AT&T and Possible enlist Santa to read names of 'Nice List' kids on Facebook Live
We all have an idea of what Santa’s workshop at the North Pole looks like. From an early age, as we waited for Santa to drop down the chimney, we dreamed of a busy, sparkling place, full of hard-working elves, tinsel and gumdrops.
Tomorrow (December 23rd), kids will get to go behind the scenes at Santa’s workshop in a first-ever for Santa on Facebook Live. Santa will be reading the names of kids from his “Nice List” on Facebook Live on “The Day Before the Night Before Christmas,” thanks to technology from AT&T Thanks.
OK, so maybe it’s not Santa’s real workshop. It’s actually a ranch in Agua Dulce, California (shhhh, don't tell the kids), but the expansive, woodsy ranch is perfect as a backdrop for Santa and his elves. It even features a reindeer barn.
Santa Live is an exclusive experience on the Facebook ecosystem, utilizing mobile-first technology to help Santa reach millions in real time. The live show is being produced by the Seattle office of global agency Possible, which has been collaborating with AT&T for over five years. The Santa Live broadcast will utilize technology to transport children, via Facebook Live, to the North Pole, where Santa will read from his “Nice List” while giving kids a glimpse of Santa’s workshop and North Pole home, where elves will be preparing the presents and the reindeer will be prepping for their flight just two days before Christmas. According to a release, viewers will “feel the chaos and magic that is December 23rd as Santa and crew prepare for their long journey.”
The real-time event lets parents sign up to see Santa read their child’s name live from the North Pole. The audience will also be able to interact in real-time with the actors playing the parts and steer the action during the broadcast. Personalized video content of Santa reading the children’s stories will be sent to each family as a keepsake.
The event came about in part because 6.6 million kids from ages 7-9 will stop believing in Santa Claus this year, according to a story in The Atlantic, which shows stats of ages where kids stop believing in the jolly old elf. Those involved in the Santa Live campaign wanted to utilize the latest technology to help keep the dream alive for kids. The event will be directed by Matt Smukler and Live director Steven Blum.
The Santa Live by AT&T Thanks live stream will take place on the AT&T Facebook page and the link will be posted on the event page as soon as Santa goes live.
AT&T/Possible Santa Live Credits
Gareth Jones – Managing Director
Ray Page – Executive Creative Director
Beth Nouguier – SVP Account Management
Kat Grider – VP, Client Services Director
Matt Gilmore – Creative Director
Shawn Herron – Creative Director
Sean Weller – Director, Strategy
Leif Allen – Associate Creative Director
Emilia Serrano – TV Writer
Tommy Dietrich - Associate Strategist
Carla Sparks – Writer
Aimee Willis – Writer
Jeremy Higuchi - Designer
Michelle Schmoelzer – Account Director
Andrew Grinaker – Associate Director, Content Strategy
Sara Lingafelter – Director, Content Strategy
Megan Ball – Executive Producer
Patricia McCreary – Producer
Griffin Farnes - Group Director, Project Management
Hannah Goehri – Project Manager
Casey Feves – Sr Analytics & Optimization Manager
Evan Pearson – Media Associate