Volkswagen’s wry observations about family life or Toyota’s inside how life is. Toyota’s [Dentsu Australia’s] feels real, right? Feels it gets you. Interesting comparison, isn’t it?

This was Dentsu Australia’s first job for Toyota. Dentsu, first job well done. In For a Lifetime of Good Times, two Corollas kick start the boy meets girl story that is told to the track, You and Me Song by The Wannadies, and a Corolla is an integral part of all the story’s chapters. Each chapter is less about the scene, and more about the feeling that the scene has triggered. And every feeling is already familiar to its audience.

The agency is proud to admit it got help. Much of that was from Heckler.
Pete Ogden, Dentsu Australia creative director said, “…collaboration was key on every aspect of this job. Heckler came to the fore with an amazing array of talent across the board; working alongside a CD within a production company was such a breath of fresh air too. It enabled us to accomplish so much more on the shoot and in post.”

Director, Justin McMillan, said he had loved the script from the start.

“I loved the idea of using familiar music that reminded me of a romcom film trailer. I wanted to bring to the commercial a sense of familiarity to each of the relationship scenes. I wanted it to feel real and not fabricated so casting was crucial. It was fun to work with young actors who were very considerate of their craft.

“I’ve always loved story telling commercials and I loved the challenge to try and pull this relationship story over a number of different number of executions of differing length. But let’s face it, car ads are all about hiring an amazing car DOP to make the director look good, which we did in Matty Stewart. The opportunity to direct a various actors and pepper their performances in with a series of awesome car shots was a dream come true.“

For a Lifetime of Good Times includes online, print and outdoor as well as the TVC.This 90 second centerpiece will also run online and in cinema.

Creative credits:

Agency: Dentsu Australia
Creative director: Pete Ogden
Designer: Lucy Edison
Producer: Baz Milas

Production Company: Heckler
Director: Justin McMillan
Creative director: Garry Jacques
Executive producer: Will Alexander
Producers: Johnny Greally & Samantha Daley
DOP: Matt Stewart
Editor: Andrew Holmes

Toyota Corolla – Journey from Heckler on Vimeo.