Watch an all-new vlog for ETonline, where ‘Rush Hour’ director Brett Ratner
talks about why he chose to do a series of ads for Atlantis Resort and
Casino in the Bahamas and also reveals behind the scenes secrets
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas - (Business Wire) Sol
Kerzner, Chairman and CEO of Kerzner International Holdings Limited
(owner and operator of Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in The
Bahamas), and renowned film director Brett Ratner unveiled today a new
multi-platform advertising and branding campaign, that incorporates
print, television and interactive elements, for the 3,414-room resort
and casino. Ratner, and his eponymous Brett Ratner Brands (BRB), led
the creative development and production of the campaign, marking the
first time Ratner has applied his talent as filmmaker, photographer and
interactive producer to an overall marketing and ad campaign.
Kerzner personally selected Brett and BRB to be the creator and
executor of the new overall marketing campaign, “ONLY IN ATLANTIS.”
Atlantis and BRB will maximize this fully-integrated campaign by
utilizing technology and new media to amplify their message and reach
new audiences, while changing the way a hospitality brand is marketed
to an ever-discerning consumer.
The campaign goes back to the resort’s roots in entertainment --
Atlantis is, and always will be, an entertainment experience for
guests. Under the direction of Ratner, the broadcast and digital
components were shot in the style of a film production by
hand-selected, world-class entertainment talent including
state-of-the-art special effects by Andrew Daffy and The Mill (
Die Another Day, 28 Weeks Later); photography by the highly-regarded Director of Photography Darius Khondji (
The Ruins);
and choreography by Frank Gatson Jr., the six-time Best Choreography
VMA winner (2009 Video of the Year, Beyonce's “Single Ladies.”).
Special effects transform the hero family into fish, dolphins and manta
rays as they explore this enchanting paradise. By using world-renowned
entertainment industry talent, Ratner portrays the fun of staying at
the resort while maintaining the magic of the integration of marine
life and human life. The setting of the resort, filmed over three days
in October, 2009, is rich with color, light and the juxtaposition of
turquoise water and blindingly white sand beaches. Each ad captures a
moment in time at the resort and things that can happen “only in
Atlantis.”
“ONLY IN ATLANTIS” campaign elements include TV spots, including an
extended-length director’s cut for non-traditional use, online banners
and pre-roll and an integrated print campaign, all shot by Ratner.
Additionally, a
QR (Quick Response) Code is embedded in the
print ads, which provide access to the director’s cut of the “film” as
well as relevant versions of the commercial. This is accessed by any
QR-enabled mobile device and will be updated to grow with the campaign
and promote future Atlantis projects. This February, users will also be
able to download an immersive iphone application that allows them to
create "to do lists" for their holiday, explore the property, book
trips, communicate with resort specialists, play exclusive games and
stay up-to-date on resort happenings.
In a nod to Atlantis’ role as the largest open-air marine habitat in
the world and a virtual aquatic playground for guests of all ages, BRB
created
What Fish Are You? Employing Augmented Reality as an
immersive casual gaming experience both online and on social networking
platforms, consumers can utilize their webcam to record their facial
characteristics and become the species of fish they most resemble.
After users are transformed into a fish, they can play a game as their
aquatic counterpart. As a fish, one can eat or touch items swimming by
or floating in the water. Alternatively, BRB created a virtual
rendition of the Ruins Lagoon, the resort’s largest marine habitat, in
which users, as the fish they created, will swim through the ruins of
the lost city of Atlantis. By color grading the webcam’s feed, BRB
creates the impression the user’s computer interface is under water --
bubbles appear, fish swim by, etc
. The technology is designed to
allow users to personalize and apply it to social networking sites such
as Facebook and Twitter.
"The whole idea of Brett Ratner Brands is to leverage my creativity and
connectivity on behalf of the brands I represent. The 'ONLY IN
ATLANTIS' campaign is exactly the type of work I had in mind when I
started BRB,” said Brett Ratner, President of BRB. “It was a pleasure
to work with Sol and the Kerzner team throughout the creation,
development and production of every aspect of the campaign -- from TV
to print to multiple aspects of digital and mobile media, and this is
only the beginning."
Atlantis, Paradise Island is an ocean-themed resort destination built
around a 140-acre waterscape and the world’s largest open-air marine
habitat. The resort’s iconic Royal Towers debuted in 1997 at a
star-studded weekend gala with marquis musical performances, putting
the property at the center of the entertainment industry. Today, the
resort continues to serve as the set for numerous feature films,
television programming and musical performances.
Brett Ratner Brands worked in conjunction with CAA Marketing, a
division of Creative Artists Agency, on the marketing aspects of this
campaign.