Coca-Cola Collaborates with Hollywood Stars for Festive Short Films
Coca-Cola taps Hollywood stars Octavia Spencer and Colm Meaney to bring their festive campaign to life, showcasing captivating Christmas shorts that elevate their branded content
Article Brief:
Coca-Cola tapped Hollywood talent behind and in front of the camera for a pair of Christmas-themed short films entitled "The Santa Stories," per a company blog post.
Directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, "The Note" features Colm Meaney as a "scrooge-like protagonist," while "Ho Ho Heist," directed by Steven Caple Jr., is a holiday thriller starring Octavia Spencer and Scoot McNairy. Both films are highlighted in a 30-second trailer ad.
"The Santa Stories" can be streamed on Prime Video through Prime Video Direct, Amazon Freevee, and the brand's YouTube channel. This branded content is the newest addition to a holiday campaign focused on digital experiences and artificial intelligence.
Article Insight:
Coca-Cola is enhancing its Christmas campaign, which heavily features Santa, by releasing a pair of short films that focus on branded content and storytelling. Last Christmas, the beverage company unveiled its initial branded entertainment series, and this updated version allows Coke to expand beyond typical brand-focused advertising.
"The Coke bottle is not simply a product placement, but an integral part of the narrative," explained Islam ElDessouky, the brand's global head of creative strategy and content, in the post. "Without the Coke bottle, there is no story."
Two holiday-themed short films, "Ho Ho Heist" and "The Note," were released digitally on platforms such as Amazon's Freevee and Coke's YouTube channel. "Ho Ho Heist" features an L.A.-based heist story with St. Nick and a crew of Santa-styled thieves, starring Spencer and directed by Caple Jr. Meanwhile, "The Note" is a Christmas fable with veteran Irish actor Meaney as a bitter man whose faith is restored by a message in a Coke bottle. The films utilized a co-creation model, collaborating with well-known actors and directors to enhance brand storytelling.
Having Octavia Spencer in a 30-second commercial is one thing, but working with her on a short film where she can showcase her talent is a whole different experience. She embodies certain values and plays a character in her natural element, making it a great opportunity for the brand," ElDessouky said.
"The Santa Stories" is the newest addition to the brand's holiday campaign, “The World Needs More Santas.” Launched in over 80 markets worldwide last month, the campaign included a new ad as well as digital and experiential components. Coke also expanded its generative AI-fueled “Create Real Magic” platform to allow consumers to create digital holiday cards using its brand assets.
