Taxi Toronto for Viagra (Case History, 2002/2011) – If you want a Lion, talk to your doctor

In their January 2002 press release Pfizer, the producer of Viagra, announced that they were ready to market the antidote to male erectile dysfunction in Canada. Pfizer commissioned Taxi Toronto to provide their angle on the campaign for Viagra. They had to overcome perceptions built up by jokes on late night comedy shows. They had to show that this drug was likely to benefit not just old men and sex fanatics but ordinary men. They aimed at visibility, universality, subtlety and vitality. In doing so they had to be careful not to say a single word about Viagra as a product because of the Canadian laws on pharmaceutical advertising.

Viagra (2002) – GOOD MORNING

The ad starts with an energetic man on his way to work with the soundtrack of “Good morning” from the musical “Singing in the rain.” He bounces down the footpath, past the white picket fence, past the postie and neighbours, hops down the hop skip and jump game, slam dunks a basketball, dances past Mario’s barber’s shop, bounds up the stairs from the train, chases the pigeons, leap frogs the Journal newspaper, cartwheels up to the front door of his office. As he walks into the lift/elevator the word “Viagra” appears on screen, with the encouragement to “Talk to your doctor”.

Creative Team: Alan Madill and Terry Drummond
Production Company: Avion Films
Director: Martin Granger

Viagra (2003) – CHAMPIONS

Queen’s track: “We are the champions” plays as a man bursts through his front door with arms raised. He joins others in the street in the kind of spontaneous celebration that takes after a world cup victory. The viagra pill supers on screen. We understand the real cause for celebration

Creative Team: Alan Madill and Terry Drummond
Production Company: Avion Films
Director: Martin Granger

Viagra (2005) – OFFICE/COACH/GOLF/ELEVATOR

A constant single non-musical tone completely drowns out a conversation. You see a man drop an amazing put and still he continues to tell his friend about his morning under this tone, while a Viagra logo appears over his mouth. Chuckles are heard. Talk to your doctor.

Creative Director: Zac Mroueh, Lance Martin
Copywriter: Irfan Khan
Art Director: Ron Smrczek
Production Company: The Partner Film Company, Toronto
Director: Joakim Back
Gold Lion for the Campaign

Viagra (2007) – WOMBLEMINKI/WUBBLEFLAPS

In Canada, ad drug regulations prevented us from talking about the benefits of Viagra. So we decided to show people talking in a made-up language that was punctuated with the word Viagra.

Executive Creative Director: Tom Goudie
Creative Director: Zac Mroueh, Ron Smrczeck
Copywriter: Michael Murray
Art Director: Jason Hill
Production Company: Partizan, Toronto
Director: Eric Lynne
Gold Lion & Silver Lion for the Campaign

Viagra (2008) – DENISE/VIVIAN/BOBBY/MICHELLE

In Canada, drug regulations prevent us from saying what a product does. Yet our brief was to communicate that Viagra equals great sex. So we created the Viagra Intermission- the sexiest Intermission the world has ever seen.

Executive Creative Director: Terry O’Reilly, Chris Tait
Creative Director: Ron Smrczeck
Copywriter: Michael Murray
Art Director: Jason Hill
Production Company: Radke Film Group, Toronto
Director: Eric Lynne
Shortlist

Viagra (2009) – ANTIQUING/READING/STROLLING

When couples stop having sex, they start filling that void with other activities. And while ‘couple’ activities like antiquing, strolling, reading and watching sports seem harmless at first, they can end up taking over couples’ lives. Viagra helps them get back to just having sex again. The campaign uses outdoor/print to raise awareness of these sex replacement activities. And the television spots share stories of couples who took their activities too far. With the help of Viagra, they were able to find their way back to the bedroom. Follow-up commercials ask couples if they too suffer from chronic ‘activities’.

Executive Creative Director: Darren Clarke, Clive Desmond
Creative Director: Ron Smrczeck
Copywriter: Stefan Wegner, Nathan Monteith
Art Director: Nathan Monteith, Stefan Wegner
Production Company: Soft Citizen
Director: The Perlorian Brothers
Gold Lion for the Campaign

Viagra (2011) – VIAGRA APOLOGIES

When men take Viagra having sex becomes the priority, so it’s no surprise they want to spend ‘quality time’ with their wives. Unfortunately, this can come at the expense of missing some scheduled time with their buddies.
Just so there’s no hard feelings, Viagra has given these men an opportunity to apologize to their friends.

Executive Creative Director: Steve Mykolyn
Creative Director: Darren Clarke
Copywriter: Mark Lewis
Art Director: Nicole Ellerton
Production Company: Go Film
Director: Christopher Guest
Bronze Lion