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World Surf League “Chaos Theory” 2016

World Surf League “Chaos Theory” (2016) is a World Surf League commercial directed by DAN DI FELICE, produced by Eskimo. It won one award: Young Director Award 2016 Gold Screen — Broadcast – Northern America.

This ad explores the unpredictable nature of surfing, likening it to chaos theory, where small changes can lead to massive, unscripted moments.

Video: Dan DiFelice on Vimeo

Shot by shot

  1. A black and white satellite image shows a swirling hurricane over the ocean, with visible static and film grain.© World Surf League0:03
  2. A wide shot of a stormy ocean with dark clouds and rain falling in the distance, seen from a rocky coastline.© World Surf League0:10
  3. A macro shot of sand on a beach, with small grains of sand being blown across the surface by wind.© World Surf League0:13
  4. A blurry, out-of-focus shot of a person's hands and a surfboard fin, suggesting movement and action.© World Surf League0:28
  5. A person's hand, covered in white wax, is shown in a closeup as it presses down on a surfboard in a dimly lit interior.© World Surf League0:29
  6. A surfer in a dark wetsuit is wiped out by a massive, breaking blue wave in the ocean under a cloudy sky.© World Surf League0:32
  7. A dark hand is seen through a turbulent surface of water, with many bubbles, as if submerged or pressing against a glass.© World Surf League0:35
  8. A surfer with wet blonde hair and a red wetsuit bends down on a sandy beach at sunset, with the ocean reflecting the golden light in the background.© World Surf League0:43
  9. A shirtless man with short grey hair looks down in a dark, moody interior setting.© World Surf League0:45
  10. A close-up shot of a digital timer counting down from 30 seconds, with yellow numbers on a dark background.© World Surf League0:51
  11. A surfer in a dark wetsuit is engulfed by a massive, breaking blue ocean wave under a cloudy sky.© World Surf League0:52
  12. A female surfer in a black wetsuit sits in the ocean, looking out at the waves under a cloudy, dark sky at dusk.© World Surf League0:53

Stills © World Surf League. Made by Eskimo and DAN DI FELICE.

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

The idea

Surfing is an unpredictable, unscripted wonder, a perfect storm of elements.

Tagline: “YOU CAN'T SCRIPT THIS”

nature's powerunpredictabilityscientific analogyman vs. natureepic journeymeditative focus

The cut

Length
61 s
Shots
32
Average shot
1.9 s

What creatives use World Surf League “Chaos Theory” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of World Surf League “Chaos Theory”? 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 black and white satellite image shows a swirling hurricane over the ocean, with visible static and film grain.© World Surf LeagueA wide shot of a stormy ocean with dark clouds and rain falling in the distance, seen from a rocky coastline.© World Surf LeagueA macro shot of sand on a beach, with small grains of sand being blown across the surface by wind.© World Surf LeagueA blurry, out-of-focus shot of a person's hands and a surfboard fin, suggesting movement and action.© World Surf League
    Frames from World Surf League “Chaos Theory”

  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 World Surf League “Chaos Theory” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A black and white satellite image shows a swirling hurricane over the ocean, with visible static and film grain.© World Surf LeagueA wide shot of a stormy ocean with dark clouds and rain falling in the distance, seen from a rocky coastline.© World Surf LeagueA macro shot of sand on a beach, with small grains of sand being blown across the surface by wind.© World Surf LeagueA blurry, out-of-focus shot of a person's hands and a surfboard fin, suggesting movement and action.© World Surf LeagueA person's hand, covered in white wax, is shown in a closeup as it presses down on a surfboard in a dimly lit interior.© World Surf LeagueA surfer in a dark wetsuit is wiped out by a massive, breaking blue wave in the ocean under a cloudy sky.© World Surf League
    Length: 61 s · Shots: 32 · Average shot: 1.9 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a nature's power

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

    World Surf League “Chaos Theory” is built on a nature's power. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Sprout “Homegrown Sound”© SproutRoyal Ontario Museum (ROM) “Immortal Nature's Symphony”© Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)Nrma “Duel”© NrmaWhite Claw “Storm | Bring the Wave”© White Claw
    Sprout · Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) · Nrma · White Claw

More commercials by DAN DI FELICE

  • Save The Children "The One Delivery that Matters" (2025) commercial still© Save The ChildrenSave The Children “The One Delivery that Matters” 2025Dir. DAN DI FELICE · Ace of Hearts
  • Fuck Cancer "Mark of Life" (2025) commercial still© Fuck CancerFuck Cancer “Mark of Life” 2025Dir. DAN DI FELICE · No Fixed Address
  • Valuable 500 "SYNC25" (2024) commercial still© Valuable 500Valuable 500 “SYNC25” 2024Dir. DAN DI FELICE · adam&eve\TBWA
  • Audi "Life is a Work in Progress" (2023) commercial still© AudiAudi “Life is a Work in Progress” 2023Dir. DAN DI FELICE · BBH
  • SKY Q "Harris and the Robots" (2020) commercial still© SKY QSKY Q “Harris and the Robots” 2020Dir. DAN DI FELICE
  • BMW "Above the Clouds" (2019) commercial still© BMWBMW “Above the Clouds” 2019Dir. DAN DI FELICE · SERVICEPLAN GERMANY

Award-winning sport commercials

Questions

Who directed the World Surf League “Chaos Theory” commercial?

DAN DI FELICE directed it, produced by Eskimo.

What awards did World Surf League “Chaos Theory” win?

1 awards, including Young Director Award 2016 Gold Screen — Broadcast – Northern America.

What is the tagline of World Surf League “Chaos Theory”?

“YOU CAN'T SCRIPT THIS”

Sources for the credits and awards

web.archive.org