editorial/Visual Effects: Rapid VR
Director: Dave Klaiber
Executive Producer: Susannah Dilallo
Producer: Rita Gagliardi
VR Technician: Dan White
VR Assistant: Bek Hawkey
Music: South Music
Executive Producer: Ann Haugen
Head of Production, Partner: Dan Pritikin