An oil brand made an ad with no music, no CGI, and zero dialogue. It won a Cannes Lions. Here's why that worked.
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In 2017, Pennzoil made a short film about the last Dodge Viper ACR.
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A driver-for-hire infiltrating a secure facility, stealing back a Viper, and breaking out using some of the most impressive stunt driving ever put on camera.
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They hired Rhys Millen to do it for real.
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And because the Viper's 8.4L V10 provides its own soundtrack, Pennzoil made the call: the car doesn't need music. Let it breathe.
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The ad won a Cannes Lions and a Grand Prix from the IMFA.
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But here's the part that matters for us.
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Why did Pennzoil make this, and not Dodge?
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Because Pennzoil is the OEM oil of choice for many high-end motors, including that legendary V10. They weren't selling oil in this ad. They were earning a place in the culture around it.
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They dressed up the car enthusiasts already loved in yellow, made something worthy of the car's 25-year legacy, and showed the world what they...