Nike Football’s “Next Level” campaign, made to inspire football obsessed teenagers, s a first-person journey up the football ranks-from being discovered by Arsenal in a youth match to a life-defining moment playing for England. Along the way we experience success (finishing a cross from Cesc Fabregas) as well as frustration (getting burned by Ronaldinho). The film celebrates playing the game with purpose and passion. Success, of course, includes the perks of attention from the fans, the girls, the fast cars. It shows what it takes to become a modern, brilliant footballer – to take your game to the next level.
Featured soccer superstars include Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Arsenal), Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Manchester United), Carlos Tévez (Argentina, Manchester United), Ronaldinho (Brazil, FC Barcelona), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands, Real Madrid), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden, Internazionale), Marco Materazzi (Italy, Internazionale) along with Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger.
Next Level Credits
Next Level was developed at 72andSunny, El Segundo, USA, by creative directors Glenn Cole, John Boiler, creative director/copywriter Bryan Rowles, creative director/copywriter Jason Norcross, agency producers Angelo Ferrugia and Sam Baerwald, account supervisors Alex Schneider and Evin Shutt.
Filming was shot in London, Manchester and Barcelona by Guy Ritchie via Independent Films, London and Anonymous Content, Culver City, with director of photography David Higgs, executive producer Dave Morrison and producer Aris McGarry. All filming was shot in HD with the SI 2K Mini camera.
Editor was Robert Duffy at Spot Welders.
Post production was done at The Mill, London, by senior producer Liz Browne, deputy executive producer Helen Hughes, production coordinator Arielle Davis, production coordinators Arielle Davis and Miles Petit, executive producers Gabrielle Gourrier and Stephen Venning, VFX shoot supervisors Hitesh Patel and Austen Humphries, Lead Flame artists Giles Cheetham and Chris Knight, additional Flame artists Rich Betts, Paul Kirch, Neil Davies, Grant Connor, Flame assists Paul Downes, Ross Goldstein, Jeannette Williford, Smoke artist James Pratt, Shake artists Becky Porter, Pete Hodsman, Grainne Freeman, Felician di Giorgio, 3D Lead supervisor Jordi Bares, Massive TD artist Suraj Odedra, 3D animators Sergio Xisto, Robert Holmes, Luke Tickner, Martin Contel, Daniel Marum, Meng Yang Lu, James Spillman, Richard Costin, colourist Adam Scott, combustion artist Sharon Marcussen, on-set final cut and data manager Daniel Budin, data transferrer David J Phillips.
Sound was designed and arranged by Dutch musican/programmer/remixer Junkie XL (Tom Holkenborg).
Music is “Don’t Speak” by Eagles of Death Metal.
The Next Level spot won a Gold Film Lion at Cannes International Advertising Festival.