Hasta La Motion!

Leonard Nimoy, who has died at the age of the age of 83, has appeared in a number of television commercials related to his casting as Mr Spock in the original Star Trek series and films. The most recent was Volkswagen Germany’s “Zukunft für alle” (Future is Now) commercial in which Nimoy drives a futuristic Volkswagen XL1, outclassing Shatner’s e-mobility equipped e-Golf. Audi’s “Zachary Quinto vs. Leonard Nimoy: The Challenge”, was released in 2013. Nimoy appeared in a 2006 Super Bowl ad for Aleve pain reliever, turning up to deliver his famous Live Long and Prosper sign at a convention. He appeared as the potential replacement for Priceline ambassador William Shatner in a series of three commercials in 2004. Other campaigns include Hallmark, EdTel (1981), MCI and Western Airlines (1985).

William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, dressed as Captain Kirk and Spock, continued the Volkswagen campaign online answering questions about e-cars on the website. The site used Cleverscript to provide automatic responses in German.

Credits

The Volkswagen Zukunft für alle campaign was developed at DDB Berlin by creative director Matthias Schmidt. Filming was shot by Tool of North America director Erich Joiner via Soup Film with director of photography Robert Richardson and editor André Gelhaar.

The Spock vs Spock Challenge was written and directed by comedy team Paul W. Downs & Lucia Aniello, also known as Paulilu Productions, and produced by PMK*BNC by executive producer Joseph Assad.

The Leonard Nimoy Aleve commercials was developed at Energy BBDO, Chicago by creative directors Marty Orzio, creative director/copywriter Helayne Spivak, art director Miles Turpin and music producer Jim Benoit. Filming was shot by director Jeff Gorman via Sandwick Films with producer Lilly Labonge, director of photography Curtis Wehr. Editor was Meg Kubicka at Whitehouse Post. Post production was done at Filmworkers Club by VFX artist Scott Harris and colourist Lynette Duensing. Sound was produced at Another Country by audio mixer John Binder. Music was produced at Spank Music by composer Mat Morse.