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Sky “Murmuration” 2015

Sky “Murmuration” (2015) is a Sky commercial directed by Steve Ayson for DDB New Zealand, produced by The Sweet Shop. It won 5 awards, including D&AD 2015 Wood Pencil — Film Advertising / TV Commercials and Spikes Asia 2015 Silver Film Craft Direction.

Children in a suburban field discover they can control a murmuration of starlings, creating magical shapes in the sky, before returning home to their family.

Video: Jack Hutchings on Vimeo

Shot by shot

  1. A young girl in a blue dress and dark leggings stands barefoot on a wooden fence, looking out over a grassy field under a cloudy sky.© Sky0:00
  2. A young woman in blue jeans and a dark top does a handstand in a vast, sunlit field of tall green grass under a clear sky.© Sky0:07
  3. A large flock of small birds, a murmuration, flies across a pale blue sky above the dark green tops of pine trees.© Sky0:12
  4. A young girl with long brown hair and freckles looks up with a worried expression in a field at dusk.© Sky0:20
  5. A young girl with long brown hair and freckles looks up with a slight smile in a field at dusk.© Sky0:26
  6. A large flock of starlings forms a murmuration against a cloudy sky, with trees visible at the bottom right.© Sky0:33
  7. A young girl with freckles and blue eyes looks up intently, her arm raised, in a field under a cloudy sky.© Sky0:39
  8. A young girl stands in a field, looking up at a massive murmuration of starlings swirling against a bright, cloudy sky over a rural landscape.© Sky0:44
  9. A person in dark clothing is seen from a low angle, partially obscured by tall grass, as they move across a trampoline at dusk.© Sky0:53
  10. A wide shot shows a young boy in a blue shirt standing in a green field, surrounded by a swirling flock of black birds, with suburban houses in the background under a cloudy sky.© Sky0:59
  11. A young girl with long brown hair and a denim dress stands in a field, making a claw gesture with her hands under a dramatic sky.© Sky1:09
  12. A young girl with long dark hair and a denim dress stands in a field, looking up with a slight smile as her hair blows in the wind under a cloudy sky.© Sky1:16

Stills © Sky. Made by DDB New Zealand, The Sweet Shop and Steve Ayson.

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

The idea

Kids control a bird murmuration, symbolizing freedom and imagination.

Tagline: “FREEDOM IN YOUR HANDS”

magical realismchildlike wondernature's beautysuburban escapefamily connectionpower of imagination

The cut

Length
90 s
Shots
50
Average shot
1.8 s

What creatives use Sky “Murmuration” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Sky “Murmuration”? 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 young girl in a blue dress and dark leggings stands barefoot on a wooden fence, looking out over a grassy field under a cloudy sky.© SkyA young woman in blue jeans and a dark top does a handstand in a vast, sunlit field of tall green grass under a clear sky.© SkyA large flock of small birds, a murmuration, flies across a pale blue sky above the dark green tops of pine trees.© SkyA young girl with long brown hair and freckles looks up with a worried expression in a field at dusk.© Sky
    Frames from Sky “Murmuration”

  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 Sky “Murmuration” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A young girl in a blue dress and dark leggings stands barefoot on a wooden fence, looking out over a grassy field under a cloudy sky.© SkyA young woman in blue jeans and a dark top does a handstand in a vast, sunlit field of tall green grass under a clear sky.© SkyA large flock of small birds, a murmuration, flies across a pale blue sky above the dark green tops of pine trees.© SkyA young girl with long brown hair and freckles looks up with a worried expression in a field at dusk.© SkyA young girl with long brown hair and freckles looks up with a slight smile in a field at dusk.© SkyA large flock of starlings forms a murmuration against a cloudy sky, with trees visible at the bottom right.© Sky
    Length: 90 s · Shots: 50 · Average shot: 1.8 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a magical realism

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

    Sky “Murmuration” is built on a magical realism. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Squarespace “A Tale as Old as Websites”© SquarespaceBurbery “Burberry "Open Spaces”© BurberyPocari Sweat “Find Your Own Way”© Pocari SweatBurberry “Festive”© Burberry
    Squarespace · Burbery · Pocari Sweat · Burberry

More commercials by Steve Ayson

  • Life360 "I Think of You Dying" (2026) commercial still© Life360Life360 “I Think of You Dying” 2026Dir. Steve Ayson · AltoD&AD Yellow Pencil 2026
  • Pringles "The Call of the Mustaches" (2025) commercial still© PringlesPringles “The Call of the Mustaches” 2025Dir. Steve Ayson · FCBEffie Awards Gold 2026
  • Mattress Firm "Junk Sleep" (2022) commercial still© Mattress FirmMattress Firm “Junk Sleep” 2022Dir. Steve Ayson · Droga5Effie Awards Gold 2022
  • Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency "Toll Booth" (2022) commercial still© Waka Kotahi NZ Transport AgencyWaka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency “Toll Booth” 2022Dir. Steve Ayson · FCB New ZealandThe One Show Gold 2022
  • Mars Wrigley Confectionery "Exclusive the Rainbow Announcement" (2018) commercial still© Mars Wrigley ConfectioneryMars Wrigley Confectionery “Exclusive the Rainbow Announcement” 2018Dir. Steve Ayson · DDB ChicagoANDY Awards Gold 2018
  • Old Spice "5 Year Plan" (2017) commercial still© Old SpiceOld Spice “5 Year Plan” 2017Dir. Steve Ayson · Wieden+KennedyCannes Lions Gold 2017

More from DDB New Zealand

  • McDonald's New Zealand "Staying Up" (2012) commercial still© McDonald's New ZealandMcDonald's New Zealand “Staying Up” 2012DDB New ZealandSpikes Asia Silver 2012
  • L&P "Space Manu" (2022) commercial still© L&PL&P “Space Manu” 2022Dir. Adam Gunser · DDB New ZealandSpikes Asia Bronze 2022
  • Lion "Be the Artist" (2014) commercial still© LionLion “Be the Artist” 2014DDB New ZealandSpikes Asia Bronze 2014
  • Sky Television "Come with Us" (2014) commercial still© Sky TelevisionSky Television “Come with Us” 2014DDB New ZealandSpikes Asia Bronze 2014
  • Steinlager "Be the Artist" (2014) commercial still© SteinlagerSteinlager “Be the Artist” 2014Dir. Damian Shatford · DDB New ZealandD&AD Wood Pencil 2014
  • Cadbury "Share the Joy" (2011) commercial still© CadburyCadbury “Share the Joy” 2011DDB New ZealandSpikes Asia Bronze 2011

Award-winning media & entertainment commercials

Questions

Who directed the Sky “Murmuration” commercial?

Steve Ayson directed it, produced by The Sweet Shop, for the agency DDB New Zealand.

Which agency made Sky “Murmuration”?

DDB New Zealand created it for Sky (2015).

What awards did Sky “Murmuration” win?

5 awards, including D&AD 2015 Wood Pencil — Film Advertising / TV Commercials, D&AD 2015 Wood Pencil — Film Advertising Crafts / Direction for Film Advertising, Spikes Asia 2015 Silver Film Craft Direction and Spikes Asia 2015 Silver Film Craft Visual Effects.

What is the tagline of Sky “Murmuration”?

“FREEDOM IN YOUR HANDS”

Sources for the credits and awards

dandad.orgweb.archive.orgweb.archive.org