HennessyWild Rabbit Campaign
A cinematic portrait of Maurice Ashley, tracing the first Black chess grandmaster’s journey from Brooklyn’s chess tables to the world stage.
Role: Senior Art Director
Year: 2021
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For Hennessy’s “Wild Rabbit” platform, we told the story of Maurice Ashley, the first Black chess grandmaster. Set in early-’90s Brooklyn, the film follows his path from Prospect Park’s Black Bear School of Chess to the highest level of the game, shaped by discipline, setbacks, and the refusal to settle.
The film traces Maurice’s journey from wide-eyed rookie to grandmaster, transporting viewers to early-’90s Brooklyn as he sharpens his game among the legendary players of the Black Bear School of Chess in Prospect Park. What begins as a story of defeat and perseverance becomes a journey through the layers of Maurice’s mind and the “Never Stop. Never Settle.” mentality that shaped his rise.
A journey into ’90s Brooklyn and the mind of a grandmaster.
From a table in Prospect Park to a place in history.
Chess is a game of endless lessons that apply to life. In addition to our brand films, we also created “Lessons of a Grandmaster,” a series of shorts that combine the mind-expanding lessons of the board, a dash of street wisdom and art-of-war-esque principles applicable to any of life’s endeavors.
Credits
Agency: Droga5
Global Head of Art: Alexander Nowak
Creative Director: Thom Glover
Copywriters: Ted Meyer, Emily Berger
Head of Production: Ruben Mercadal
Assistant Producer: Connor Hagan
Production: Somesuch
Director: Daniel Wolfe
Documentary Director: Elliott Power
Director of Photography: Diego Garcia
Editorial: Cut+Run & The Quarry
Editor: Paul Watts
Assistant Editor: Beau Dickson
Post-production: The Mill New York
VFX Director: Dan Williams