Our Creative Director storyboarded each shot and created a visual plan for shooting, and then developed a running order for shots, to keep our filming time down. Filming was wrapped in less than a day.

Editing

A rough edit was completed the next morning, watched back by our Creative Director for tweaking. Visual effects were then added – including an 80s-inspired soft focus and extra snow. Minor timing changes and a teaser trailer later, and we were ready to go.

Launch

We put the video out on social channels and YouTube – with advertising budgets behind them to get a little extra reach – but our main aim with the video was to entertain our clients, and say thanks for such a brilliant year.

We’ve put together a little digital thank you and Happy Christmas message for all of our clients – and we’re all looking forward to an amazing New Year together.

In what’s becoming a Christmas tradition, this year’s Rooster Original is set one year before the events of the Wham’s Last Christmas: the confusingly titled This Christmas. Watch it now:

Once we had the idea, it was time to make a song – a loving ode to the Wham classic.

An Original Song

Created in a brief snap of creativity (Al thought it up in the car on his way home and recorded it in an evening), This Christmas was made with an emulation of the LinnDrum drum machine used in the Wham song, for a touch of authenticity.

From there on though, it was more homage than carbon copy. Approximations of the vamp and melodies make it unmistakably familiar, but distinctly different.

And of course, it needed lyrics:

WH!M – This Christmas – Lyrics

This Christmas, I’ll give you my heart
This Christmas, our loving will start
This Christmas, my gift is my love
This Christmas, I’m gonna buy you some gloves

Ho,

Don’t give my love away
The second you get it on Christmas Day
This time, we’re never breaking apart

[Special, special]

My kiss is yours alone
As soon as I’m under the mistletoe
This year, I’ll give you my heart

This Christmas

This Christmas, I’ll give you my soul
This Christmas, I’m cooking toad in the hole
This Christmas, I’m hoping you’ll save me
This Christmas, you’re making the gravy

Ho,

Don’t give my love away
The second you get it on Christmas Day
This time, we’re never breaking apart

[We’re never breaking apart]

[Special, special]

My kiss is yours alone
As soon as I’m under the mistletoe
This year, I’m gonna give you my heart

[I’m gonna give you my heart]

This Christmas

[Yeah this Christmas, it’s Christmas time]

[Special, special]

[Brussels sprouts and cheese, woo]

[Special, special]

Planning, Storyboarding and Shooting

We watched the Wham original (hundreds of times), picking out key scenes and props to replicate, and decided who in the team would play the characters. We got hold of a snow machine, fake snowballs and some of the worst wigs in the world.