All willpower crumbles under the seductive powers of the Colonel in director Sam Coleman’s irresistible new campaign for KFC and Ogilvy Johannesburg. The tantalisingly dark and moody spots portray the very moment when we give into our deepest desires, in this case KFC.
KFC ‘Can’t Resist’ is an atmospheric campaign that tells the stories of frustration, desire, resistance and finally letting go. Using a long take approach largely free of technique and editing, Sam Coleman explores the journey from the first moment of seduction all the way to surrender. With no dialogue, the spots are about the character’s inner struggle and in the red glow of the ever-present Colonel, the witchy atmosphere is underscored by a rendition Nina Simone’s ‘I Put a Spell on You’.
Sam elicits evocative performances in ostensibly small uninterrupted moments, while crafting a strong visual world. Elegantly drawing the audience in through his choice of angles, he captures the instant the characters become powerless to the finger lickin’ indulgence.
About developing the scenes and capturing the character’s inner journey, Sam says: ‘The challenge was to show the exact moment when resistance caves in and the characters succumb to KFC. In a sense, that then made the moments before and after equally important. Allowing the actor to be caught in that moment before they give in, and letting that build up, seemed to be where the good stuff would be. I opted to let the tension build as much as possible and let each character interpret their own “breakdown” without cutting.’
Says Ogilvy Johannesburg’s Senior Art Director, Naledi Manama: ‘Sam Coleman’s stylistic approach to treating the mix of food and narrative has brought a fresh, interesting and eye-catching visual language that lent itself to KFC’s new way of showcasing irresistibility.’
Marketing Director: Grant Macpherson
Brand Manager: Kim Bryden
Chief Creative Officer: Kabelo Moshapalo
Exec Creative Director: Peter Little
Creative Partner: Safaraaz Sindhi
Creative Director: Chantelle Dos Santos
Senior Art Director: Rob Hart
Art Director: Naledi Manama
Senior Copywriter: Andre Vrodoljak; Abas Rashid
Group Managing Partner: Greg Pfuhl
Senior Account Director: Cindy Booysen
Senior TV Producer: Tsakane Mogale
PM: Natalie Choate
Director : Sam Coleman
Exec Producer: Zayd Halim
Senior Producer: Tess Tambourlas
Production Manager: Kelly Ryan
Production Coordinator: Tania Onyems
DOP: Pierre De Villiers
1st AD: Carey Lagoe
Art Director: Keenan McAdam
Food Stylist: Marilyn Shorten
KFC Chef: Sam Mdluli
Wardrobe Stylist: Catherine De Reuck
Hair & Make-Up: Carla Fourie
Stills Photographer: Andile Phewa
Post Production Facility: Priest
Editor: Matthew Swanepoel
Grade: Kyle Stroebel (The Refinery)
Online: Nathan Anderson
Audio: Sterling Sound
Engineer: Lorens Persson
Music: Synch usage for the title “I Put a Spell on You” (J. Hawkins)/ Sony Music Publishing South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Cover track: Music license for “I Put a Spell on You” By Adona Andrews – mVibe LLC
Music Clearance: Marc Algranti Music