CHANEL | Joe Wright Discusses the Making of the Advertising Film Featuring Brad Pitt
BEAUTY / NEWS
February 13, 2015

CHANEL | Joe Wright Discusses the Making of the Advertising Film Featuring Brad Pitt


N°5's New Face: Brad Pitt, the First Male Icon


Director Joe Wright on the Making of the New Advertising Campaign



CHANEL's legendary fragrance, N°5, has become a major talking point with the appearance of Brad Pitt, the brand's first male icon, in its new advertising campaign. Many of you may have already seen it on television commercials and elsewhere. The director behind that iconic visual work is British filmmaker Joe Wright, highly acclaimed for his film "Pride & Prejudice." The director shares his thoughts on this exciting collaboration.

Text by FUJITA Mayu(OPENERS)





"N°5 is timeless, evoking womanhood itself."



Some may view CHANEL N°5 as a historical icon of the 20th century, while others describe it as a bestselling fragrance that embodies eternal femininity. According to director Joe Wright, who helmed the new advertising film, CHANEL N°5 is "an extraordinary entity that continues to be reinvented."




From Coco Chanel herself to Marilyn Monroe, Catherine Deneuve, Lauren Hutton, Nicole Kidman, and Audrey Tautou, numerous actresses have served as muses for N°5. The sensational idea of casting Brad Pitt as the "face" of N°5 is rooted in this legacy. It marks a first in the fragrance industry, much like the original CHANEL N°5, which captivated people in 1921 with its innovative scent derived from 80 ingredients, discovered by the genius perfumer Ernest Beaux, who was favored by the last Tsar of Russia.


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This advertising film, which expresses a woman's fragrance through a man's perspective, can be seen as a fitting endeavor for CHANEL N°5, which was called "revolutionary" for overturning various conventions, and for the CHANEL brand itself, which has established itself as a symbol of innovation.



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From left: Brad Pitt and director Joe Wright


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"It was a truly wonderful shoot, one I'll never forget," says Wright. "What I love is the scene that starts with a wide shot and gradually zooms in, ending with a close-up of Brad. He's not just handsome; he's a brilliant actor who knows exactly how to deliver his lines. It's always a pleasure when someone you admire exceeds your expectations." Wright directed several short films for this campaign, capturing the memories, thoughts, and dreams of a man captivated by a certain scent. "Each short film feels like a short poem," he reflects on the finished work.



Indeed, the first film, featuring Brad standing in an empty space and speaking to the camera, is a veritable ode to a romantic fragrance. According to the director, it is Brad's voice that lends this film an unforgettable, magical quality. "There are many handsome actors, but Brad's voice conveys his soul and moves us." A soul speaking to a soul.──This is why every word he utters elevates the viewer's emotions, leaving a powerful and lasting impression.

"I wanted to create a film that was incredibly simple and strong, focusing purely on the performance." The director explains that he first encouraged Brad to think about N°5 personally, and then they discussed what the fragrance meant to people. "The important thing is not to forget how revolutionary CHANEL N°5 is," says Brad Pitt, the icon of this campaign. "N°5 has always been the most iconic women's fragrance. Its success over the years stems from its elegant simplicity combined with complexity. It transcends human emotions and concepts of beauty to evoke timelessness itself—womanhood."



The casting of Brad Pitt evokes the men in Mademoiselle Chanel's life, how they contributed to her journey and expanded her image. This fragrance is approachable, yet it is also a symbol of dreams, luxury, and allure. "While this scent doesn't seem like it was created to attract men, it actually does," says the director, adding, "N°5 is even more than that. It feels beyond gender." "Many perfumes are easily identifiable and can be associated with a particular era. But you can't do that with N°5. And I think that's precisely why women love N°5."

It's a love letter delivered in Brad's quiet, gentle, yet powerful voice, as if reciting poetry to a former lover. He seems to be immersed in love, reminiscing about the memories, dreams, and fantasies evoked by those words. The second short story has just been released. Who is the object of his affection? The captivating love poem, inspired by the scent of N°5, continues.

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