In our film, Oscar is an accidental trash sculptor who becomes a darling of the NYC art world when his work is shared on a Squarespace site. It’s his greatest nightmare: people like him. And that makes him miserable. Until he realizes that being miserable actually makes him happy.

The star of the campaign is Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street, a beloved American educational TV series that has delighted children (and their parents) for the past 50 years. In contrast with the other polite and upbeat residents of Sesame Street, Oscar is always in a bad mood and prefers to hang out by himself in his garbage can. The only thing he enjoys is trash, which he obsessively collects.

Squarespace

“A Cautionary Tale”

Open on OSCAR THE GROUCH on a New York City street. He’s pulling garbage out of his own can and tossing it, accidentally creating beautiful trash sculptures. EVIE walks out of her building and sees what he’s doing.

EVIE: Wow. Is this yours?

OSCAR: Will you stop bothering me? I’m sorting my trash here.

EVIE: Your artwork is amazing.

OSCAR: My what-work?

EVIE: This is art. People need to see this. You need a website.

OSCAR: Hang on. You want to put even more trash on the internet?

EVIE pulls a laptop out of her bag and starts building him a Squarespace website. With the help of some Sesame Street magic, she’s instantly finished. She shows it to him.

OSCAR: What are you doing?

EVIE: Very soon you’re gonna be very famous.

OSCAR: Riiiiight. Lady, that is the last thing I would ever…huh?

A huge CROWD has already gathered. They push in around OSCAR’s can, shooting photos of him with their phones. OSCAR’S jaw drops.

OSCAR: Stop! Put those away!

Cut to OSCAR talking to a GALLERIST in his empty gallery.

GALLERIST: Oscar, I must have your art in my gallery.

OSCAR: Hang on, hang on - You actually want me to keep my trash in here?

GALLERIST: Oh yes, Oscar. I must. The public, they will lose their minds!

OSCAR: [Thinking that sounds wicked] Huh! I’m listening, I’m listening...

Cut to the same gallery. We see some of OSCAR’s beautiful trash sculptures. It’s now completely packed with people. Patrons are gushing about his work.

OSCAR: What’s going on here?

GALLERIST: I told you Oscar. A triumph!

The GALLERIST points to one of the pieces.

GALLERIST: And this new piece, In the Mood for Wet Socks? It speaks to me.

OSCAR: Does it tell you to scram?

GALLERIST: [teasing] Ha! L'enfant terrible...

Cut to early morning. OSCAR gingerly pokes his head out of his trash can to make sure he’s finally alone. To his relief, he’s by himself. But then he turns and a wall of PAPARAZZI is snapping his picture and yelling his name.

OSCAR slams his lid back down.

Cut to a series of newspapers and magazines, all with OSCAR’S picture on the front page.

Cut to fan mail being delivered on top of OSCAR’s can.

Cut to OSCAR on stage with an INTERVIEWER. An image of OSCAR’S art work appears on an enormous screen behind them. There’s a laptop on the table with OSCAR’S Squarespace site on the screen.

INTERVIEWER: With me today is this generation’s greatest artist, Oscar the

Grouch.

OSCAR: I’m only here to tell you to leave me and my trash alone.

INTERVIEWER: So modest.

Cut to OSCAR placing a “scram!” sign outside his can as the PAPARAZZI continue to snap photos and yell questions.

Cut to the GALLERIST placing a “sold” sign on one of OSCAR’s sculptures.

Cut to more fan mail being delivered on top of Oscar’s can.

Cut back to the on stage interview.

INTERVIEWER: Oscar, your overnight rise to the top of the art world can all be

traced back to your website. Squarespace must be…

OSCAR: ...the worst thing that’s ever happened to me!

Cut to the GALLERIST placing a “sold” sign on another of OSCAR’s sculptures.

Cut to a MAN buying one of OSCAR’s sculptures on his phone.

Cut to the GALLERIST placing a “sold” sign on another of OSCAR’s sculptures.

Cut to even more fan mail being delivered.

Cut to OSCAR at the curb looking at a waiting limo.

OSCAR: There is no way I am riding in this!

Cut to OSCAR riding in the back of the limo against his will, looking extra grouchy. A WOMAN yells from across the street.

WOMAN (VO): I love you Oscar!

OSCAR slowly and expressionlessly rolls up his window.

Cut to OSCAR on the cover of various art magazines from around the world.

Cut back to the interview.

INTERVIEWER: Oscar the Grouch? More like Oscar the Great! Am I right? Huh?

The audience explodes with applause. OSCAR is miserable.

OSCAR: No! No!

Cut to a huge pile of fan mail being delivered. With effort, OSCAR opens his can and sighs.

Cut to the opening of the Contemporary Trash Museum. There’s a huge crowd and a red carpet, lined with members of the press.

REPORTER: Oscar! Oscar! You went from being an unknown artist to having your

own museum, all thanks to this website.

The REPORTER gestures to OSCAR’s website on her phone.

OSCAR: Yeah! And I’ve never been more miserable in my life!

A light bulb goes off in OSCAR’S head, as the camera slowly pushes in on his face. He says these words slowly to himself, to allow them to sink in:

OSCAR: I’ve never been more miserable in my life.

A glow of happiness flashes in his eyes. OSCAR realizes that this is the worst he’s ever felt. Triumphantly, he thrusts his hands in the air and shouts out his realization:

OSCAR: I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE MISERABLE IN MY LIFE!

Supers appear.

SUPER: A WEBSITE MAKES IT REAL

LOGO: SQUARESPACE