Interac: The Surprise

Credits & Description:

Brand: Interac
Media: TV
Category: Finance
Agency: Zulu Alpha Kilo
Chief Creative Officer: Zak Mroueh
Executive Creative Director: Allen Oke
Creative Director: Jon Webber
Art Director: Fiorella Martinez
Writer: Jacob Pacey
Agency Producer: Tara Handley
Account Team: Rob Feightner, Laura Robinson, Winnie Hsiao
Strategy Team: Heidi Philip, Emma Brooks
Client (Company): Interac Association
Clients: Andrea Danovitch, Leslie Vera, Lauren McKay
Production House: OPC
Director: Tomas Mankovsky
Production House Producer: Ian Webb
Director of Photography: Steve Annis
Casting Director: Shasta Lutz
Video Post Facility / Editing Company: Saints
Editor: Ross Burchall
Compositor / Online: Alter Ego
Colourist/Transfer: Tricia Hagoriles
Audio Post Facility/Music House: Eggplant
Audio Director: Adam Damelin
Producer: Nicola Treadgold
Engineer: Brad Tigwell
Song: Bahamas “Lost in the Light”
Media Agency: Media Experts
Media Agency Planner: Richard Ivey, Phil Borisenko, Jenna Bendavid, Daniel Mak, Josee Thibault
Synopsis:
INTERAC is Canada’s national debit payment platform. Its ‘Be In The Black’ brand platform has been highly successful since it launched in spring 2014. Over the past year, that momentum has continued with INTERAC’s brand message reaching new levels of awareness and record levels of engagement. This was achieved through a tenacious effort to find new and creative ways to deliver the message that “life is better when you use your own money” over credit cards. The highly integrated campaign delivered significant brand equity and business growth. What’s more, this business growth was realized despite a lack of innovation from INTERAC amidst significant industry innovation in this new era of the digital economy.

The story follows a young boy who works hard to earn himself enough money to buy a puppy. Bringing his new piggy-bank with him every step of the way, the boy washes cars, paints garages, and even keeps the proceeds from a lost tooth. Struggling with credit card debt and the effects it has on his own relationship, the boy’s Father reflects on his own payment behaviours after watching his son learn the value of paying with his own money. “We’re never too old to learn,” says Zak Mroueh, Chief Creative Officer & Founder of Zulu Alpha Kilo. “We want Canadians who watch #TheSurprise to see that life is truly better when you use your own money."
The video will primarily live online with a 360 campaign directing Canadians to watch the film. This will include a 90 second version of the story playing in theatres across the country, in-theatre movie posters, digital, social and two 15 second teaser spots. The creative and strategic platform encouraging Canadians to use their own money with Interac® Debit is going into its third year in the market. It was recently awarded locally with a Silver and Bronze at the 2016 Cassie‘s and has been shortlisted for this year’s Effie Awards.