Mike Bernard '99 'Crashes' SuperBowl XLVI with Two Commercials
On Super Bowl Sunday, many Americans get even more excited about the clever and funny commercials than the football game itself. One of these people is Mike Bernard '99, a Colby-Sawyer Communication Studies major who has written and produced two Doritos commercials for Superbowl XLVI, as well as two commercials for last year's big game.
Bernard, who moved to Los Angeles in August 2000, works in the film industry as a video editor, creating trailers and television spots for films.
“Right now I'm working on the new Adam Sandler film, 'That's My Boy,' he says. “I've worked on such films as 'Step Brothers,' 'The Bucket List,' 'Your Highness,' 'Wanderlust,' 'Semi-Pro,' 'Open Season,' 'The A-Team,' 'X-Men,' 'Gone Baby Gone' and many others.”
Bernard and his good friend, Adam Franklin, created a partnership in which they write, direct and produce commercials, which they submit to various contests. “The Doritos spots are the most high profile because of their ties with the NFL and the Super Bowl,” Bernard says. “Last year our two spots, 'Doritos BBQ' and 'Peace & Quiet,' both finished in the top 25.”
This year, Bernard says their two Doritos submissions, “Pinata” and “Anniversary,” have received “rave reviews.” He's looking forward both to seeing the New England Patriots play on Sunday and to hearing fans' reactions to his commercials.
This year Bernard and Franklin are expanding their partnership into some exciting new territory. “We're currently writing some short films, which should be shot and completed by the end of 2012,” he says.
For now, Bernard's professors, classmates and friends at Colby-Sawyer College look forward to a win for the New England Patriots, and even more, to some entertaining commercial breaks, courtesy of a creative and entrepreneurial young alumnus.
