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PETA “The Octocurse” 2023

PETA “The Octocurse” (2023) is a PETA commercial directed by Jeff Low for Grey, produced by Biscuit Filmworks. It won 3 awards, including British Arrows 2023 Craft Gold — Styling, Creative Circle 2023 Bronze FILM - Best Charity/Public Service Film (single) and Adweek Best Ads of 2022 #25.

A retro-style horror film trailer warns of the "Octocurse," a terrifying affliction befalling those who consume octopus, transforming them into grotesque, octopus-like beings.

Video: PETA UK on YouTube

Shot by shot

  1. A middle-aged man on roller skates kneels on the ground, clutching his knee as blue liquid oozes from a wound in a park.© PETA0:24
  2. A man stands at a kitchen counter, back to the camera, as a woman enters the room holding a mug, looking at him with concern.© PETA0:29
  3. A man with black tears streaming down his face looks intensely at someone off-screen in a dimly lit room, appearing distressed.© PETA0:33
  4. A woman with an enlarged, brain-like head, wearing a pink robe, brushes her hair in front of a mirror, laughing maniacally.© PETA0:35
  5. A man in his 30s, wearing a striped shirt and glasses, stands on a staircase as black ink splatters on the wall behind him.© PETA0:41
  6. A vintage green car drives slowly across a dry, grassy field surrounded by tall trees under a cloudy sky.© PETA0:44
  7. A man with large, round, reflective eyes sits in the driver's seat of a green car, looking forward with a distressed expression.© PETA0:48
  8. A man in a suit and a woman in a wedding dress stand before an officiant in a cowboy hat, under a floral archway in a bright room.© PETA0:51
  9. A man with a beard in a suit smiles at someone off-camera, with a window and curtains in the background.© PETA0:54
  10. A man kisses a woman with an octopus-like face, wearing a white lace wedding veil and pearl necklace, in a dimly lit room.© PETA0:57
  11. A man with a serious expression looks directly at the camera, with text overlaid on his face, in an interior setting.© PETA1:23
  12. A brown octopus swims in clear blue water, with the PETA logo and website address superimposed on the screen.© PETA1:27

Stills © PETA. Made by Grey, Biscuit Filmworks and Jeff Low.

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

The idea

A mock horror trailer to scare people into not eating octopus.

Tagline: “Stay human. Don't eat octopus.”

mockumentary stylehorror movie trailer parodybody horrorcreepy narratorretro aestheticmoral warning

The cut

Length
91 s
Shots
15
Average shot
6.1 s

What creatives use PETA “The Octocurse” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of PETA “The Octocurse”? 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 middle-aged man on roller skates kneels on the ground, clutching his knee as blue liquid oozes from a wound in a park.© PETAA man stands at a kitchen counter, back to the camera, as a woman enters the room holding a mug, looking at him with concern.© PETAA man with black tears streaming down his face looks intensely at someone off-screen in a dimly lit room, appearing distressed.© PETAA woman with an enlarged, brain-like head, wearing a pink robe, brushes her hair in front of a mirror, laughing maniacally.© PETA
    Frames from PETA “The Octocurse”

  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 PETA “The Octocurse” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A middle-aged man on roller skates kneels on the ground, clutching his knee as blue liquid oozes from a wound in a park.© PETAA man stands at a kitchen counter, back to the camera, as a woman enters the room holding a mug, looking at him with concern.© PETAA man with black tears streaming down his face looks intensely at someone off-screen in a dimly lit room, appearing distressed.© PETAA woman with an enlarged, brain-like head, wearing a pink robe, brushes her hair in front of a mirror, laughing maniacally.© PETAA man in his 30s, wearing a striped shirt and glasses, stands on a staircase as black ink splatters on the wall behind him.© PETAA vintage green car drives slowly across a dry, grassy field surrounded by tall trees under a cloudy sky.© PETA
    Length: 91 s · Shots: 15 · Average shot: 6.1 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a mockumentary style

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

    PETA “The Octocurse” is built on a mockumentary style. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Burger King “As Good as the Original”© Burger KingClash of Clans “Clash from the Past”© Clash of ClansMcKenzie River Corporation “Black Star Beer: Popularity / Stock Car / Characters”© McKenzie River CorporationDramamine “The Last Barf Bag”© Dramamine
    Burger King · Clash of Clans · McKenzie River Corporation · Dramamine

More commercials by Jeff Low

More from Grey

Award-winning public service & ngo commercials

Questions

Who directed the PETA “The Octocurse” commercial?

Jeff Low directed it, produced by Biscuit Filmworks, for the agency Grey.

Which agency made PETA “The Octocurse”?

Grey created it for PETA (2023).

What awards did PETA “The Octocurse” win?

3 awards, including British Arrows 2023 Craft Gold — Styling, Creative Circle 2023 Bronze FILM - Best Charity/Public Service Film (single) and Adweek Best Ads of 2022 #25.

What is the tagline of PETA “The Octocurse”?

“Stay human. Don't eat octopus.”

Sources for the credits and awards

britisharrows.comweb.archive.orgweb.archive.org