Rhys Darby and Anna Faris add Hollywood sizzle for Air New Zealand’s latest safety video
Kiwi comedian Rhys Darby teams up with Hollywood actress Anna Faris to play a multitude of ridiculous characters in Air New Zealand’s latest off-the-wall air safety video.
Rhys Darby and Anna Faris’ take on a Parisian love story
Called Safety in Hollywood the five minute video starts with Flight of the Conchords star Darby in the bath, phoning Faris and asking her if she wants to be in a safety video he’s writing.
It then moves to a cop car on a stakeout, with the pair stalking a pot dealer (carrying actual cooking pots), before a pair of Air NZ flight attendants pop up in the back seat and start giving them safety tips.
The video then moves to a Paris-based romance, a horror movie and a Western quick draw competition.
The airline has become synonymous for its quirky safety videos which double as marketing materials. It was quick to capitalise on the fact that the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit were shot in NZ, and last year starred All Blacks players in a take off of Will Smith’s Men in Black song ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
The current film was shot at Warner Brothers Studios in Los Angeles on four different sets, and features Chester the Chihuahua, who has appeared in Transformers and Grey’s Anatomy.
Air New Zealand head of global brand Jodi Williams said: “Anna and Rhys make a great comedic duo and really bring this safety video to life, entertaining customers while at the same time imparting key safety messages.
“Our inflight safety videos are now world famous and we know people anticipate their release. The interest in them has been phenomenal and collectively they’ve attracted more than 83 million views online and featured in international news outlets like CNN, BBC, Time.com and The Daily Mail.
“This latest video will again draw eyeballs to New Zealand from around the globe and encourage visitors to travel to our wonderful country. It is also another great example of the diverse set of creative talent that our nation nurtures.”
Faris said in a statement: “I really wanted to be part of this project because Air New Zealand has really redefined safety videos with its fun and creative approach. And working with Kiwi actor Rhys Darby was an absolute treat. It’s so easy to tune out when watching a traditional safety video, so it comes as such a delightful surprise when you get something that’s really fun and funny.”
Darby added: “Air New Zealand’s safety videos are a Kiwi staple and reflect the Kiwi sense of humour. I think people will really enjoy watching this safety video as it takes them on a magical ride through the movie making world, while still bringing to life the key safety messages.”
