The Venturous + FANCY and Director MAPP Find Happy Place with Driveway

Driveway.com, Lithia & Driveways (LAD) online car retailer, has launched a nationwide broadcast and social campaign featuring visions of customers buying vehicles from wondrous and fanciful settings. Created by agency Bruiser in collaboration with FANCY and Director MAPP, the campaign promises customers the ability to “Buy or Sell a Car from Your Happy Place.”

“Today’s car buyer expects to purchase a vehicle on their own time, on their own terms, and from wherever, whenever, and however they are most comfortable. Driveway exists to provide this exact experience.” said Marguerite Celeste, Chief Marketing Officer at Lithia Motors. “We are excited to partner with the creative minds at Bruiser and FANCY to bring this promise to life, and in the most memorable way possible.”

“We believe that strong brands have a strong point of view.” says Nick Strada, Founder at creative agency Bruiser. “The team at Driveway knows that their number one job is to put their customers at ease and give them maximum control. Our job is to tell their story with creativity, respect, and craft. Oh, and a nosy dolphin never hurts.”

The campaign marks a big step for the nation’s 2nd largest automotive retailer. Though LAD has existed since 1946 and is a mainstay in the S&P 500, Driveway represents the company’s first commitment to building a national consumer brand. “Our manufacturers provide our store network with the air-cover of strong brand advertising.” Celeste continued, “With Driveway, we knew we’d have to do that for ourselves. This meant developing a big, creative brand idea that can serve our business and delight our customers for years to come.”

The latest spot in the campaign is a splashy tale in which a surfer shops for a car while riding a giant wave and having her hair brushed by a mermaid. Taking a meditative posture, she explains Driveway’s “totes chill vibes” to a chatty dolphin. Another equally whimsical vision of a Happy Place is set in a magical forest where gigantic cuddly cats and hot cocoa trains are part of a relaxing experience for a laidback dude and an inquisitive talking deer. Both spots used a blend of in-camera and visual effects magic to deliver a blend of comedic timing, sincere performance, and fantastical environments.

“Bringing to life people’s happy place is a dream project, figuratively and literally. In this campaign, the trippy surrealist visuals just so happen to be a vehicle for clear and concise messaging about the Driveway experience. Sneaky, I know!” says MAPP. “I’m passionate about craft, which we seem to have less and less time for these days. So, it was wonderful to be involved in creative conversations early on, as the concept evolved. And it took a mighty crafty team to bring it all to life — from Trent Opaloch’s marvelous cinematography to Michelle Foote-Derrick’s flawless production design to Pete Koob’s deft editing to LIGHT’s skillful and tireless team of VFX elves.”

The campaign is now airing on national and regional television as well as social channels.

Agency: Bruiser
ECD/Writer: Nick Strada
CD/Writer: Michael Howard
Executive Producer: Robbie Veltman
Strategy Director: Ian Chee
Strategist: Heather LeFevre
Management Supervisor: Kelsey Zeller

Production Company: FANCY
Director: MAPP
Executive Producer: Morna Ciraki
Managing Director: Robert Wherry
Line Producer: Oliver Van Beek
Director of Photography: Trent Opaloch
Production Designer: Michelle Foote-Derrick

Editorial Company: Cut+Run
Editor: Pete Koob
Assistant Editor: Stefan Manz
Executive Producer: Deanne Mehling
Sr. Producer: Kristen Jenkins

VFX: LIGHT VFX
Founder/VFX Supervisor: Antoine Moulineau
VFX Supervisor: Eric Rosenberg
COO: Guillaume Raffi
Producer: Olivia McLean
Head of CG: Raphaël Bot-Gartner
CG Supervisor: Landry De Oliveira
FX Supervisor: Hugo Astesano
Creature Artist: Chloe Roberts

Post: Jogger SF
Creative Director: Andy Brown
Lead Flame: Brendan Crockett
Flame: Todd Hemsley
Color: Adolfo Martinelli
Sr. Producer: Jordan Sharon / Katia Nicolova