Billusionist helps Aussies beat health insurance rate rise in new iSelect spot via Fenton Stephens
iSelect has followed up its 2018 launch of ‘The Billusionist’ with a series of new health insurance spots via Melbourne independent, Fenton Stephens. The campaign will see a staggered release, with the first component taking on the upcoming health insurance rate rise.
Directed by Exit’s Michael Clowater, the first spot features a couple shocked at receiving news that their health insurance premium is on the rise again. Then we’ve got a talking dove that reveals itself as The Billusionist followed by a flurry of flying ninja stars towards a man on a spinning board with an apple strapped to his head and an absolutely insane explosion of orange glitter. You know, all the usual run of the mill stuff.
Says Warren Hebard, chief marketing officer, iSelect: Private health insurance premiums have risen by 26% on average over the past five years. This first spot taps into the frustration we know customers will feel when they receive notification of yet another premium rise. Through the Billusionist, iSelect is creatively positioned as the solution to help customers find a better deal.
Says Jess Wheeler, associate creative director and partner, Fenton Stephens: What do you do when you’re asked to produce a follow up campaign starring a wild orange magician? You turn the dial up on the tricks. It was an absolute riot shooting these and we can’t wait for everyone to see the full series.
Post was once again handled by Blockhead and sound design by Production Alley.
The nationwide TV campaign will be supported by radio, digital and social, with more TV spots to be released in the coming months.
Client: iSelect
Chief Marketing Officer: Warren Hebard
Agency: Fenton Stephens
Creative Director: Alex Fenton
Associate Creative Director / Writer: Jess Wheeler Senior Art Director: Guillermo Carvajal
Senior Art Director: Justin Nagorcka
Director of Planning: Simon Antonis
Director of Client Services: Amy Stephens
Group Account Director: Clinton Mellsop
Senior Account Manager: Shakira Park-Stewart
Agency Producer: Lisa Ramsey
Production Company: Exit
Director: Michael Clowater
Executive Producer: Leah Churchill-Brown
Producer: Nick Simkins
DOP: Ginny Loane
Editor: Stu Morley @ The Editors
VFX: Blockhead
Music: Otis
Sound: Production Alley
18 Comments
Not normally a fan of anything Fenton Stephens do but I really like these.
I keep reading this Bi-llusionist. Is he/she Bi?
@ha maybe you are?
Classic error: The jokes distract from and overpower both the message and the branding, rather than enhancing or reinforcing them.
How many different campaigns have they tried in the last decade?
They obviously have a shit-tonne of money to spend, they just need some good advice.
PS: That magician reminds one of the magician Phil Cass who used to entertain at ad industry events in the 80’s/90’s.
Have to agree sadly, there’s a lot of it around.
Yeah the orange magician with the orange smoke throwing shit at the orange board then disappearring into orange glitter before the orange endframe really de-branded the ad for me too. Good advice.
@The meerkat
Audiences have changed since your day. You clearly haven’t.
I suspect you are a client if you think that filling the ad with the colour of your logo is ‘branding’ it’s about as sophisticated as having a big logo, ugly too.
@3.42
Orange… isn’t that the branding colour of ING…or Fanta?
Entertaining, fun and well branded. Hard to fault.
And how good is that talent? Loved him in the Aldi stuff too.
Good job ad people.
After circling around in the shit for years, iSelect have pretty much returned back to the old AJF work with that fat guy. They were funny then. This is at least the best work iSelect have done since.
Well done Fenton Stephens. Al, Jess, Guillermo, Simon, Warren and team – great stuff. Simple, memorable and fun, always a good combination. My bill’s smaller/cheaper with iSelect…JOB DONE.
Not quite. These have too much going on. Simplifying it 15% would have led to a clearer outtake. Plus the editing is horrible. And 3.42, 4.28 is right.
Can’t understand why anyone would put a downer on this. Normal people will like it and remember it. Good stuff Fenton Stephens.
So dramatic, loved it. It’s better than the last ones they did!
Better than the talking ear or whatever it was? Surely you jest!
Simple, clear and the talent reminds me of Toast of London, that’s got to be good.
I love this. Saw it over the weekend – definitely upped the ante! I honestly wish these went longer… I wanna see what else this guy can do 😀
Forget the haters guys. They suck.