LOS ANGELES — During Sunday's 89th Academy Awards, Walmart premiered three films made by Hollywood directors Antoine Fuqua, Marc Forster (Tool of North America) and filmmaking partners Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg. The retailer worked with creative agency Saatchi & Saatchi New York to create a challenge for the directors, each of whom agreed to make a one-minute film based on the six items listed a single Walmart receipt (bananas, paper towels, batteries, scooter, wrapping paper and video baby monitor).
In its first sponsorship of the awards, Walmart wanted to celebrate creativity and storytelling, and encouraged the directors to bring their different styles and individual voices to the stories. The idea of the receipt suggests that every day, millions of families visit Walmart to save money and live better. The receipt they walk out the door with says something about their lives and tells a story.
Walmart is also making a $250,000 donation to The Academy Grants Program for FilmCraft in the name of the participating directors, demonstrating its continual commitment to diversity in filmmaking.
Lost & Found (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAyyVHF8rdo) was produced by Tool of North America, with Marc Forster directing. Matthias Koenigswieser served as DP. The project was posted at Union Editorial and edited by Matthew Chesse, with Brad Besser assisting. Company 3’s Sofie Borup served as colorist and Framestore handled the VFX. Sound mixing was performed at Union Editorial. E2 Sound handled the sound design and Marc Streitenfeld composed the original track.
The Gift (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE5WoyXl9K8) was produced by Wondros and directed by Antoine Fuqua. Wondros/Zero VFX handled post production, with John Refoua and William Pasley performing the edit. CO3 LA’s Stefan Sonnerfeld was the colorist and Zero VFX handled the visual effects. Post sound services were provided by Sony Pictures Studios. GSA Music created the original composition.
Bananas Town (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEBWRh99EVA) was produced by Caviar, with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg directing. Caviar also provided post services. Isaac Hagy cut the project, with Bia Jurema assisting. Brandon Chavez was the colorist. Visual Creatures provided visual effects for the project. which was mixed at Margarita Mix. Squeak E Clean composted the original soundtrack.
"Telling a personal story has always been gratifying to me as an artist,” says Marc Forster, director of Monster’s Ball and Kite Runner. “The uniqueness of this challenge from Walmart allowed me to exercise my passion for storytelling in a very exciting way by crafting a story that revolves around people’s everyday needs, wants and desires."
“I’ve been a storyteller for as long as I can remember,” notes Antoine Fuqua, the director known for the Academy Award-winning film Training Day. “This was a wonderful challenge from Walmart that allowed me to do just that: tell an extraordinary story shaped around six ordinary objects.”