Two B.C. filmmakers have been named as finalists in Doritos’ annual Super Bowl ad contest, giving each a chance at $1 million and the career break of a lifetime.
Devon Ferguson of Vancouver and Graham Talbot of Maple Ridge beat out almost 5,000 entrants from across the world to earn their spots among the 10 finalists, who were announced Monday morning.
“I’m still kind of in awe, I really am,” Ferguson told CTV News. “Ever since I was young I wanted to be in the film business, so this is just such a great opportunity to get my name out there and it’s great exposure and I just couldn’t be happier.”
This is the ninth year for the Crash the Super Bowl contest, and the second to allow entries from outside the U.S. Apart from the two Canadians, one Australian and one U.K. filmmaker made the top 10.
The finalists are each guaranteed at least $25,000 cash and the top two will have their ads played during Super Bowl XLIX, which all 10 have been invited to watch live from a private suite.
The contestants won’t find out who won until they see the winning entry air during the breaks.
“I’m kind of stressing about not actually getting to enjoy the Super bowl because I’m so nervous about if my commercial’s gonna screen,” Talbot said.
The runner-up will receive $50,000, while the winner will get $1 million and a one-year contract to work at Universal Pictures in Hollywood.
“I don’t want to jump the gun, but at night sometimes when I’m lying in bed it’s like, what if I actually did win?” Talbot said.
“Ideally it would be me first, him second,” Graham said. “That’s really what I want to happen.”
The public can vote for the winning entry online, while second place will be selected by a Doritos panel.
To vote, visit the Crash the Super Bowl website before Jan. 29.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Shannon Paterson
