If this isn’t the ultimate feel-good moment, what is. Astronaut, Ava, holds up the Mars landing to bask in the moment – singing David Bowie’s Space Oddity and chasing drops of Schweppes in zero gravity. it makes NASA ground control smile. It makes viewers smile.
The cinematic film created by TBWA\Paris and directed by Ridley Scott Associates director, Susann White, reminds people that in a world driven by urgency and speed, Schweppes chooses to go against the grain, inviting people to pause and savour the moment.
“Our strategy? To make Schweppes the most desirable brand in its category for its core audience—adults over 35—through the message “Take your time”. An inspiring tagline in an era where everything moves fast, perfectly aligned with our complex, intense, and bitter recipes… that are meant to be savoured. To embody this message, we chose a bold campaign that breaks the mold, taking the opposite approach to increasingly short and rational ads—all while maintaining that distinctively British sense of humor that defines Schweppes. From the outset, we were convinced we had a strong creative idea. The proof? The final film is an almost exact transcription of the very first script proposed by TBWA\Paris nine months ago. And the result is everything we hoped for, ” stated Nicolas Poillot, Global Schweppes marketing manager.
The campaign launched with Schweppes Indian Tonic as hero. It will continue through a series of films dedicated to Schweppes Agrum and Ginger Beer, in which Ava discovers Martian civilisation and their first encounter with the unique flavors of Schweppes.
“Rather than returning with a celebrity campaign, we revived the iconic soul of the brand with a dreamlike, cinematic universe, carried by a legendary song—the very one that accompanied the Apollo 11 mission on the BBC. “We built the saga like a mini-series, where each episode stems from a product truth. We savour the landing with Indian Tonic, the offering of a unique drink with Schweppes Agrum, and the warmth of an intimate moment with Ginger Beer,” commented Jonathan Serog, managing director, TBWA\Paris.
The film’s a cappella soundtrack creates a striking contrast between the vastness of space and the intimacy of the Schweppes moment. Like Major Tom, Ava drifts above Mars, choosing disconnection over action.
Led by space film giants such as John Mathieson (Director of Photography for Gladiator I & II), Will Htay (Production Designer for Star Wars), and Janty Yates (Oscar-winning Costume Designer for The Martian), every detail contributes to a Mars that feels real.
The campaign also breaks new ground in production. For the first time, a state-of-the-art LED screen was used to film a hyper-realistic Martian landscape. Advanced technologies recreated zero-gravity movements, while intricate VFX and 3D work captured the mesmerising dance of Schweppes bubbles in weightlessness. Every element was designed to make the act of savouring as extraordinary as setting foot on a new planet.
Credits:
Client: Schweppes
François Bazini: Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer
Tanneguy Desmarest: Global Marketing Director
Nicolas Poillot: Global Marketing Manager
Emma Jalonen: Senior Brand Manager
Michel Sara: Creative Planning Advisor
Creative Agency: TBWA\Paris
Benjamin Marchal & Faustin Claverie: Executive Creative Directors
Chloé Rosiaux: Copywriter
Richard Ghanem: Art Director
Jonathan Serog: Managing Director
Amalia Mateos-Gella: Brand Lead
Bérénice Champetier de Ribes: Account Director
Héloïse Matte & Tamara Fregeau: Account Executives
Agathe Dumas: Strategy Director
Production Companies: RSA & Wilders
Susanna White: Director
John Mathieson: DOP
Will Htay: Set Designer
Janty Jates: Costume Designer
Atelier 69: Make-up Artist
Emma Cairns & Thomas Laurent: Executive Producer
Aymeric Mosser: Line Producer
Maud Folléa & Charly Cuvillier: Production Coordinator
Julien Froment: BTS
Fred Laine & Brogan Sharp: MUA SFX
Production Service: B2Y
Producers: Ivan Ivanov & Daniel Vasev
Production Coordinator: Viktoria Dimitrova
Production Assistants: Teodora Marinova, Danail Vasilev & Mariya Strashilova
Post-Production: \Else
Amer Zoghbi: TV Producer
Margot Mathelin: Post Producer
Jonathan Bignon: Lead Compositor
Matthieu Bouglé: Compositor
Hugo Planchais: Colourist
Post-Production: Digital District
CEO: David Danesi
VFX Supervisor: Marc-Thomas Cavé
Editor: Sophie Foudrinoy
Editor Assistant: Juliette Kelber
Colourist: Anne Szymkowiak
Colourist Assistant: Martin Clodic
Music Production: \Else
Olivier Lefebvre: Head of Music & Sound
Ambroise Cabry: Sound Director
Thomas Jacquet & Ferdinand Huet: Artistic Directors
Marion Le Guluche & Victoria Milward: Music Legal & Business Affairs
