Could Wilson the Lotto dog get any luckier? Lotto is launching another installment of its award-winning Lotto campaign–and in it the popular canine hero Wilson finds a girlfriend. Lotto is also getting into the spirit of Valentine’s Day, and sharing the love… name the lucky bitch, and you could win prizes.
Acting chief executive Warren Salisbury says New Zealanders have really connected with the wire-haired fox terrier Wilson, and the campaign proved to so popular it was decided to film two more adventures for Wilson and his owner Joe.
“They appear to have it all, the luxury car, the boat, and luxury beach holidays. But the one thing their money hasn’t been able to buy is love,” says Salisbury. “In our latest installments, Wilson and Joe hit the beach and also get dressed up to hit the town. Whilst dining at a fine restaurant, Wilson spots a particularly good-looking Cavalier King Charles spaniel and Joe spies her owner–with the promise of romance to come,” he said.
The award-winning campaign by DDB and The Sweet Shop has not only been a favorite with New Zealand viewers, but has also achieved international fame, with more than a million views of the commercial on YouTube. The campaign was also voted New Zealand’s favorite in 2011, winning the People’s Choice Awards at the Fair Go Best Ads.
Three dogs, two wire-haired fox terriers and a cavalier King Charles spaniel, were used in the filming of the new advertisements. They were trained by top animal trainers Caroline Girdlestone and James Delaney, who also trained the original Wilson dogs, Paddy, Elsie and Barney.
Paddy the original Wilson“We searched high and low for talented dog stars to fill the part of Wilson this time around. Eventually, it was two family members related to Paddy who were selected to share the role.
“One of our dog actors is only twelve months old, and hie is called Wilson in real life–he is Paddy’s grandson and lives with his adoring family in Auckland, whilst Astro was the other Wilson actor, and he hailed from the deep south of Invercargill,” says Salisbury.
“Paddy retired from his acting career, and is now living in the lap of luxury with an adopted Kiwi family over in India. It would have cost too much money to have brought him back for the shoot,” explains Lotto’s Karen Jones.
The ads were filmed in Auckland, with the beach shots filmed at the Whangamata beach on the Coromandel. The new Wilson campaign will begin airing this week and they can be viewed here and here.
Join Twitter (@nzlotteries) on Valentine’s Day to suggest a name for Wilson’s new mate and win prizes. Use #Lottolovestory to suggest your name. Could this be the start of another family soap opera a la the Countdown Saga, or the Anchor family? Could we hear the pitter patter of little Lotto doggies soon? Or is it just puppy love?
Credits:
Production co: The Sweet Shop
Director: Sam Holst
Agency: DDB
Creatives: Regan Grafton, Gavin Siakimotu. Natalie Knight
