LinkedIn has chosen the Academy Awards as the stage for its first television commercial.
The professional social network will air a 30-second spot during Sunday night’s Oscar broadcast on ABC focused on the theme of achieving your goals.
LinkedIn has already posted the commercial — titled “You’re Closer Than You Think” — on its YouTube channel. The video opens on NASA footage of space as the first few bars of Billy Bragg & Wilco‘s “California Stars” begins to play. LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner narrates: “When I was a kid, every night before I went to bed, my dad would tell me I could do anything I set my mind to.” Text appears explaining that 3 million LinkedIn members qualify for NASA’s open astronaut position.
The campaign was led by Nick Bartle, LinkedIn vp member marketing and communications, who explains that the idea came from LinkedIn’s work with NASA on its search for their next astronaut. “We were astounded — and inspired — to find that this childhood dream is actually within reach for a lot of people,” he said, adding that “inside each of us is a moonshot, an undertaking that stirs our souls, that fills us with desire to change the world, in whatever larger or small way possible.”
The ad features a space exploration tie-in with best picture nominee The Martian, which stars Matt Damon as an astronaut who struggles to survive on Mars after he’s left by the rest of his crew.
Watch the spot here:
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