By: Amanda Drum

New York-based production company Valiant Pictures and leading global children’s entertainment company Spin Master debut the new boundary-pushing portable Valor Kick Scooter in a spot titled “Go Where Others Can’t”: an ad uniting the nostalgic scooter trend with a modern twist.

The ad follows Venice Beach ‘cool’ kids living their oceanside life to the fullest, free to roam where skateboards legally can’t–a product of the lightweight mobility, the Valor Kick Scooter boasts to their audience. In collaboration with Spin Master’s creative team and helmed by Valiant director Vanessa Black, viewers follow a friend group’s typical (for them–epic for us) day in the life through a variety of media, including GoPros, smartphones with trick lenses, traditional cameras, and vintage camcorders. Phone-friendly aspect ratios meld alongside cinematic clips, targeting a wider young audience who respond to TikTok in greater numbers than television.

Notes Vanessa, “Born and raised in Southern California, this film feels like the best memories of my teen years. Nights were spent sneaking out to hang on the beach, slushies were a way of life, and I always had a camera in my hand documenting whatever we were into that day. I love the cool and carefree attitude of this spot and want to put my own energy and experience into the frames.”

Targeting Gen Z on the go, Spin Master’s newly launched Valor Kick Scooter, is the smallest folding full-size scooter, featuring proprietary “Under-The-Deck Technology” that allows the Scooter to fold and easily fit into a backpack or a locker without compromising on performance.

“Kids have big lives, big dreams, big goals, and they are looking for something that can get them there,” says Dan Westcott, Spin Master’s VP of Marketing and Global Business Unie Lead for Outdoor. “The Valor Kick Scooter is designed small to fit their big lives and this spot perfectly captures that freedom to go where others can’t.”

Vanessa is a 360 creative whose directing work celebrates the endurance of the human spirit and whimsical possibilities of imagination. She began her career as a documentary filmmaker and journalist, covering the 2014 Ukraine Crisis and Climate Change, where she had the opportunity to work with The United Nations, Jane Goodall, and Al Gore. Her work has earned widespread media recognition, landing in top publications such as National Geographic, Vogue, VICE, Rolling Stone, HuffPost, Esquire, Mic, Upworthy, Refinery29, Teen Vogue, i-D Magazine, BuzzFeed, and more.

Black earned a BA in Film Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. She is a Fellow of the DGA x AICP’s CDDP Program, an organizer for the Video Consortium, and a board member of Carbon Calories, a company focused on carbon accounting for consumer products to bridge the gap between consumption and climate.

Photography by Lover Lover

CREDITS

Client: Spin Master
Producer: John Nadalin
Art Director & Creative: Edmond Tse
Creative: Philip Ginther
Creative: Mike Arnott
Creative: Patrick McHugh
Digital Producer: Angela Hall
GBU Lead & VP, Outdoor: Dan Wescott
Designer: Tom Difazio

Production Company: Valiant Pictures
Founding Partner & EP: Matthew D’Amato
Founding Partner & EP: Vincent Lin
Executive Producer: Adam Zimmer
Director: Vanessa Black
DP: Danny Corey
Production Designer: Nick Horton
Wardrobe: Silken Weinberg
HMU: Alaina Barbagiovanni
Photography: Lover Lover

Post-Production:
Editor: Gabriel Patti
Music: Sneak Attack

About Valiant Pictures

We are an independent production company on a journey to share memorable stories that connect and inspire. Our diverse roster of award-winning filmmakers bring fresh and unique perspectives to fearlessly create powerful narratives across all forms of media.

About Spin Master

Spin Master Corp. (TSX:TOY) is a leading global children’s entertainment company, creating exceptional play experiences through its three creative centres: Toys, Entertainment and Digital Games. With distribution in over 100 countries, Spin Master is best known for award-winning brands PAW Patrol®, Bakugan®, Kinetic Sand®, Air Hogs®, Hatchimals®, Rubik’s Cube® and GUND®, and is the global toy licensee for other popular properties. Spin Master Entertainment creates and produces compelling multiplatform content, through its in-house studio and partnerships with outside creators, including the preschool franchise PAW Patrol and numerous other original shows, short-form series and feature films. The Company has an established presence in digital games, anchored by the Toca Boca® and Sago Mini® brands, offering open-ended and creative game and educational play in digital environments. Through Spin Master Ventures, the Company makes minority investments globally in emerging companies and start-ups. With over 30 offices in close to 20 countries, Spin Master employs more than 2,000 team members globally. For more information visit spinmaster.com or follow-on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @spinmaster.