Zhang + Knight drive into the world of commercials with Maserati

Directing duo Zhang+Knight’s exquisite debut commercial for Maserati challenges the luxury automotive market with an original and uncompromising aesthetic.

The filmmakers flirt with a future magic that takes the viewer on a silky-smooth journey of precision, opulence and creative ingenuity.

Zhang+Knight are the latest prodigious protegees to emerge from FRIEND. The London production company have built a reputation for developing the brightest creative talent in the industry and this directing partnership, with a music video background, are continuing this tradition.

The breakthrough Maserati spot, shot in Italy as a co-production with Section80, was created by Soursop in Amsterdam and is appropriately entitled The First of Its Kind.

Maserati – First of its Kind

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Agency Soursop/Amsterdam
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Director Zhang + Knight

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Credits

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Agency Soursop/Amsterdam
Production Company Friend
Director Zhang + Knight
Co-Production Co. Section80
Editor Jack Williams
Executive Producer Daniel Breheny
Sound Designer Nick Smith / (Sound Designer)
Music Warp Records

VFX Analog
Colour a52
Executive Producer Luke Jacobs / (MD)
Executive Producer Chris Abitbol
Executive Producer Luke Tierney / (Head of Music Videos)
Executive Producer Marco Orlando
DP Patrick Duroux
Producer Sarah Tognazzi

Line Producer Caterina Colombo
Production Designer Joseph Bennett
Production Designer Fabrizio Moschini
Executive Producer Matt Shannon
VFX Producer Rose Nicholson
VFX Lead Mike Merron
2D Lead Fabio Zaveti
Executive Producer Thatcher Peterson

Producer Jenny Bright
Colorist Daniel de Vue
Executive Producer Ravi Amaratunga Hitchcock
Producer James Scally

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From Zhang + Knight:

“This was with the dream brief: to create a series of worlds which captured the essence of Maserati’s first supercar in 20 years - the MC20. Soursop and the Maserati were radical in their creative approach - this was to be a new vision of a supercar commercial - and entrusted us with the freedom to conceptualize these worlds through a ‘Zhang + Knight’ lens.

To be believed in was freeing, and the process became like play. We sought to build our worlds from materials which embodied the car: mercurial metallic fabric was perfect for an MC20-inspired ocean. Meanwhile it felt right that dawn in this universe should be a graphic line cutting across an abstract plane of light. Everything was shot for real in Italy with Section80; seeing our designs brought to life with such nuance gave us tingles.

It was a real privilege to bring this film into the world. We are so grateful to Ravi, Val, Max and Soursop, as well as Phil and Maserati for having faith in us - and also to our collaborators for their artistry and passion; Friend (literally) moved mountains to make it happen!