Entertainment > Branded Content

SHOT ON IPHONE | HURACÁN RAMÍREZ VS. LA PIÑATA ENCHILADA

TBWA\MEDIA ARTS LAB, Los Angeles / APPLE / 2024

Awards:

Shortlisted Cannes Lions
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Overview

Credits

OVERVIEW

Why is this work relevant for Entertainment?

"Huracán Ramírez vs. La Piñata Enchilada" is part of a globally orchestrated Shot on iPhone campaign centered on 3x product demonstration short films for Apple’s key international markets – Mexico, China, and Japan, where the ‘camera system’ is the main driver for consideration and purchase intent. No other company has undertaken a more ownable-to-the-product, organically successful, and culture-rippling effort in branded entertainment this past year.

For Mexico, we revitalized the legitimate Lucha Libre movie genre and celebrated Mexican traditions while showcasing the iPhone’s filmmaking capabilities. It made a significant organic impact on culture and lifted Apple brand affinity.

Please provide any cultural context that would help the Jury understand any cultural, national or regional nuances applicable to this work.

Luchadores have become comically overly commercialized in Mexico. In this Apple Short Film, "Huracán Ramírez vs. La Piñata Enchilada," iPhone 14 Pro takes center stage as a cinematic force, by revitalizing the legitimacy of Luchador films and paying cinematic homage to Mexican culture. This short film intertwines the true filmmaking tradition with modern storytelling, re-enthroning Luchadores as cultural icons, and reinforcing the inseparable link between Lucha Libre and Mexican identity.

“Shot on iPhone” is, at it’s core, a product-demonstration campaign, pure and simple. The directors (Los Perez) skillfully leverage the iPhone 14 Pro to push the boundaries of storytelling, redefining visual aesthetics, and serving as a testament to iPhone's role in innovative filmmaking.

The campaign's success adds another layer of astonishment, drawing 36 million viewers to Apple Mexico's YouTube channel. It claims the throne as the most-watched video in the brand's YouTube history, reaching over 1 billion users across various platforms. The buzz extends to the streets, with enthusiasts eagerly snatching out-of-home campaign posters for autographs from the Luchadores.

Background

Apple had the objective of highlighting the cinematic capabilities of the new iPhone 14 Pro while creating a deep connection with Mexican culture with the brand’s first time ever bespoke origination campaign in Mexico. The long-running platform “Shot on iPhone” is the world’s purest product demonstration campaign. And the film needed to showcase the newly introduced camera feature called “Action Mode” - which allows for smooth and steady video capture even in the most intense situations and movement. The role of the product remained central as we set out to revamp a long-lost movie genre that still lives in the memory of all Mexicans with only the device in people’s pockets. It was with the introduction of the “Action Mode” camera feature that the creative idea came to be.

Describe the strategy & insight

Apple had the objective of highlighting the cinematic capabilities of the new iPhone 14 Pro while creating a deep connection with Mexican culture with the brand’s first time ever bespoke origination campaign in Mexico. The long-running platform “Shot on iPhone” is the world’s purest product demonstration campaign. And the film needed to showcase the newly introduced camera feature called “Action Mode” - which allows for smooth and steady video capture even in the most intense situations and movement. The role of the product remained central as we set out to revamp a long-lost movie genre that still lives in the memory of all Mexicans with only the device in people’s pockets. It was with the introduction of the “Action Mode” camera feature that the creative idea came to be.

Describe the creative idea

In the mid-20th century, Lucha Libre emerged as a vibrant cultural phenomenon in Mexico during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, with Luchadores revered as true superheroes in thrilling sagas. However, their significance waned over time, relegated to trivial roles. Enter "Huracán Ramírez vs. La Piñata Enchilada," a groundbreaking film shot entirely on iPhone 14 Pro, reinvigorating the Luchador genre and showcasing the iPhone's capabilities. The film reignites Luchadores' cultural relevance, garnering widespread media coverage and fan adoration. This bold creative endeavor amplifies the brand message, the iPhone’s cinematic features, while honoring Lucha Libre's heritage and pushing storytelling boundaries. The result is a cultural phenomenon that elevates Luchadores back to their rightful place in Mexican cinema and society.

Describe the craft & execution

"Huracán Ramírez vs. La Piñata Enchilada" revitalizes the Lucha Libre movie genre, emphasizing the iPhone 14 Pro's versatility as a catalyst for cinematic innovation. The film is a pure product demonstration, shot entirely on the device in our pockets. Mexican art, craftsmanship, and art direction shines through authentic locations, striking costume design, and meticulous typography, paying homage to Mexican culture. The 13-minute film pushes iPhone’s camera capabilities to its limits, capturing distinctive angles, colors, and vibrant lighting to revamp the genre while celebrating Mexico's heritage. Original music, featuring pre-Hispanic instrumentation, pays tribute to Lucha Libre, impacting global audiences and offering a definitive homage to the genre's legacy. The main film was placed on YouTube, with short form social content driving viewers to the long form. The campaign lasted for a month, during the celebration of the 90th anniversary of Lucha Libre, leveraging the conversation around it.

Describe the results

The 13:25 minute film had 36.8M ticker views and the longest view time on Apple MX YouTube Channel. It had +1B in organic reach across the globe and +4K organic mentions, with 97% of positive or neutral sentiment. The film had the most earned, positive and unexpected PR coverage in Apple Mexico history, with 200+ top tier tech and lifestyle outlets and creators covering the campaign, stating how “amazing it is that a company like Apple would honor Mexican culture this way.” The film also impacted brand perception with Mexicans, which was one of the top objectives of the campaign. Brand affinity with Gen Z was boosted by +21pp for those exposed to the film (vs. unexposed). And 77% of those exposed to the film agree the film “makes it clear Apple cares about Mexican culture” (Source: Morning Consult Bespoke Quant Study, 07/2024).

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