Pretzel Aftermath

I just found out, via John Talbot, that the Wendy's Canada #expectToBeAmazed Facebook campaign won Bronze in the Shopper Innovation Awards:

More than 4,000 people entered the contest for the trip (1,000 people above target) during the six-week campaign, the brand’s Facebook page garnered 60,000 new “likes,” the videos received more than 320,000 views and 8.7 million impressions were tracked.

The Great Mark Lewis

It's been long enough, I can finally confess... I never actually got to taste the thing. We weren't allowed to eat the ones that were prepared to go on screen and I don't really eat that much fast food and I missed my chance.

Oh well... next magic-themed ad campaign....

Last bit of Prezels

One last piece of magic for Wendy's #ExpectToBeAmazed campaign.

I'm actually facing a second camera which is supposed to have an extreme close up of my hands so you can actually see the coins. Not sure what happened to that footage. Oh well.

And remember, actually visit the Wendy's Canada Facebook Page to enter to win a trip for two to Las Vegas.

Wendy's Magic

Back in June, along with several other magicians, I was asked to film a series of short pieces to help promote a new product being introduced by Wendy's Canada - the Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger. Tied in with the magic is the chance to win a trip to Las Vegas. This was originally intended to be a project using faked magic (actors performing with camera tricks) but instead Wendy's opted for real magicians performing with no trick photography. Everything was shot continuously in one take (although there are multiple camera angles for better visibility). The result was the online ad campaign Expect to be Amazed.

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The hardest part of the project is the name: try saying "Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger" over over again - it's hard to say on camera, and I don't think any of us got it right in less than three takes.

Now that the product has been launched, the videos that were shot here in Toronto are being released one by one every few days through Wendy's Canada's Facebook page and YouTube Channel. You can watch my performances along with Mike Segal (Canada's Magician of the Year) and David "Baldini" Grossfield. More are coming, so follow and like to see them all.

And of course, get yourself to a Wendy's so you can try the Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburgerbefore they all disappear.

Part 1: An Empty Paper Bag

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XZhR3G5WQA&w=560&h=315]

Part 2: The Cups & Balls

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhYpg9vIkDs&w=560&h=315]

More performance video...