Saatchi & Saatchi New York teams up notorious horror enthusiast, musician and director Rob Zombie to reveal how an ant infestation can truly crawl into a person’s brain in the new :30 “Death Note” for ant control giant, Amdro. Sonic Union mixer Steve Rosen and No6 Editorial editor James Duffy teamed up on this eerie spot which features a crazed man working in his basement, maniacally cutting and pasting letters together to fashion a tiny death note intended for his unwanted insect inhabitants.  The spot features notable character actor Clint Howard who previously collaborated with Rob Zombie on Halloween.

“Death Note” opens on the aforementioned unhinged man at his basement desk, checking the sharpness of a blade on his knife. We cut to a closeup of the knife slowly cutting out a miniature letter. The man observes the freshly cut letter through a microscope and wildly laughs at his work. As he continues to work, he says, “Oh, you’re messing with the wrong guy.” The man jabs his knife into his desk and savagely laughs over his finished product, which reads, “You will die ants.” The voice echoes, “When ants drive you crazy, get crazy right back.” The spot cuts to a well-lit outdoor shot with the same man happily dusting his lawn with Amdro. The spot concludes with a shot of the Amdro bottle with a flickering “No mercy. No bugs” tag.

ABOUT SONIC UNION

Sonic Union, New York was a concept born in 2008 between lauded mixers Michael Marinelli and Steve Rosen, and Managing Director Adam Barone.  The team set out to create the finest audio shop in New York, while also maintaining a family-like feel in a location that reflected—and supported—client comfort, natural light and the artists’ unwavering love of the craft.  Three years later, Sonic Union’s work has won top awards, their employees and clients play together after work, and its architecturally significant space overlooking the trees of Union Square has become a home-away-from-home for everyone who mixes there.

Sonic Union’s team, headed by Studio Manager Justine Cortale, includes the talents of Rob McIver, David Papa, and Paul Weiss. Other disciplines are growing, with the addition of veteran voiceover Casting Director Maria Pappalardo, who brings 15 years of agency experience to the group.

Sonic Union’s flourishing Motion Graphics and VFX studio chases new ideas through design, animation and visual effects, delivering smart and fresh work for an array of creative clients.  Pulling off the unexpected with unrivaled dedication, the process is infused with equal parts love and magic.  Come in and check out the state of our Union…

Credits:

Director Rob Zombie
Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi NY
Chief Creative Officer: Con Williamson
Creative Director: Mandy Hoveyda/Melinda Kanipe
Senior Copywriter: Luke Behrends
Copywriter: Chris Bradford
Art Director: Jared Creason
Agency Producer (Executive Producer): Lynn Appel
Production Company: Original Film
Executive Producer: Bruce Mellon
Producer: Rick Brown
Director: Rob Zombie
D.O.P: Brandon Trost
Lighting: Justin Duvall
Editor: James Duffy
Editing Company: No 6
Executive Producer: Toni Lipari
After Effects Artist: Harry Truman
VXF Artists: Ed Skupeen
Producer: Evan Meeker
Sound Design/Arrangement: Bill Chesley / Henryboy
Audio Mix: Steve Rosen, Sonic Union
Post Production: Company 3, Tom Poole
Production Designer: Jennifer Spence
Set Decorator: Kelly Berry