Snacks as Mob Figures in Tribeca Film Promo

NEW YORK, April 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating the Tribeca Film Festival as a one of a kind New York institution, Ogilvy & Mather New York captures the essence of the New York sensibility in a humorous campaign with cinema, video, outdoor and print advertising supporting the debut of this year's Festival on April 20^th (www.youtube.com/ogilvyny).

In the cinema spot, an animated box of Popcorn voiced by Soprano star Tony Sirico, is bumped from behind by a Hot Dog, voiced by Vinnie Pastore (also a Soprano star) as they saunter down the theater aisle singing about  the snack bar.  True to their mob roots the characters get into a brawl and the Popcorn (Sirico) whacks the Hot Dog (Pastore), leaving him bunless and bloody on the floor.  "You want a piece of this?" he taunts to the other snacks left in the aisle.  The scene, with bleeped out expletives, is followed by the tag line, "It's Movies.  It's New York."

"The Tribeca Film Festival is a showcase for the most original and inventive entertainment, so our challenge each year in promoting it is to be as interesting as we can while still trying to capture that authentic 'only in New York,' vibe," explained Terry Finley, Group Creative Director on the account at Ogilvy.  Tommy Henvey, Executive Creative Director added,  "So taking the old time dancing snacks that we all grew up  with but having them voiced by Paulie Walnuts (Sirico) and Big Pussy (Pastore) lets us have some fun and hopefully  connect  in a cool way with the New York audience."

In addition to the cinema and video spot, a series of out-of-home, print and online banners also promote the "New Yorkness" of the Festival with headlines such as "When the A-List meets the A-Train," "Bright Lights, Big Movies," and "Another 500 Reasons Why the City Never Sleeps."  

About Ogilvy & Mather

Ogilvy & Mather is one of the largest marketing communications companies in the world. Through its specialty units, the company provides a comprehensive range of marketing services including: advertising; public relations and public affairs; branding and identity; shopper and retail marketing; healthcare communications; direct, digital, promotion and relationship marketing. Ogilvy & Mather services Fortune Global 500 companies as well as local businesses through its network of more than 450 offices in 120 countries. It is a WPP company (NASDAQ: WPPGY).  For more information, visit www.ogilvy.com.

About Tribeca Film Festival:

The Tribeca Film Festival helps filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enable the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center. It is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors.

Founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 following the attacks on the World Trade Center, to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music and culture, the Festival brings the industry and community together around storytelling.

The Tribeca Film Festival has screened more than 1,100 films from more than 80 countries since its first edition in 2002. Since inception, it has attracted an international audience of more than 3 million attendees and has generated an estimated $600 million in economic activity for New York City.

SOURCE Ogilvy & Mather