Telstra launches new network security campaign starring Steve Buscemi,via Bear Meets Eagle On Fire with +61

With cyber-crime on the rise and Aussies losing thousands of dollars every minute to scammers, Telstra’s latest campaign focuses on how it helps protect Australians from nefarious cyber activity – by blocking millions of threats every day. The films star legendary actor Steve Buscemi, as an evil intergalactic Emperor intent on taking over Australia through elaborate hi-tech scams. Despite their best efforts, the Zalunians are constantly foiled by Telstra’s mighty network.

Directed by Randy Krallman, the campaign consists of several individual narratives in long and short formats, which will roll out across TV, digital, social, cinema and in Telstra stores.

Alita McMenamin, Telstra Head of Brand and Marketing Communications, said: “This is essentially a product demo, a very entertaining one, that differentiates our network not just on size, but also on safety. Created with the exceptional level of craft we always enjoy from Micah and team.”

“Sounds weird to say, but making comedy work isn’t always fun. This genuinely was. Massive thanks to Randy, Steve and all the folks who worked so hard to make something so smart, so silly,’’ said Micah Walker, Chief Creative Officer of BMEOF.

Blake Crosbie, Managing Director of +61 adds: “The security of a network, and all that happens on it, has serious implications, but doubling down on ‘serious’ too easily follows the tropes of the category. Sometimes making light of a topic is the best way to get people to pay attention to it.”

• Campaign Credits
• Creative Agency: Bear Meets Eagle On Fire
• Partner Agency: +61
• Media Agency: OMD Australia
• Client: Telstra
• Chief Marketing Officer: Brent Smart
• Head of Brand and Sponsorship: Alita McMenamin
• Head of Creative Excellence: Anna Jackson
• Senior Marketing Specialist: Rebecca Tearle
• Media & Marketing Operations Lead: Paula Marreiros
• Senior Media Specialist: Robbie Aoukar
• Production Company: Smuggler
• Director: Randy Krallman
• Co-Founder / CEO: Patrick Milling Smith
• Co-Founder / President: Patrick Carmody
• Executive Producer: Allison Kunzman
• Producer: Gustav Geldenhuys
• Director of Photography: Kaname Onoyama
• Production Designer: Jiri Matura
• Costume Designer: Terezie Dvorakova
• Model Maker: Martin Pec
• SFX Makeup: Josef Rarach
• Edit: ARC
• Editor: Peter Sciberras
• Executive Producer, Edit: Daniel Bradford-Fry
• Assistant Editor: Liam James
• Post Production: Blockhead
• Sound House: Rumble Studios
• Lead Sound Designer: Tone Aston
• Composer: Jeremy Richmond
• Sound EP: Michael Gie