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Hbo “It's What Connects Us” 2017

Hbo “It's What Connects Us” (2017) is a Hbo commercial for Mekanism, produced by HBO. It won one award: Epica 2017 Silver Media.

John Oliver questions the purpose of HBO's static intro, then forces various HBO stars to recreate the sound, culminating in a chaotic chorus of 'ahhh's.

Video: Mekanism on Vimeo

Shot by shot

  1. John Oliver, a white man in his 40s, wearing a dark suit and glasses, stands against a gray background, gesturing with his hands as he speaks.© Hbo0:00
  2. A woman in a red and black striped dress with lace details and a matching headpiece stands against a gray background, looking directly at the camera.© Hbo0:05
  3. A young woman with dark hair, wearing a white shirt with dog patterns and a red skirt, looks surprised in a studio.© Hbo0:08
  4. A man with curly hair and a mustache wearing a red jacket and grey t-shirt makes a funny face in a studio.© Hbo0:09
  5. Sarah Jessica Parker, a woman with long blonde hair, wears a colorful floral dress and speaks directly to the camera in a studio.© Hbo0:15
  6. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, a bald man in a suit, holds a football and gestures excitedly in a studio.© Hbo0:17
  7. John Oliver, a male in his 40s, wearing a suit and glasses, stands against a gray background, gesturing with his hands as he speaks.© Hbo0:29
  8. A man with dark hair and a beard, dressed in a fur-lined cape and armor, looks surprised with his mouth open in a studio.© Hbo0:33
  9. A bald man in a patterned robe transforms into a bearded man in a tattered tunic, both looking surprised against a gray background.© Hbo0:36
  10. John Oliver, a male in his 40s, wearing a suit and glasses, speaks directly to the camera with an open mouth and expressive hands in a studio void.© Hbo0:40
  11. A woman with short brown hair, wearing a red sweater and dark pants, raises her arm and shouts excitedly in a studio.© Hbo0:47
  12. A man with dark skin and hair, wearing a beige cardigan, dances energetically with a joyful expression in a studio.© Hbo0:48

Stills © Hbo. Made by Mekanism and HBO.

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

The idea

HBO stars recreate the iconic static sound, humorously highlighting the brand's content.

Tagline: “IT'S WHAT CONNECTS US”

celebrity cameobreaking the fourth wallmeta-commentaryhumorous coercionsound gagensemble cast

The cut

Length
65 s
Shots
34
Average shot
1.9 s

What creatives use Hbo “It's What Connects Us” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Hbo “It's What Connects Us”? 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.

    John Oliver, a white man in his 40s, wearing a dark suit and glasses, stands against a gray background, gesturing with his hands as he speaks.© HboA woman in a red and black striped dress with lace details and a matching headpiece stands against a gray background, looking directly at the camera.© HboA young woman with dark hair, wearing a white shirt with dog patterns and a red skirt, looks surprised in a studio.© HboA man with curly hair and a mustache wearing a red jacket and grey t-shirt makes a funny face in a studio.© Hbo
    Frames from Hbo “It's What Connects Us”

  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 Hbo “It's What Connects Us” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    John Oliver, a white man in his 40s, wearing a dark suit and glasses, stands against a gray background, gesturing with his hands as he speaks.© HboA woman in a red and black striped dress with lace details and a matching headpiece stands against a gray background, looking directly at the camera.© HboA young woman with dark hair, wearing a white shirt with dog patterns and a red skirt, looks surprised in a studio.© HboA man with curly hair and a mustache wearing a red jacket and grey t-shirt makes a funny face in a studio.© HboSarah Jessica Parker, a woman with long blonde hair, wears a colorful floral dress and speaks directly to the camera in a studio.© HboDwayne "The Rock" Johnson, a bald man in a suit, holds a football and gestures excitedly in a studio.© Hbo
    Length: 65 s · Shots: 34 · Average shot: 1.9 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a celebrity cameo

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

    Hbo “It's What Connects Us” is built on a celebrity cameo. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Beats by Dre “You Love Me”© Beats by DreTide “It's a Tide Ad”© TideGrubhub “The Feest”© GrubhubSquarespace “Unavailable”© Squarespace
    Beats by Dre · Tide · Grubhub · Squarespace

More from Mekanism

  • MedMen "The New Normal" (2019) commercial still© MedMenMedMen “The New Normal” 2019Dir. Spike Jonze · MekanismDGA Awards 2019
  • Frida Mom "Stream of Lactation" (2021) commercial still© Frida MomFrida Mom “Stream of Lactation” 2021Dir. Rachel Morrison · MekanismAICP Awards Honoree 2021
  • World of Tanks "Real Awful Moms" (2017) commercial still© World of TanksWorld of Tanks “Real Awful Moms” 2017Dir. Dave Laden · Mekanism

Award-winning media & entertainment commercials

Questions

Which agency made Hbo “It's What Connects Us”?

Mekanism created it for Hbo (2017).

What awards did Hbo “It's What Connects Us” win?

1 awards, including Epica 2017 Silver Media.

What is the tagline of Hbo “It's What Connects Us”?

“IT'S WHAT CONNECTS US”

Sources for the credits and awards

winners.epica-awards.com