30 Second Broadcast & Theatrical Commercial

To get teens excited about STEM, this 30-second commercial for McMaster reveals the engineering behind everyday life. Using skateboarding and an extreme slow-motion camera, it captures the forces of friction, momentum and gravity. It screened in theatres from Hamilton to Toronto, in IMAX no less.


Client

McMaster University

Industry

Education

Type

Commercial

Platform

Web & Social Media, Broadcast, Theatrical & Streaming Services

Audience

Teens and Parents

About this project

Engineering is the invisible thread that holds so much of our day-to-day lives together. And when it comes to getting teens excited about a STEM career – it pays to reveal just a bit of the science behind their everyday experiences.

We set out in October of 2014 to create a 30 second broadcast commercial that did just that. Using skateboarding as our metaphor – and an extreme slow motion camera – we aimed to capture the forces of friction, momentum and gravity.

The end result is something we’re all so proud of​. Screened in theatres from Hamilton to Toronto (in IMAX no less!) and also in Calgary, we hear this piece is on its way to theatres in Hong Kong!

Many thanks to our amazing crew, as always. Shot in slow-mo by Ty Tekatch and Christoph Benfey, with animation assistance from Antenna Visual Communication. Edited by Taylor Heres. Starring skateboarding superstar Alishia Stevens. Many thanks to New Line Skateparks for allowing us to shoot at their construction site in Oshweken, Ontario!!

Thank you for your tremendous work on this project. The videos both turned out amazing. It was an enjoyable experience from beginning to end. A big thanks to you and all of your team for the outstanding work.

Susan Emigh
Director, Public Relations, McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences

Commercial | "Skate Park" | Client: McMaster University Engineering

Commercial | "Skate Park" | Client: McMaster University Engineering
Commercial | "Skate Park" | Client: McMaster University Engineering

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