Singing his woes from Rikrok’s perspective, a young customer finds his bank account cleared out, after responding to a ‘Dear Customer’ email requesting account information, an email that appeared to be coming from the bank itself. The older bank manager matter-of-factly declares: "It wasn't me" and rolls off to rap, in typical Jamaican voice and diction, how hackers are always prowling on unsuspecting individuals. The lyrics blatantly list out the fundamental do’s and don’ts of online banking for the benefit of the young customer and also the viewer.
Cultural / Context information for the jury
More than half the adult population in the UAE fell victim to cyber-crime last year. The country’s strong economy and diversity of residents made it an obvious target for cyber-criminals. To complicate the situation further, the rapid rise of online shopping across the Emirates has also put many consumers in the sights of scammers. Tackling this issue was of foremost importance not just for the bank but also the national police and Government.
Tell the jury about the production design / art direction. You may wish to comment on choices, challenges or effects.
Our one word brief to the art department was ‘quintessential’. To create a quintessential bank, with quintessential décor and costumes in a quintessential world. This was important to peel away any distractions and focus on the core idea. The retro feel created a lived-in feel and familiarity, evoking collective nostalgia of how we imagine the world of ‘banking’ in our heads. This was done to give the film a universal appeal, cutting across people from different backgrounds and countries.