| Title | THE DILEMMA |
| Brand | HEINEKEN |
| Product/Service | HEINEKEN |
| Category |
D01. Use of Brand or Product Integration into a Programme or Platform |
|
Entrant
|
PUBLICIS ITALY Milan, ITALY
|
|
Idea Creation
|
PUBLICIS ITALY Milan, ITALY
|
|
Media Placement
|
STARCOM MEDIAVEST GROUP Milan, ITALY
|
|
PR
|
COHN & WOLFE Milan, ITALY
|
|
Production
|
BEDESCHI FILM Milan, ITALY
|
Credits
| Bruno Bertelli |
Publicis Italy |
Creative Director |
| Cristiana Boccassini |
Publicis Italy |
Creative Director |
| Luca Cinquepalmi |
Publicis Italy |
Creative Director |
| Marco Venturelli |
Publicis Italy |
Creative Director |
| Aureliano Fontana |
Publicis Italy |
Associate Creative Director |
| Bruno Vohwinkel |
Publicis Italy |
Associate Creative Director |
| Polina Zabrodskaya |
Publicis Italy |
Associate Creative Director |
| Laura Aondio |
Publicis Italy |
Art Director |
| Francesca Vitello |
Publicis Italy |
Copywriter |
| Bela Ziemann |
Publicis Italy |
Strategic Planner |
| James Moore |
Publicis Italy |
Strategic Planner |
| Lorenza Montorfano |
Publicis Italy |
International Account Director |
| Giada Salerno |
Publicis Italy |
Account Director |
| Maria Elena Gaglianese |
Publicis Italy |
Account Supervisor |
| Silvia Cattaneo |
Publicis Italy |
Agency Producer |
| Giovanni Fantoni Modena |
Bedeschi Film |
Director |
| Amilcare Canali |
Bedeschi Film |
Photographer |
| Fabrizio Squeo |
Bedeschi Film |
Editor |
| Samuele Schiavo |
Bedeschi Film |
Editor |
| Giovanni Bedeschi |
Bedeschi Film |
Executive Producer |
| Federico Salvi |
Bedeschi Film |
Executive Producer |
| Floris Cobelens |
Heineken |
Marketing Manager |
| Cristina Gusmini |
Heineken |
Group Brand Manager |
| Marta Grassi |
Heineken |
Brand Manager |
| Fabio Tattilo |
Mediavest |
Client Service Director |
| Alessio Petracchi |
HART |
Client Director |
| Giovanni Natalini |
Heineken |
Event Manager |
| Savino Dicorato |
Heineken |
Pr Manager |
The Campaign
We decided to play a prank on Simone, an ardent Roma supporter. He has been watching the Champions League with his friends for many years – and that night wasn’t going to be an exception. Until we presented him with an irresistible offer – a VIP ticket to watch his team play Real Madrid. Naturally, he decides to leave his buddies. But after receiving an unusual call from his friends before the match and facing the enormous pressure of an entire stadium challenging his choice, Simone changes his mind. This leads to an unexpected turn of events.
Creative Execution
15 minutes before the starting whistle, we connected our victim with the friends he betrayed through the big screen of the stadium. They seemed to be in the usual living-room in which they use to watch every Champions League match. They talked directly to him, blaming him for his decision, showing the whole stadium his betrayal and pushing him to get back where he belongs: next to them. How? Using an helicopter provided by Heineken, outside the stadium, ready to leave. Under the pressure of 60.000 witnesses, Simone finally decided to leave, escorted towards the nearest exit. The door he opened didn’t led him outside but in a sky box where we recreated the friends’ livingroom down to the last detail, from where actually the group was calling him to join them. The group, finally reunited, was able to follow the match live. Enjoying an ice cold Heineken, of course.
The results were impressive. In just a few days the film gained national and international PR exposure. It racked up over 1.2 million views on the Italian section of Facebook, 1 million views on YouTube with no media budget and was featured on high visibility news outlets, including the main sports papers of Italy, Denmark, the UK, Sweden, Japan, Korea, and China. It also featured on a Netherland’s TV news program and the front page of 9gag. Youtube spontaneous views (no media paid): 1.096.968 Facebook and Twitter views: 6.185.475 Facebook reach: 6.779.252 Facebook interactions: 2.590.561 Total impressions through all web channel activated : 13.514.549 Video shared and posted spontaneously on more than 300 websites all over the world in 3 weeks.
The activation took place on the 17th of February at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, right before the UCL match between Roma and Real Madrid. We used two stadium screens to broadcast the live video message from Simone’s friends. With approximately 60 000 people witnessing the stunt and the unsuspecting victim who nearly had a heart attack when he realised he was being exposed (if you’re worried about our Simone, he’s doing fine: https://www.facebook.com /simone.elleppi?fref=nf), we had only one chance to pull it off - and this made the activation so entertaining for the audience.
Insights, Strategy and the Idea
72% of guys watch the Champions League at home, on their own. But why? 2016 was also not looking like a good year for Italian football – only Roma and Juventus had made it through to the group stages, and both faced strong opponents. Other big teams, like Napoli, AC Milan and Inter Milan hadn’t qualified. This meant that many Champions League viewers were neutrals who were watching for entertainment. This, paired with the fact that more and more Italians are working late and that the Champions League is awkwardly scheduled on a Tuesday or Wednesday meant that many forgot it was on...until it was too late. We had to inspire guys to prepare to watch with mates by showing them that the extra thought and effort is worth it.