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Pepsi “Crossroads” 2004

Pepsi “Crossroads” (2004) is a Pepsi commercial directed by Joe Pytka for BBDO New York, produced by PYTKA. It won one award: LIA 2004 Winner — TV/Cinema / Beverages: Non-Alcoholic.

A young Jimi Hendrix in 1953 Seattle chooses Pepsi over Coke, leading to a humorous alternate reality where he plays the trumpet.

Video: PYTKA on Vimeo

Shot by shot

  1. A wide shot of a bustling street in Seattle in 1953, with vintage cars and pedestrians, as a light blue car drives past the camera.© Pepsi0:00
  2. A young boy with curly hair in a striped shirt eats a slice of pizza outside a store.© Pepsi0:04
  3. A woman with brown hair walks past a blue vintage Pepsi-Cola vending machine on a sunny street next to a pawn shop.© Pepsi0:08
  4. Two young women walk past a vintage Coca-Cola vending machine outside a shop that buys and sells accordions on a sunny day.© Pepsi0:10
  5. A vintage blue Pepsi-Cola vending machine with a white logo is shown in a medium shot, with a cursor pointing to "SERVE YOURSELF" on the machine.© Pepsi0:12
  6. A vintage red and white Coca-Cola vending machine with "Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles" and "Serve Yourself" text is shown in a medium shot.© Pepsi0:14
  7. A young boy with curly hair runs past a blue Pepsi vending machine on a sunny street, as a woman walks by.© Pepsi0:17
  8. A close-up shot shows a bottle of Pepsi being opened by a bottle opener on a blue vending machine, with foam spilling out.© Pepsi0:19
  9. A close-up shot of a pawn shop window with a guitar and the word "PAWN" visible, as a person's head is seen in the reflection.© Pepsi0:23
  10. A cream-colored electric guitar with a black pickguard hangs in a store window, with reflections of buildings visible.© Pepsi0:26
  11. A young Black boy with curly hair looks directly at the camera in a medium closeup shot, outdoors during the day.© Pepsi0:32
  12. Two men in suits walk past a vintage Coca-Cola vending machine outside "Bob's Accordion World" on a city street during the day.© Pepsi0:34

Stills © Pepsi. Made by BBDO New York, PYTKA and Joe Pytka.

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

The idea

What if Jimi Hendrix chose Pepsi? A humorous alternate reality.

Tagline: “it's the cola”

alternate historycelebrity origin storyproduct choice changes destinyhumorous twistperiod setting

The cut

Length
46 s
Shots
27
Average shot
1.7 s

What creatives use Pepsi “Crossroads” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Pepsi “Crossroads”? 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 wide shot of a bustling street in Seattle in 1953, with vintage cars and pedestrians, as a light blue car drives past the camera.© PepsiA young boy with curly hair in a striped shirt eats a slice of pizza outside a store.© PepsiA woman with brown hair walks past a blue vintage Pepsi-Cola vending machine on a sunny street next to a pawn shop.© PepsiTwo young women walk past a vintage Coca-Cola vending machine outside a shop that buys and sells accordions on a sunny day.© Pepsi
    Frames from Pepsi “Crossroads”

  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 Pepsi “Crossroads” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A wide shot of a bustling street in Seattle in 1953, with vintage cars and pedestrians, as a light blue car drives past the camera.© PepsiA young boy with curly hair in a striped shirt eats a slice of pizza outside a store.© PepsiA woman with brown hair walks past a blue vintage Pepsi-Cola vending machine on a sunny street next to a pawn shop.© PepsiTwo young women walk past a vintage Coca-Cola vending machine outside a shop that buys and sells accordions on a sunny day.© PepsiA vintage red and white Coca-Cola vending machine with "Drink Coca-Cola in Bottles" and "Serve Yourself" text is shown in a medium shot.© PepsiA young boy with curly hair runs past a blue Pepsi vending machine on a sunny street, as a woman walks by.© Pepsi
    Length: 46 s · Shots: 27 · Average shot: 1.7 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a alternate history

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

    Pepsi “Crossroads” is built on a alternate history. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Barritas “Newton”© BarritasSIMBA “Made For Peace”© SIMBAKrispy Kreme “T-Rex”© Krispy Kreme
    Barritas · SIMBA · Krispy Kreme

More commercials by Joe Pytka

More from BBDO New York

  • Pepsi Cola Co./Pepsi "Move Over" (1997) commercial still© Pepsi Cola Co./PepsiPepsi Cola Co./Pepsi “Move Over” 1997Dir. Samuel Bayer · BBDO New YorkClio Awards Bronze 1997

Award-winning drinks commercials

  • Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia "Chess" (2024) commercial still© Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of CataloniaSitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia “Chess” 2024Dir. Marc OrtizEurobest Grand Prix 2024
  • Pocari Sweat "Find Your Own Way" (2022) commercial still© Pocari SweatPocari Sweat “Find Your Own Way” 2022Dir. Ken Nakano · Dentsu Inc.AdFest Grand Prix 2022
  • Gatorade "Replay" (2010) commercial still© GatoradeGatorade “Replay” 2010Dir. Kris Belman · TBWA\Chiat\DayANDY Awards 2010
  • Coca-Cola "Coca-Cola TV campaign" (2009) commercial still© Coca-ColaCoca-Cola “Coca-Cola TV campaign” 2009Fortune PromosevenDubai Lynx Grand Prix 2009
  • Dairy Milk "Gorilla" (2008) commercial still© Dairy MilkDairy Milk “Gorilla” 2008Dir. Juan Cabral · FallonD&AD Black Pencil 2008
  • Evian "Waterboy" (2004) commercial still© EvianEvian “Waterboy” 2004Dir. soandsau · BETC Euro RSCGEurobest Grand Prix 2004

Questions

Who directed the Pepsi “Crossroads” commercial?

Joe Pytka directed it, produced by PYTKA, for the agency BBDO New York.

Which agency made Pepsi “Crossroads”?

BBDO New York created it for Pepsi (2004).

What awards did Pepsi “Crossroads” win?

1 awards, including LIA 2004 Winner — TV/Cinema / Beverages: Non-Alcoholic.

What is the tagline of Pepsi “Crossroads”?

“it's the cola”

Sources for the credits and awards

web.archive.org