Film Maker Goes On The Run Again In 'Make It Count' Nike Sequel

Nike's big hit of last April, Make It Count divided the online audience. Over 8.3 million people have seen the globetrotting clip since it was launched, with many applauding its lust-for-life message of adventure and excitement. Others were not so impressed.

The trouble is that Make It Count isn't your average ad. Nike enlisted the help of Casey Neistat, an online film maker, telling him to create a clip that encapsulated the spirit of their latest product, the Fuelband.

Since the product hadn't been released yet, Neistat decided he'd have to work with just that slogan, 'Make It Count', and took the money Nike offered him and went travelling around the world. 

That upset a few people. The resulting film is a lot of fun, bouncing from one exotic location to another, with Neistat and his brother planning nothing, running everywhere and sharing inspirational quotes from historical figures. 

While a life-affirming lesson in seizing opportunities, it doesn't have a whole lot to do with the product. So Nike asked Neistat to make another film, to explain the flaws in the first one...and to go travelling around the world again.

Do More is a little confused, attempting to be the same action-packed inspirational world tour, while also justifying the first ad and trying to show the Fuelband at every possible opportunity. Neistat even points it out as he plummets towards the earth whilst skydiving.

The latest clip has earned over 192,000 views since it was launched just 4 days ago. It's sure to benefit from the interest generated by the original, and is a fun, exciting clip in its own right. Sadly, though, Do More just isn't as slick as the original.

Mashing together footage from the first trip and the latest adventure, the clip features a confusing voice over from Neistat. He attempts to explain the first film, the Fuelband, chucks in some inspirational quotes and provides an odd stream-of-consciousness commentary on the action. There a little too much going for it to be properly understood.

The clip is a fun world tour, but the confused story-telling means that the original is still the best.

On The Run In Globetrotting Nike Ad

If you're an aspiring film maker, having the opportunity to make a film for Nike is something you'd rather not screw up. So running off with their money and travelling around the world instead may seem like a silly thing to do.

But then Casey Neistat knew exactly what he was doing. Asked to make a film to promote their new Fuelband range, Casey saw the theme "make it count" and simply ran with it. And ran, and ran, and ran... You get the point.

The resulting film may not have been what Nike was expecting - it's probably much better.

So just who is Casey? Well, based in New York, Casey and his brother, Van, have been making short films for years. The pair have even landed a show on HBO and recently scored an online hit with their short documentary Bike Thief.

The Neistat brothers like to get stuck in with their projects, putting themselves in the action. So when asked to put together something about making the most of life, Casey packed his bags.

The film follows Casey and his cameraman friend Max on a mad dash around the world. Instead of using Nike's money to create a slick ad, the two used it to travel to as many countries as possible before it ran out. Which was only 10 days.

With random inspirational quotes breaking up the rapid parade of destinations, the ad also includes a few shots of Casey running. Although these seem to be shoe-horned in, they are a reminder that there's a sporting product involved.

The Fuelband is a wristband that helps runners to collect an array of data along their route. The film doesn't mention any of this, but it does do a lot for the product's ethos: inspiring runners to get out an enjoy their lives and chosen sport.

Pulling in over 158,000 views in its first 24 hours, the film is proving to be particularly popular on Twitter. Shared an impressive 29,500 times, the ad is probably just starting its rise up the rankings.

We're really impressed by the end result, and by the guts it must have taken to make. While not the slickest of productions, it is a great example of brand values put to work.