Xfinity: A Holiday Reunion by Goodby Silverstein & Partners

Date: Nov 2019

37 years ago, ET landed in theaters and in the hearts of moviegoers. Now, thanks to Xfinity, the ‘Extra-Terrestrial’ is back to bring everyone a nostalgic feelgood in time for the holidays.

Comcast NBCUniversal is continuing the story of friendship by reuniting ET and Elliott – played by a grown-up Henry Thomas. In the story, the iconic characters from the Universal Pictures classic tell the updated tale of connection using technology from Xfinity and Sky.

In a scene that will look familiar to the millions who have seen the original, a couple of kids hear a noise and search their back yard. There, they see the gangly arms of ET hiding behind a snowman. Turns out it's Elliott’s kids, and they bring their father out to reunite with his old alien friend. During the four-minute film, ET gets in touch with new technology, like VR headsets, speech-activated television remotes and Xfinity-powered tablets, along with having analog fun like tobogganing and watching classic Christmas movies on the couch as a family. Everything seems comfortable, until ET realizes he must go home again, but not before a bicycle trip across a moonlit sky.

This story was made in connection with Universal Pictures, part of the Comcast family of companies, and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners (GSP).

Credits

Client: Comcast

Brand: Xfinity

Agency: Goodby Silverstein & Partners

Client

SVP, Brand Marketing & Communications: Peter Intermaggio

SVP, Brand Marketing: Todd Arata

Vice President, Brand Marketing: Dustin Hayes

Senior Director, Brand and Experiential Marketing: Rose Holden

Senior Manager, Brand Marketing: Kristen Smith

Social

Executive Director, Social Marketing: Nader Ali-Hassan

Senior Manager, Social Marketing: Beth McDermott

Social Marketing & Community Manager: Lacey Ketchell

Agency

Creative

Co-Chairmen: Jeff Goodby and Rich Silverstein

Chief Creative Officer: Margaret Johnson

Executive Creative Director: Jim Elliott

Creative Directors: Tristan Graham, Felipe Lima, Roger Baran

Associate Creative Director: Ricardo Uribe, Eduardo Quadra

Art Director: Jennifer Fisher, Hans Schenck

Copywriter: Anthony Pagaza

Social

Copywriter: Guy Olson, Sam Dworkin

Art Director: Neha Guria, Mike Rodriguez

Design

Design Director: Ryan Self

Designer: Benny Gold, Pedro Zuccolini

Account Services

Managing Partner: Leslie Barrett

Executive Group Account Director: Chad Bettor

Account Director: Kirsten Tsitsos

Account Manager: Lauren Berry

Assistant Account Manager: Sara Jane Stevens

Social

Account Director: Tom Powers

Account Manager: Katie Freedman

Assistan Account Manager: Sarah Thomas

Brand and Communication Strategy

Partner, Head of Brand Strategy: Bonnie Wan

Partner, Head of Communication Strategy: Christine Chen

Director of Brand Strategy: John Thorpe

Group Strategy Director: Katie Coane

Communication Strategy Director: Maren Severtson

Group Director Research Data & Analytics Strategist: Cassi Husain

Communication Strategist: Rosie Kerstetter

Senior Data & Analytics Strategist: Tony Vinella

Brand Strategist: Madison Cameron

Junior Communication Strategist: Taylor Bell

Production

Executive Producer: James Horner

Agency Producer: Kateri McLucas

Assistant Producer: Lily Durston

Social

Executive Producer: Danielle Riccardi

Producer: Megan Monticone

Business Affairs

Director of Business Affairs: Judy Ybarra

Production Company

Company Name: Park Pictures

Production Company City: Los Angeles

Director/DP: Lance Acord

Executive Producer: Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Scott Howard

Producer: Caroline Kousidonis

Editorial Company

Company Name: Exile

Editing Company City: Los Angeles

Editor: Kirk Baxter

Assistant Editor: Zaldy Lopez

Head of Production: Jennifer Locke

Executive Producer: C.L. Weaver

Post Producer: Brittany Carson

Editorial: Making-of-Video

Company Name: Exile

Editor: Conor O’Neill

Post Producer: Michael Miller

Videographer: Andrew Butte

BTS Photographer: Benzo Theodore

Practical Effects Company

Company Name: Legacy Effects

Production Company City: Los Angeles

Co-Owner/Puppeteer: Alan Scott

Puppeteers: Robert Ramsdell, Richard Galinson, Anthony Venuto,

Chris Grossnickle, Walter Phelan

Audio and Sound Design Company

Company name: Lime Studios

Sound Design Company City: LSD, Los Angeles

Sound Designer: Michael Anastasi

Sound Design Assistant: Kai Paquin

Audio Mixer: Matt Miller

Audio Assistant: Ian Connie

Executive Producer: Susie Boyajan

Producer: Kayla Phungglan, Megan Hernandez

VFX Company

Company name: a52

VFX Supervisor: Patrick Murphy

CG Supervisor: Andrew Romatz

2D VFX Artists: Andy McKenna, Andy Barrios, Urs Furrer, Stefan Gaillot, Matt Sousa, Steve Wolff, Richard Hirst, Adam Flynn, Michael Vaglienty, Enid Dalkoff, Patrick Poulatian, Shauna Prescott, Kevin Stokes, Chris Riley, James Buongiorno

3D Artists: Ariana Ziae Mohseni, Caleb Ollivant, Aemilia Widodo, Josh Dyer, Jaemin Lee, Mike Di Nocco, Quinton Woodson, Evan Mayfield, Sarah Wolfe, Dustin Mellum, Tim Kadowaki, Joao Rosa, Robert Kim, Colton Smrz, Michael Cardenas, Greg Gutkin, Joe Paniagua, Tom Briggs, Bryan Cox, Paulo deAlmada, Jose Limon

Matte Painters: Ram Bhat, Jie Zhou, Zach Mandt

Tracking: Joe Chiechi, Michael Bettinardi, Michael Cardenas, Joey Bettinardi

Online Editors: Chris Riley, Sam Kolber, John Valle

Producers: Michael Steinmann, Jillian Lynes

Executive Producers: Patrick Nugent & Kim Christensen

Managing Director: Jennifer Sofio Hall

Design Studio

Company Name: Elastic

Creative Director: Nadia Tzuo

Animators & Compositors: Steven Do, Trix Taylor, Brian Hayes, Jim Pearce

3D Generalist: Dustin Mellum, Bryan Cox

Producer: Jazeel Gayle