A story that conveys the thrill and heartbreak of young love. We meet our two protagonists on their way to separate New Year’s Eve parties. They’re in different parts of the world. 10,9,8, 7… the New Year countdown starts at a nightclub and just as our female protagonist is about to send a WhatsApp message, the world literally stops.

We then take a deep dive into a dream-like journey full of memories and feelings – from the moment our protagonists met in the subway till the end of their relationship. Cut back to the present. The male protagonist receives a message, and the world finally spins again. Even if the clock strikes midnight, the year doesn’t start until you get the message you’ve been waiting for.

WhatsApp breaks records every New Year’s Day. Over 100 billion messages are sent worldwide specifically on this day. Therefore, the brand wanted to celebrate its essential role during New Year’s with an emotional, global campaign. After nearly two years of the pandemic, some of the magic of the year’s biggest moments started to fade and New Year’s Eve?—?the yearly moment of starting fresh all over the world and using WhatsApp to connect with loved ones?—?had lost its luster. But no matter when the clock strikes midnight, the only thing that really matters is sharing that New Year’s exchange. A message can be just as meaningful earlier in the day or 5 A.M. the next day. That’s why, WhatsApp wanted users to celebrate the moment that really starts the new year because: it’s not the New Year until you get the message you’ve been waiting for.

Shot on 35mm to achieve a cinematic and intimate look, most of the film consists of flashbacks, so it was vital to figure out how emotional memory looks. Dreams and memories certainly blend both time and room.

Throughout the story there’s a seamless transition from macro to micro shots. This was important to keep the memories and dream-like sequenced always dynamic.

There was an instant exploration of how speed could be manoeuvred. The goal was to control slow motion and real speed within the same take. The mix between ramping the speed of the camera and playing with the shutter box created a playful yet dramatic visualization of dreams and memories, and even more when it was done simultaneously in the same shot.