Thursday Night Football — Peyton Manning

The idea was simple: if you want to show how real it feels, don’t fake anything. So instead of relying on post or polish, we went all in on practical effects and put Peyton Manning right in the middle of it.

We set off confetti cannons. We created a torrential downpour inside a living room. Everything happened live, in camera. Nothing phased him, which only made it better. Peyton stayed completely unfazed, and that calm, dry energy sold the concept instantly.

Because the turnaround was tight, everything was carefully planned and tested in advance. Once we hit set, it was about moving fast and executing clean. The campaign rolled out across broadcast and paid digital, with multiple versions cut for different placements, along with social extensions that leaned into Peyton’s humor and timing.

It was one of those projects that’s just fun to direct—big ideas, practical execution, and a lot of trust in prep.

Role: Writer / Director
Co-Writer: Tom Pace
DP: Andrew Wheeler
Producer: Joan Zierler