Rave reviews are pouring in for the new animated commercial for United Airlines which debuted during the Oscar’s broadcast. The spot, entitled “Interview,” is a 60-second animated film directed by Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis for Fallon Advertising (Minneapolis, MN). The arrangement of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” was composed and produced by husband and wife team, John Trivers and Liz Myers of Trivers/Myers Music Inc.
Tom Shales of the Washington Post wrote in his Oscar review, “Viewers who sat through the whole show saw more Cadillacs than at a Mafia funeral, so plentiful were ads for the luxury car. But there was also a stunning new animated ad for United Airlines scored to George Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue,’ which is 80 years old this year (and which United bought the rights to years ago, for commercial use only). It was one of the most gorgeous pieces of filmmaking on view all night.”
Trivers and Myers are no strangers to outstanding work. Their twenty-year collaboration as composers has resulted in numerous Clio and Gold Lion (Cannes) awards for their work in the world of music for advertising. They are also the co-composers of the “Theme for the CBS Evening News,” which broadcast daily around the world and shown onboard United Airlines.
The music was recorded at Capitol Records in Hollywood with 40 members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The distinctive piano cadenzas were performed by Juilliard-trained concert pianist Daniel Lessner. The music was recorded by Paul Rudolph and Gabriel Moffat who also mixed the music for broadcast.
