Louis Gossett Jr. reminds us to ‘keep it real' in the new Windhoek campaign

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Louis Gossett Jr. is best known for his role in An Officer and a Gentleman in 1982, which won him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The 72-year-old actor began his acting career by starring in the Sidney Poitier film, A Raisin in the Sun, in 1961. He has appeared in numerous film- and television productions over the years.

Ross Chowles, Jupiter's Executive Creative Director, comments on the decision to use Louis Gossett Jr. as the face of the campaign: “Windhoek is a brand that is going places and we needed big thinking for this campaign and what could be bigger than featuring an Oscar-winning actor in our commercial?” He further elaborates that “Louis is an authentic and down-to-earth guy with whom men can easily identify, thus he was the perfect spokesperson to convey our ‘keep it real' message.”

Ruth de Vantier, head of TV Production at Jupiter Cape Town, describes the not-so-simple task of getting Louis to South Africa: “Securing a famous Hollywood actor was no easy feat. It began with a short e-mail to an agent listed on a website and after weeks of lengthy emails back and forth, we finally tied up the legalities with the attorneys and before I knew it we were discussing dates, flights and Louis favorite things. We were already well into our pre-production phase and just weeks away from shooting.”

Windhoek Marketing Manager, Brendon Nash says, “Working with an international star like Louis lends adds a global appeal to the brand. His down-to-earth genuine nature makes him the ideal person to convey our ‘keep it real' message to the market.”