THE MAKING OF
A look behind the scenes of the John Lewis Christmas ad 2021
The return of the magic of Christmas is something that everyone will be getting on board with this year. We’ll be welcoming family, friends and, in the case of our young star of the new John Lewis advert, alien beings from outer space into our homes and lives to enjoy familiar traditions and celebrations.
“We are trying to create a Christmas that is as magical as the first Christmas you remember”
Feargal Ballance,-Creative Director, Adam&eveDDB
It’s a moment of hope, reconnection and friendship, everything that encapsulates the joy of this time of year. ‘When we started to think about the things that we love about Christmas, it was about all of the traditions and the moments in the build up to the big day,’ says Emma Wood, Partner and Advertising Lead. And experiencing the moments that make Christmas special all over again (and in the case of our space traveller Skye, for the first time) is something truly magical.
“If we can make every person who watches this have a little smile, or shed a little tear or feel something, then everyone’s going to have a 1% better Christmas”
Mark Molloy,-Director
‘There is nothing more magical than discovering the joy of Christmas for the first time and enjoying your favourite festive moments with loved ones. After the last 18 months, we wanted our advert to really celebrate this as we look forward to a brighter future,' says Claire Pointon, Partner and Director of Customer. 'Through the story of Skye and Nathan we celebrate friendship and are reminded of the joy of experiencing Christmas for the first time.'
CAST & CREATIVESMeet the actors and the team behind Unexpected Guest
Raffiella Chapman, 14, SkyeAt just 14 Raffi is already a seasoned actor, having started her movie career at the tender age of five playing Lucy Hawking alongside Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones in The Theory of Everything. She played Claire Densmore in Tim Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children as well as roles in BBC Film’s Homebound and BBC/HBO’s His Dark Materials. Raffi has also worked with Mark Wahlberg and Chiwetel Ejiofor in Infinite, and recently completed filming on her breakthrough lead role of Vesper in Vesper Seeds.
Jordan Nash, 14, NathanMulti-hyphenate Jordan is an actor, song-writer, dancer and music producer. He is best known for his lead role as Peter Pan in the fantasy drama Come Away, in which he stars opposite Angelina Jolie and David Oyelowo. Other recent work includes playing the lead role of Terry in the hit BBC/Netflix drama, Call the Midwife, and having a guest appearance on the comedy Breeders opposite Martin Freeman. Jordan has also starred in the hit Disney blockbuster, Aladdin, playing Omar.
Mark Molloy, DirectorMark Molloy is one of the most sought-after directors in the advertising industry, known for a distinctive body of work that is emotionally charged and visually compelling. He has worked with brands including Qantas, Samsung, Nike, Toyota and Nissan. His recent and on-going partnership with Apple has produced a series of award-winning films and global commercial campaigns. Mark has been repeatedly recognised in all of the industry’s major awards, winning multiple Gold Cannes Lions, and 2018 he was nominated for Adage’s Director of the Year award.
Raffiella Chapman, 14, SkyeAt just 14 Raffi is already a seasoned actor, having started her movie career at the tender age of five playing Lucy Hawking alongside Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones in The Theory of Everything. She played Claire Densmore in Tim Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children as well as roles in BBC Film’s Homebound and BBC/HBO’s His Dark Materials. Raffi has also worked with Mark Wahlberg and Chiwetel Ejiofor in Infinite, and recently completed filming on her breakthrough lead role of Vesper in Vesper Seeds
Jordan Nash, 14, NathanMulti-hyphenate Nathan is an actor, song-writer, dancer and music producer. He is best known for his lead role as Peter Pan in the fantasy drama Come Away, in which he stars opposite Angelina Jolie and David Oyelowo. Other recent work includes playing the lead role of Terry in the hit BBC/Netflix drama, Call the Midwife, and having a guest appearance on the comedy Breeders opposite Martin Freeman. Jordan has also starred in the hit Disney blockbuster, Aladdin, playing Omar.
Mark Molloy, DirectorMark Molloy is one of the most sought-after directors in the advertising industry, known for a distinctive body of work that is emotionally charged and visually compelling. He has worked with brands including Qantas, Samsung, Nike, Toyota and Nissan. His recent and on-going partnership with Apple has produced a series of award-winning films and global commercial campaigns. Mark has been repeatedly recognised in all of the industry’s major awards, winning multiple Gold Cannes Lions, and 2018 he was nominated for Adage’s Director of the Year award.
THE SOUNDTRACKBy Lola YoungThis year’s soundtrack is a cover of Philip Oakey and Georgio Moroder’s 1984 classic Together in Electric Dreams, the perfect accompaniment to a story of friendship across the universe. It is sung by Lola Young, an up-and-coming 20-year-old singer-songwriter from South London. Lola’s exceptional talent and distinctive voice made her the perfect choice for the soundtrack, capturing the warmth of the original and updating it with her own personal stamp. Her work to date includes the powerful single Woman, her debut collection of tracks Intro and the Renaissance EP which all received impressive critical acclaim; garnering radio support from the likes of Annie Mac, Clara Amfo, Benji B, Giles Peterson, Jo Wiley, Mistajam and DJ Target; as well as support across the board from the likes of British Vogue, Evening Standard, The i, The Sun and CLASH Magazine.Since the middle of 2020 she has been in the studio writing with acclaimed producer Paul Epworth, working on a new collection of tracks that will form part of her upcoming output.
