Friendly Australians from all walks of life take centre stage in Qantas’ stunning new safety video

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Still-02-Vineyard-Couple-1200x675.jpgFriendly Australians and stunning destinations are the stars of a new Qantas safety video that showcases Australia as an amazing place to visit.

Due to screen on hundreds of Qantas flights a day to a global audience of almost 30 million people a year, the short video features Australians from all walks of life talking passengers through the on-board safety instructions against the backdrop of locations across the country.

While Qantas did not work with a traditional agency, Josh Whiteman is a director, creative partner and copywriter with years of experience in agencies such as Publicis London, Ogilvy and Host. Whiteman, together with former Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne creative Josh Robbins and +Ape developed the script in collaboration with the executive producer, Jason Byrne.

With an executive producer, director and one Qantas project manager, the team was able to move through a complicated process seamlessly and went quickly from script approval to shooting.

Bruce Heald, creative director and composer from Sydney based music production company Noise International, did the musical score.

The scenarios featured in the video include:

·       An oxygen mask demonstration at the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart;

·       A life-jacket demonstration at Bondi Icebergs;

·       A brace position demonstration during a yoga class on Hamilton Island;

·       Counting rows to the exit on a Yarra Valley winery;

·       An emergency slide demonstration at Josephine Falls in Queensland; and

·       A no smoking reminder on Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain, among others. 

Still-04-Cradle-Mountain-1200x675.jpgThe video will be introduced across Qantas’ domestic and international fleet from February, as well as featuring on the airline’s online channels. While the video is first and foremost a safety communication, it will also form the basis of a new tourism campaign.  

Qantas and Tourism Australia will work together over the next 12 months to promote the locations featured and maximise the benefits for local tourism operators. In particular, Tourism Australia will lend its social media marketing power, helping the video reach millions of people globally.

The campaign comes at a time when tourism is growing at the fastest rate since the Sydney Olympics, setting new records for visitor numbers and spending, with huge potential growth to come.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the video was a unique platform to promote the local tourism industry and capture the confident-but-relaxed Aussie personality that visitors tend to fall in love with.

Says Joyce: “We’ve experimented with different settings for our safety videos over the years, but this time we saw an opportunity to celebrate Australia itself.

“The result is something that we believe is really special and powerful, but warm, funny and down to earth at the same time, because it’s about everyday Australians.

“We’re confident that it’s going grab people’s attention and get them focused on the safety information that every Qantas customer needs to know. 

Still-08-Hammock-Girl-1200x675.jpg“It’s a video that people can really connect with, and there’s an opportunity to expand its reach by sharing it online and through social media – giving it a dual purpose as promotion for Australian tourism.

“Qantas has always been the biggest private sector supporter of Australian tourism and we’re delighted to be working with Tourism Australia on the social media campaign that goes with the new video.

“With the headwind of a lower dollar we have the potential to create a new tourism boom in this country. I’m proud that Qantas is leading the way, not just through our global marketing efforts but by adding flights and seats and expanding our partnerships with the world’s biggest airlines.”

Qantas’ contribution to tourism promotion includes marketing partnerships worth more than $80 million with state and territory marketing agencies and extensive direct Qantas advertising and owned media activity across its global network. A recent Deloitte Access Economics report found that, in 2014/15 the Qantas Group facilitated $9.5 billion in tourism expenditure in Australia, or one in every nine dollars spent, supporting 105,000 jobs across the country.

Director: Josh Whiteman

Executive Producer: Jason Byrne

Production Company: +Ape

Creatives: Josh Whiteman, Josh Robbins and Paul Chappell

Line Producer: Darren McFarlane

Production Coordinator: Bree Carter

Production Coordinator: Alexandra Sturman

1st AD: Cameron Watt

DOP: Marin Johnson

1st AC: Matt Jenkins

EPK: Aaron Farrugia

EPK: Will Storr

Gaffer/Grip: Peter Stockley

Production Designer: Otello Stolfo

Art Director: Otello Stolfo

Post Production: The Butchery & Heckler

Editor: Rohan Zerna

Hair, Make Up, Wardrobe: Natalie Burley

Sound Recordist: Keith Bottomley

Music Director, Composer: Bruce Heald

Sound Design: Kathleen Burrows + Noise International

Aerial photography: Heliguy

Casting: Chameleon Casting