Ford: Join The Stampede

The Ford Motor Company and J Walter Thompson/Team Detroit wanted an “evergreen” commercial they could use in designated markets to promote their F Series line of trucks during Ford Truck Month. Collaborating with some amazing teams on both the client and agency sides, we came up with Join The Stampede.

A stampede is a sudden rush or rapid movement of a mass of something, usually horses or cattle, in response to a particular stimulus. In our case, the stimulus was Ford Truck Month and, instead of a mass of cattle, I wanted it to be a horsepower-fueled stampede of F Series trucks tearing across the highways, dirt roads and manly job sites of the American plains. My approach to shooting the campaign was to mirror the speed and aggression of a full-scale stampede. I didn’t want the camera to be just an observer. I wanted it right in the middle of the action.

I led client, agency, and internal creative teams through the story boarding, planning, production and post-production phases. It was an ambitious, logistically challenging shoot that required five shooting days, a dozen locations, 30 F Series Trucks and stunt drivers, and one Ultimate Arm.

In the end, we ended up delivering more than just a commercial, turning over three hours of killer footage into a campaign that included five TV spots.

Creative Direction, VFX Direction, Director

Agency: J Walter Thompson/Team Detroit