Consumers Encouraged to Be Part of Mythmaking History
[youtube http://youtu.be/n6ltdHID9JE]
The plight of Linda Dotson Wooley, the widow of famed actor/country singer Sheb Wooley, whose famous scream has been used in hundreds of movies, is humorously captured in a new campaign co-created by FCB Spain and FCB Los Angeles.
The collaborative effort by two FCB offices for Spanish cable company Canal+ breaks today. The centerpiece is a 2-minute documentary that tells the remarkable story of the Wilhelm Scream.
In 1951, Sheb Wooley recorded a painful scream for the movie Distant Drums. The scream was subsequently used in several movies, including some in the Star Wars saga. Ben Burtt, the sound engineer at Lucas Sound, gave the scream a name: the Wilhelm Scream. It has become a cinema myth and been used in more than 200 movies to date. It is rumored that directors Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Quentin Tarantino maintain a bet as to who has used the Wilhelm Scream more.
The story behind the Wilhelm Scream is the basis of the Canal+ campaign, told by Linda Dotson Wooley, Sheb’s poor widow who has been forced to suffer the shock of hearing the scream of her husband when least expected.
To help rectify the situation, Linda Dotson Wooley turned to Canal+ to create a “scream bank” to find alternatives to her husband’s scream. Visitors to www.leavewilhelmalone.com are encouraged to donate their screams and help save Linda Dotson Wooley from more pain. Participants can record a scream for three films and then share them through their social channels. Visitors are also invited to vote for the best screams. Canal+ will offer them to well-known Spanish film directors, so that those screams can be used in their movies, launching the Spanish Wilhelm Scream.
The teaser video for the Leave Wilhelm Alone documentary, called “The Woman Who Can’t Watch Movies,” launched earlier this month during the Oscars. FCB shot the documentary at Linda Dotson Wooley’s house in conjunction with the Venice, CA/NYC-based production company HēLō and its director Alex Grossman.
FCB Spain developed the campaign and created the extended digital strategy partnering with FCB Los Angeles, who produced and edited the material in the U.S. It is evidence of the continued collaboration across the network on creative work.
The campaign that launches today will run for two months. Help us put an end to Linda’s nightmare.
Note: Global marketing communications network Draftfcb on March 10 announced it changed its name to FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding). FCB is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG).
Credits
Client: Canal+
Agency: FCB Spain & FCB Los Angeles
Campaign: “Leave Wilhelm Alone”
Client Contact: Iñaki Martikorena, Bernardo Melero, Purification González
Executive Creative Directors: Pedro Soler, Eric Springer
Creative Team: Beatriz Pedrosa, Peio Azkoaga, Joao Freitas
Producers: Brendan Kiernan, Steve Devore, Thomas Anderson, Kate Borkowski, Kepa Vizcay
Production Company: HēLō, Venice, CA/NYC
Director: Alex Grossman
Lighting: Seamus Tierney
Sound: Sam Tornero Pulido
Web Developers: Carlos Lainez, Miguel Iglesias
App Developers: Joan Arbó, Jorge Cubillo
Social Media Strategy: Mauro Rodriguez, Jose Olivares
Poster: Beatriz Pedrosa, Marian de la Fuente
Planner: Manuel López
About FCB
With more than 140 years of communications expertise, FCB’s worldwide network spans 150 offices in 90 countries, with over 8,000 people, and is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG). For more information, visit www.fcb.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@FCBglobal) and Facebook (FCB Global).
About HēLō
Venice, CA/NYC-based HēLō was started in 2013 with one simple vision: to create experiences, not interruptions.
In a digital age, there is no longer differentiation between consumers and audiences; they are one and the same. This is why we didn’t set out to be merely another production company. We are experience providers, problem solvers, storytellers and nimble content creators. Our principals have done everything from run a Digital Agency to heading up a Talent Management Firm. That, combined with our meticulously selected group of HēLō talent, provide fertile ground to meet the challenges of today’s increasingly integrated entertainment and advertising markets.
Everyone on our roster is an original voice and innovator in new formats and distribution channels. Some are downright pioneers.
HēLō also has a London presence through U.K. partner, Mistress.