-author-avatar_thumbnail.jpg){kind=avatar}
Late-night show Saturday Night Live (SNL) entered its 50th season and is celebrating the momentous feat with a fresh new opening billboard (OBB).
The OBB, which first aired during the NBC show's season premiere last September 30, gives viewers a peek at what goes on behind the scenes that keeps the show running.
Director Mika Diva, who served as SNL's lead digital short director for the past four seasons, used pulsating camera movements and on-beat editing to bring viewers to the world of SNL's cast members.
Notably, Diva shared that the spot is influenced by the work of acclaimed directors Michel Gondry and Wong Kar Wai, blending the two styles to create something lively and full of the SNL spirit.
The Lord Danger director shared his experiences working on the OBB, saying that the toughest part was coming up with stuff that was interesting for the cast to do in locations they haven't already shot in in previous SNL intros.
"That was the biggest challenge. SNL Creative Director Mary Ellen Matthews and I spent a month banging our heads against the wall trying to think of new ideas. I rewatched a bunch of the old intros and kinda went a little crazy in the process. But once we cracked it, I took the ideas to the storyboard artist, and we went from there," he told DesignRush.
Honoring 50 years of an iconic late-night show is no easy feat, but by shining the spotlight on SNL's brand identity through the hard work of its cast members, fans of the show are in for a treat.
Meet the Cast
The OBB kickstarts with fast-paced cuts of the New York City skyline as the SNL logo flashes onscreen before taking us into the studio.
The cast members are then introduced one by one, starting with Michael Che eating in a restaurant.
We then see Mikey Day in the backseat of a set car and Andrew Dismukes running after him on the street as soon as he gets off.
Down at the subway, Chloe Fineway dances her heart out before the camera pans to paparazzi shooting Heidi Gardner as she steps out of a store.
By the fire escape of an apartment building, Marcello Hernández jumps off to join his buddy James Austin Johnson for some drinks.
View this post on Instagram
Inside an empty fashion store, Colin Jost stands beside mannequins on display to greet the viewers.
In the next scene, Michael Longfellow offers a policeman on a horse a slice of pizza, before the camera brings us to the top of a double-decker bus with Ego Nwodim.
Driving the bus is Sarah Sherman, who takes her passengers straight into Times Square, where they see billboards light up with Kenan Thompson.
By the streets sits Devon Walker and towering the skyscrapers is Bowen Yang, offering a cheer to the audience.
Back in the set, we see Ashley Padilla, Emil Wakim, and Jane Wickline, before the spot ends in fireworks spelling out "SNL 50."
Earlier this year, SNL poked fun at the Alaska Airline incident with a spoof ad starring Jacob Elordi.
-author-avatar_mobile.jpg){kind=avatar}
