New Zealand’s rugby team the All Blacks are the stars in Air New Zealand’s latest safety video, which has drawn inspiration from the Men In Black movie franchise of the late 1990s.
Called Men in Black Safety Defenders, the video features All Black Israel Dagg rapping the safety message alongside Australian-born artist Stan Walker.
“I grew up listening to the iconic Men in Black movie soundtrack song. Hopefully I’ve done it some justice,” Dagg said.
Actor Rip Torn, who played the chief in the first two Men In Black movies is also in the video, while there are cameo appearances from non-Kiwi rugby greats Australia’s David Campese, England’s Martin Johnson and Augustin Pichot from Argentina.
The Men In Black Safety Defenders video can be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji65WI5QLZI
Air NZ, a self-described “crazy about rugby” airline, renewed its major sponsorship of the national rugby team for more five years in July and painted a number of aircraft in an all black livery over the years, including a Boeing 777-300ER and 787-9, Airbus A320 and Beech 1900D.
“We’ve worked with the All Blacks on previous safety videos and thought it would be fun this time around to have them step into the shoes of the other highly trained Men in Black. The result is not only entertaining but makes people sit up and take notice of the key safety messages,” Air NZ head of global grand development Jodi Williams said in a statement on Thursday.
All Blacks Captain Richie McCaw, who was joined for the safety video by teammates Dan Carter, Kieran Read, Keven Mealamu, Sam Whitelock and Dagg, as well as coach Steve Hansen, said everyone enjoyed the experience.
“We had a lot of laughs on set and were blown away by Israel’s hidden singing talent. If rugby doesn’t work out for him he clearly has a promising career as a back-up singer,” McCaw said.
Air NZ said the safety video was created in collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Content Licensing group, Sony Pictures Imageworks and Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Archives & Collections.
Sony Pictures Entertainment executive vice president Emmanuelle Borde described the concept the safety video as “really clever”.
“It’s been exciting to help Air New Zealand bring the Men in Black universe to life in this unique way,” Borde said.
The All Blacks also featured in a 2011 Air NZ safety video:
