With the Delta variant sweeping through the US in the summer of 2021, Intel made the decision to cancel the in-person component of its flagship developer event, Innovation. As the program’s lead creative agency for virtual, they asked us to take a look at the existing keynote stage design and offer input on any changes we’d make. Our reply: Well, how would you feel if we just started again?

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A key challenge with pivoting to virtual is breaking the in-person mindset. Without an IRL audience, Intel didn’t actually need a stage at all. And because we were now making a film, before we even consider the ‘set’ design, we should start with the script.

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CEO Pat Gelsinger wanted the keynote to focus on reconnecting with the developer community, inviting them into Intel’s world to collaborate and participate - to partner. 

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This was our starting point for the film’s creative direction: an honest, dynamic discussion of all Intel’s news and announcements. Continually moving cameras took the developer community on a journey with Intel; branding became subtle and secondary to break down barriers between brand and audience; the rawness of the environment conveyed an honest, transparent approach.

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The Intel team - including Pat himself - loved the concept and we spent the following weeks storyboarding, designing and choreographing the full 90-minute film. What’s more, it was all shot and broadcast fully live, with our team leading the onsite production.

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