Banks and lenders are currently trying to be friendly, helpful, unbank-y and/or Aussie. Good Oil director, Stuart Bowen, and agency, String Theory, have made sure that Australia’s non-bank lender, Pepper Money, is the most authentically – and appealingly – all of these.
Their film has a real bloke, a Hills Hoist, a Holden car, a swimming-pool-adapted ute, a sweetheart called Chanel, a really relatable real-life story and a real Aussie song. The song is a tongue-in-cheek Australian parody of American Jake Owens’ song of the same name, Real Life.
The film also has a lot of really good directing decisions by Bowen that make the film really watchable and really fun.
Bowen’s cast features local actors, Lloyd Allison-Young and Margarita Gershkovich, in the lead roles plus cameo appearances from twenty Pepper employees, including the general manager of mortgages and commercial lending, Aaron Milburn.
“Pepper Money’s brand has evolved and, after two decades, it is time to showcase the people we represent – real-life Australians. We’re proud to be launching tomorrow across a wide range of media our anthemic celebration to Australians facing the highs and lows of real life,” stated Pepper Money chief executive officer, Australia and New Zealand, Mario Rehayem.
“A warning though: the catchy title tune, sung by Lloyd Allison-Young is a real earworm. My kids can’t stop humming it, and I find myself singing it in the shower.”
Bowen began his career with Baz Luhrmann, editing trailers for the film, Australia, before it had been shot. He then began working closely with director Michael Gracey [The Greatest Showman]. He edited on-set with him and learned about the entire film making process from script to screen. The first film Bowen directed, Woody, screened at 35 film festivals and won Best Animation at the Academy Qualifying Seattle Film Festival and an AACTA Nomination.
In 2014, his second short film, Twisted, won third place at Tropfest and Bowen’s flair for managing the nuances of comedy had become apparent.
Bowen joined Good Oil in 2017 and he has a motto, Fighting mediocrity nearly always.
He directed VCCP’s standout garbo-singing musical Christmas ad for ING, Give Me Something Good, promoting the idea of giving ethical gifts at the end of last year.
Here is some more of his advertising work:
https://youtu.be/227C4qtNI0g
Credits: Pepper Money, Real Life
Production Company: Good Oil
Director: Stuart Bowen
Executive Producer: Sam Long
Producer: Catherine Warner
DOP: Edward Goldner
Sound: Squeak E. Clean Studios
Music: Liquid Studios
Post Production: The Editors
Editors: Laurence Van Camp & Mark Burnett
Grade: Fergus Rotherham
Online: Viv Baker & Matt Edwards
Production Design: Sal Boucher
Creative Agency: String Theory
Director: Dr Jane Cherrington
Executive Creative Director: Jeremy Taine
Creative Director: Tim Blower
Producer: Alva Waldren
Media Agency: Customedia
Client: Pepper Money
Chief Customer Experience Officer: Joanne Thrift
Head of Marketing and Brand, Pepper Money: Alison Green
Brand and Sponsorship Manager: David Berry
Brand and Sponsorship Coordinator: Adrian Nigro
