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Belong “Second Life Phones” 2023

Belong “Second Life Phones” (2023) is a Belong commercial directed by Owen Trevor Black for HOWATSON+COMPANY, produced by Rabbit. It won 2 awards, including ANDY Awards 2023 Gold — IDEA and LIA 2022 Bronze — TV/Cinema / Utilities.

This ad uses extreme close-ups of human skin, resembling alien landscapes, to humorously question if refurbished phones diminish our digital experiences.

Video: Owen Trevor Black on Vimeo

Shot by shot

  1. A close-up shot of a dark, textured surface with subtle light reflections, creating a mysterious and abstract visual.© Belong0:00
  2. A macro shot of a human elbow, with visible skin texture and hair, is illuminated by a bright light source on the left, creating a dramatic contrast against a dark background.© Belong0:03
  3. A macro shot of a thumb stroking a furry surface, with a bright light source in the background.© Belong0:09
  4. A very extreme closeup of a person's skin, possibly a face, with visible pores and hair, in a dark setting.© Belong0:13
  5. A macro shot of a person's scalp with short hair, showing skin texture and hair follicles, in a dark, indeterminate setting.© Belong0:17
  6. A macro shot of a human finger with a bright light appearing from behind it, creating a lens flare against a dark background.© Belong0:20
  7. A macro closeup of a human knee with wrinkled skin, illuminated by a warm light, against a dark background.© Belong0:26
  8. A smartphone with a video call interface displays a close-up of an elephant's wrinkled skin, with text promoting "Second life phones" and the Belong logo.© Belong0:33

Stills © Belong. Made by HOWATSON+COMPANY, Rabbit and Owen Trevor Black.

Every shot, full-quality frames and clips, and search across every commercial. Free account.

The idea

Human skin as alien landscapes for refurbished phones.

Tagline: “Australia's first carbon neutral telco”

macro photographyvoice-over narrationhumorous comparisonvisual metaphorunexpected reveal

The cut

Length
45 s
Shots
9
Average shot
5.0 s

What creatives use Belong “Second Life Phones” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Belong “Second Life Phones”? A screenshot from a video player won't hold up in a deck.

    Download any frame of this spot at full quality, with its credits, or search every spot for the same look.

    A close-up shot of a dark, textured surface with subtle light reflections, creating a mysterious and abstract visual.© BelongA macro shot of a human elbow, with visible skin texture and hair, is illuminated by a bright light source on the left, creating a dramatic contrast against a dark background.© BelongA macro shot of a thumb stroking a furry surface, with a bright light source in the background.© BelongA very extreme closeup of a person's skin, possibly a face, with visible pores and hair, in a dark setting.© Belong
    Frames from Belong “Second Life Phones”

  2. 02Shot list example: how it was cut

    You need the structure of a great spot, shot by shot, for your storyboard.

    Every shot of Belong “Second Life Phones” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A close-up shot of a dark, textured surface with subtle light reflections, creating a mysterious and abstract visual.© BelongA macro shot of a human elbow, with visible skin texture and hair, is illuminated by a bright light source on the left, creating a dramatic contrast against a dark background.© BelongA macro shot of a thumb stroking a furry surface, with a bright light source in the background.© BelongA very extreme closeup of a person's skin, possibly a face, with visible pores and hair, in a dark setting.© BelongA macro shot of a person's scalp with short hair, showing skin texture and hair follicles, in a dark, indeterminate setting.© BelongA macro shot of a human finger with a bright light appearing from behind it, creating a lens flare against a dark background.© Belong
    Length: 45 s · Shots: 9 · Average shot: 5.0 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a macro photography

    Before you present an idea, you need to know who has done it, and how.

    Belong “Second Life Phones” is built on a macro photography. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Samsung “The Spider and the Window”© SamsungHornbach “Biodiversity starts in your garden”© HornbachM&S “Adventures in Imagination”© M&SLurpak “Adventure Awaits”© Lurpak
    Samsung · Hornbach · M&S · Lurpak

More commercials by Owen Trevor Black

  • Hartley's "Sticking Families Together" (2026) commercial still© Hartley'sHartley's “Sticking Families Together” 2026Dir. Owen Trevor Black · Who Wot Why
  • Lenovo "FIFA World Cup" (2026) commercial still© LenovoLenovo “FIFA World Cup” 2026Dir. Owen Trevor Black
  • Hyundai Australia "Elexio 30s hero" (2026) commercial still© Hyundai AustraliaHyundai Australia “Elexio 30s hero” 2026Dir. Owen Trevor Black · INNOCEAN
  • The Lottery Office "FutureBall - Uber Cool" (2026) commercial still© The Lottery OfficeThe Lottery Office “FutureBall - Uber Cool” 2026Dir. Owen Trevor Black · Richards Rose
  • Volkswagen "Amarok - Recipe" (2025) commercial still© VolkswagenVolkswagen “Amarok - Recipe” 2025Dir. Owen Trevor Black · DDB
  • hipages "Backyard" (2025) commercial still© hipageshipages “Backyard” 2025Dir. Owen Trevor Black · BMF

More from HOWATSON+COMPANY

  • Modibodi "I'm Dying Inside" (2024) commercial still© ModibodiModibodi “I'm Dying Inside” 2024Dir. Arundati Thandur · HOWATSON+COMPANYCiclope Gold 2023
  • Allianz Australia "Allianz - Adrift" (2026) commercial still© Allianz AustraliaAllianz Australia “Allianz - Adrift” 2026Dir. Michael Gracey · HOWATSON+COMPANY
  • Nine "The Australian Financial Review - It's Not For Everyone" (2026) commercial still© NineNine “The Australian Financial Review - It's Not For Everyone” 2026Dir. Dylan Duclos · HOWATSON+COMPANY
  • Vodafone Australia "Brand Campaign 2026 15" (2026) commercial still© Vodafone AustraliaVodafone Australia “Brand Campaign 2026 15” 2026Dir. Neal Brennan · HOWATSON+COMPANY
  • Domain (Part of CoStar Group) "Domain - Measurement -- Gym" (2026) commercial still© Domain (Part of CoStar Group)Domain (Part of CoStar Group) “Domain - Measurement -- Gym” 2026Dir. Freddy Mandy · HOWATSON+COMPANY
  • VODAFONE "x Apple - A Very Possibly True Story" (2026) commercial still© VODAFONEVODAFONE “x Apple - A Very Possibly True Story” 2026Dir. Connor Pritchard · HOWATSON+COMPANY

Award-winning telecom commercials

  • KPN "A Piece of Me" (2024) commercial still© KPNKPN “A Piece of Me” 2024Dir. Emma Branderhorst · Dentsu CreativeEffie Awards Grand Prix 2024
  • Skinny "Friendvertising" (2022) commercial still© SkinnySkinny “Friendvertising” 2022Dir. Dave Wood · Colenso BBDOEffie Awards Grand Prix 2022
  • Hutchison Three "Three 5G: The Future" (2020) commercial still© Hutchison ThreeHutchison Three “Three 5G: The Future” 2020Dir. Ian Pons Jewell · Wieden+KennedyCiclope Grand Prix 2020
  • STC "What Are We Allowing" (2019) commercial still© STCSTC “What Are We Allowing” 2019J. Walter ThompsonDubai Lynx Grand Prix 2019
  • BT "It's Good to Talk" (1996) commercial still© BTBT “It's Good to Talk” 1996AMV BBDOIPA Effectiveness Awards Grand Prix 1996
  • Spark New Zealand "It's Better With Spark" (2026) commercial still© Spark New ZealandSpark New Zealand “It's Better With Spark” 2026Dir. Damien Shatford · Colenso BBDOCiclope Gold 2026

Questions

Who directed the Belong “Second Life Phones” commercial?

Owen Trevor Black directed it, produced by Rabbit, for the agency HOWATSON+COMPANY.

Which agency made Belong “Second Life Phones”?

HOWATSON+COMPANY created it for Belong (2023).

What awards did Belong “Second Life Phones” win?

2 awards, including ANDY Awards 2023 Gold — IDEA and LIA 2022 Bronze — TV/Cinema / Utilities.

What is the tagline of Belong “Second Life Phones”?

“Australia's first carbon neutral telco”

Sources for the credits and awards

AdForum2022.liaentries.com