Winning a Cannes Lion or a Gold Clio would make George Smoot's Nobel Prize for Physics look like garbage, right?
In Wieden + Kennedy's latest TurboTax campaign, some of the world's greatest intellects school average folks on how easy it is to use the online tax preparation system. S. James Gates Jr., Michio Kaku, Franklin Chang Diaz and George Smoot are among the smarties appearing in a series of 30-second spots tagged, "It doesn't take a genius to do your taxes."
In one commercial, theoretical physicist Kaku explains the concept of "absolute zero" as it applies to TurboTax, which charges nothing for its service. "Nothing is the absence of something," he says. "Zero is absolutely nothing." (Bravo, brainiac!)
In a Spanish-language ad, physicist astronaut Diaz shows a befuddled father how to claim his kids as dependents, though he misses an easy basket during a driveway pickup game. (Suck it, Poindexter! Who says nothing beats an astronaut?)
"The ads bring new innovations to life, demonstrating how TurboTax addresses consumers' doubts and empowers them to get every dollar they deserve," says Greg Johnson, svp of marketing for Intuit's Consumer Tax Group.
W+K and multicultural agency Grupo Gallegos handled creative chores, with Smuggler's Randy Krallman directing the amusing commercials, which run through April 18, supported by radio, digital and social outreach.
TurboTax will also air a "Genius" spot during Super Bowl 50, marking the brand's third straight appearance on the big game, and its follow-up to 2015's droll "Boston Tea Party" ad. (In addition, one of three finalists in parent company Intuit's "Small Business, Big Game" contest will have an ad produced by RPA for the Feb. 7 CBS telecast.)
One question, though: If they're really such geniuses, why don't they show us how to avoid paying taxes? The mind reels.
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CREDITS
Client: Intuit TurboTax
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, Portland, Ore.
Creative Directors Max Stinson, Scott Kaplan, Erik Fahrenkopf
Copywriter Jason Turner
Art Director Joe Albert
Senior Producer Erika Madison
Account Team Courtney Nelson, Vanessa Miller, Anna Boteva
Executive Creative Directors Joe Staples / Mark Fitzloff
Head of Production Ben Grylewicz
Strategic Planning Christine Sheehan, Nathan Goldberg
Project Management Laurie Holtz
Production Company Smuggler
Director Randy Krallman
Executive Producer Shannon Jones
Line Producer Ian Blain
Director of Photography Manel Ruiz
Editorial Company Mackenzie Cutler
Editor Erik Laroi
Assistant Editors Maria Lee/Sarah Krusen
Executive Producer Sasha Hirschfeld
Sound Designer Sam Shaffer
VFX Company Joint
Lead Flame Artist Katrina Salicrup
2D Artists David Jahns, Stephan Lectez, Robert Murdock, Noah Poole
VFX Producer Steve Griffith
VFX Coordinator Nathanael Horton
VFX Executive Producer
Graphics + Animation
WK Motion Producers Sarah Gamazo/Michael Gersten
WK Motion Designers James Heredia/Peiter Hergert
WK Studio Managers Sally Garrido-Spencer/Amy Streger
WK Studio Designers Eric Reigert/Dana Beaty
Telecine Company Company 3
Colorist Sean Coleman
Producer Matt Moran
Mix Company Joint
Mixer Noah Woodburn
Producer Sarah Fink
