Spike Jonze and Idris Elba Just Made Squarespace Ads That Are Artful and Funny

It’s been almost a year since Spike Jonze’s last commercial project. And while it’s going to be tough to top Apple’s “Welcome Home” spot from last March, his new Squarespace films starring Idris Elba are refreshingly quirky, charming, and of course, wonderfully shot. 

The first spot is an artful, highly stylized :60 in which the 46-year-old British actor lip-syncs “Que Sera, Sera” (over audio of a girl singing it) as he is shown playing out different childhood fantasies—being a fashion designer, a boxer, a fighter pilot, a baker, an astronaut. 

The song was recorded by the Kaos Signing Choir for Deaf and Hearing Children, who also performed the national anthem at the London Olympics in 2012.

“Dream it. Make it,” says the copy at the end. “Make a website worthy of your dreams.” 

Jonze’s second spot in the campaign couldn’t be more different. Set next to the boxing ring from the first spot, it’s a four-minute piece that plays like a comedy act—with Elba and British comedian Lolly Adefope trading quips as she helps him build a website for his fashion line, 2HR SET.

The end of the longer piece says “Make it” (without the “Dream it”), followed by the Squarespace logo. 

The new work, made in-house without the help of an agency, launches in the lead-up to the Super Bowl—but won’t run on the game, ending a five-year Super Bowl run. 

Asked in a Q&A on the Squarespace why he wanted to make this campaign, Elba replied: “I use tools to do the stuff I do. I learn new ways to put myself out there in new areas. I like that Squarespace is a tool you can use to expand your thoughts, expand your creativity, expand your business. I’d love it if people saw this and looked deeper into the tools that they can use to be great.” 

CREDITS

Squarespace “Dream It” — Idris Elba (Directed by Spike Jonze) 
Client: Squarespace 
CEO: Anthony Casalena 
Chief Creative Officer: David Lee 
Creative Production Director: Sandra Nam 
Creative Director: Ben Hughes 
Senior Designer: McLane Teitel 
Creative: Mathieu Zarbatany 
Creative: Noah Phillips 
Producer: Bianca Cochran 
Creative Project Manager: Dominic Hackley 
Business Affairs Manager: Kiersten Bergstrom 

Production Company: MJZ 
Director: Spike Jonze 
DOP: James Laxton 
Production Designer: Elliott Hostetter 
President: David Zander 
Executive Producer: Eriks Krumins 
Co-Producer: Amanda Adelson 
Co-Producer: Laura Klein 
Producer: Laurie Boccaccio 

Editorial: Final Cut 
Editor: Jeff Buchanan 
Assistant Editors: Lucy Berry / Dillon Stoneburner 
Executive Producer: Suzy Ramirez 
Producer: Ana Orrach 

Color Grade, Finishing + VFX: Framestore 
Colorist: Beau Leon 
VFX Supervisor: Alex Thomas 
Executive Producer: Rachel Mariscal Creasey 

Music Arrangement + Recording: Squeak E Clean 
Music Director: Sam Spiegel 
Sound Design, Co-Mixer: Drew Fischer
Producer: Blade Thornton 

Music Supervision: Mothlight 
Music Supervisor: John Bissell 

Final Mix, Sound Design: Formosa 

Mixer: John Bolen 

Executive Producer: Lauren Cascio 
Squarespace “Make it” — Idris Elba (Directed by Spike Jonze) 
Client: Squarespace 
CEO: Anthony Casalena 
Chief Creative Officer: David Lee 
Creative Production Director: Sandra Nam 
Creative Director: Ben Hughes 
Senior Designer: McLane Teitel 
Creative: Mathieu Zarbatany 
Creative: Noah Phillips 
Producer: Bianca Cochran 
Creative Project Manager: Dominic Hackley 
Business Affairs Manager: Kiersten Bergstrom 

Production Company: MJZ 
Director: Spike Jonze 
DOP: James Laxton 
Executive Producer: Eriks Krumins 
Co-Producer: Amanda Adelson 
Co-Producer: Laura Klein 
Producer: Laurie Boccaccio 

Editorial: Final Cut 
Editor: Chris Amos 
Assistant Editor: Dillon Stoneburner 
Executive Producer: Suzy Ramirez 
Producer: Ana Orrach 

Color Grade, Finishing + VFX: Framestore 
Colorist: Beau Leon 
VFX Supervisor: Alex Thomas 
Designer: Will Golladay 
Executive Producer: Rachel Mariscal Creasey 

Mix, Sound Design: Formosa 
Mixer: John Bolen 
Executive Producer: Lauren Cascio