Vodacom has once again brought the party to the people with its Daddy Cool campaign that just launched. Created by Draftfcb and directed by Amy Allais, Daddy Cool is a worthy successor to the team's hit Vodacom Single Ladies campaign and features the most deliriously trippy hit of the disco era - Boney M's Daddy Cool. "If I spark a bit of Boney M revival in South Africa then my work here is done!" laughs Allais.
The spot toggles between a series of lacklustre social affairs, which are transformed by the arrival of "Daddy Cool" into rip-roaring, ass-kicking jols! Played by singer and actor Emo Adams, "Daddy Cool" is a glorious, comic vision - from the tips of his silver platforms to his white, teddy bear cape. "He is kind of a hybrid of all those 70's funk stars like Bootsy Collins and James Brown with just a dash of modern day hipster and Jewish mama thrown into the mix," explains Allais. As usual she nailed the casting through sheer perseverance - she flew down to Cape Town to audition Adams on a tip-off from a friend who had seen him on stage.
However canny casting was just the beginning of an extremely intensive pre-production period, "We didn't want to do another tired retro rehash, so we put a modern spin on all those 70's glam mainstays," stresses Allais, "and it was a joy to have a client and agency who were completely on board for the ride."
Daddy Cool's stonewashed denim suit proved to be a particular challenge. "We actually silk screened the stonewashed texture onto denim," explains Allais, "When it comes to tacky glamour I'm unstoppable!" The months of work are all on glorious show in the last set-piece of the spot - a giant pied piper procession of hundreds of party goers led by the irrepressible Daddy Cool.
Allais has just returned from Los Angeles where she completed a really stimulating directing workshop, and Ola!Films is gearing up for a busy season. And of course the Boney M revival is sure to follow - "I've been humming that track for weeks - resistance is futile!" laughs Allais.