Pepsi recreates the 'Journey to the west' with heavy machines and mega stars

‘Journey to the west' tells the familiar tale of Buddhist Master Tang Seng and his three disciples, Monkey King, Pigsy and Sand Monk in search of Buddhist sutras. BBDO Shanghai took a chapter out of the long tale, and recreated the goal as the ‘holy grail of refreshment'.

While searching in the hot dessert, Master Tang's team encounters the Spider Queen. She holds the ultimate limited edition of a Pepsi glass and she is in a bad mood because of thirst.

The commercial is filmed at Ya Dan, a part of the Gobi Dessert northwest of the famous Silk Road city of Dunhuang. Pepsi continues to feature brand ambassadors Louis Koo, Jolin Tsai, Show Luo and Huang Xiao Ming. It has also invited the Miss World 2007 winner Zhang Zi Ling as the Queen.

Executive creative director Andrew Lok admitted that the shooting was not easy. Some of the hardships the crew faced include fierce winds, 40 degree celsius heat and sand flies. While everyone hopes the next project will be based in a less harsh locale, director David Tsui admits, "Well, we are scouting the Himalayas right now."

The TV commercial is part of the bigger initiative ‘Activate your thirst'. PepsiCo China has paired with the Mother Well Cellar program, which is set to provide clean water to 27,512 villages in China. The donation drive is still onging until 15 August.

Credits:
Project Activate your thirst
Client PepsiCo China
Creative agency BBDO Shanghai
Executive creative director Andrew Lok
Creative directors Andrew Lok, Yohan Si
Art directors Zuki Shen, Nicole Ma, Fion Lee, David Tsui, Andrew Lok
Copywriter Nicole Ma, Zuki Shen, Fion Lee, David Tsui, Andrew Lok
Client executives Richard Li, Chris Tung, Fion Lee
Account servicing Fiona Lam, Juu Ann Chan, Scarlett Xi
Agency producers Hon Foong Woo, Desmond Loh
Director David Tsui
Cinematographer Tapu Chen
Assistant director Tiger Zhao
Producers Jenny Lee, Christine Ip
Production art director Kin Ho Wong
Stunt director Chi Wah Ling
Dance choreographer Sunny Wong
Editor Adrian Brady
Special effects Kenneth Chung
Colourist Kwok Choi Chan
Music composer Eddie Chung
Sound design Drum Hong Kong
Exposure Television, online