These Butterfinger Cops Find Out Just Who Laid a Finger on Them

OK, who laid a finger on that Butterfinger?

Was it the boyfriend? Or maybe Grandma stooped to stealing the crispety crunchety peanut-buttery treat? Which one has … sticky fingers?

Never fear. Amir Arison (from NBC's The Blacklist) and Alexandria Benford are on the case as silly sleuths Hugh Dunnit and Ali Byes, who specialize in tracking down Butterfinger thieves.

Hugh Dunnit. Subtle.

Police parody, candy capering and undercover antics ensue in the amusing five-minute film below from Piro, whose co-founder and executive creative director Tim Piper wrote and directed the campaign.

And remember, as Butterfinger Investigator Arison breathlessly explains, "It's always who you never expect." (That's just one of several twisty quips he delivers sotto voce in mock deadpan style.)

That squad's always on edge. Too much chocolate, probably.

Piper tells Muse that the concept stemmed from the Ferrero brand's "Nobody better lay a finger on my Butterfinger" tagline, made famous in commercials with Bart Simpson in the '90s and '00s.

That line, he says, suggested a cops and robbers scenario, "which led us to the idea of a team dedicated to prevention and justice. Shawn Smith, a young editor at Piro, overheard the brainstorm and said, 'Call it the BFI,' which got a laugh, and we went from there."

As for the webisode treatment, "the client needed a 15-second spot, but also a big idea that would have legs," Piper says. "They pushed us creatively to show not only the genius ways that the BFI caught people, but also the inventive ways people try to steal someone's Butterfinger. The longer-form lets viewers engage on a deeper level."

You can investigate other campaign elements below:

"The actress playing the girlfriend, Deepti Menon, would have giggling fits as a result of Amir Arison's performance, so they agreed Amir wouldn't look at her during her close-ups so we could get through it," Piper recalls. "Amir brought something very special to the role, and it was hard for anyone to keep a straight face while he was performing."

Indeed, it's a fun romp, with Arison and Benford delivering the comic treats just in time for Halloween. Speaking of witch—er, which—the push includes a seasonal promotion encouraging Butterfinger thieves to turn themselves in for a "cash reward" of $25,000.

CREDITS

BFI WEBISODE CREDITS

Client: Ferrero Mainstream Chocolate North America
SVP Marketing, Ferrero Ferrero Mainstream Chocolate North America: Mark Wakefield,
VP Marketing, Ferrero Mainstream Chocolate North America: Silvia Borla
Marketing Director, Butterfinger: Miguel Zorrilla

Agency: Piro
ECD/Writer: Timothy D Piper
Creatives: Mike Kirkland, Jamie Rusiti, Colin Nissan, Rory Kennett-Lister, Shawn Smith, Daniel
Rosenberg, James Best.
Managing Director: Jennifer Natuzzi
Producer: Marianna Terenzio
Senior Account Supervisor: Elizabeth Skovron
Head Strategist: Jeremy Wilson

Production: Piro
Executive Producer: Daniel M Rosenberg
Director: Timothy D Piper
Producer: Melissa Murphy
DOP: David McFarland
1st AD: John Lowe
2nd AD: Henriette Ohno
Set Design: Latisha Duarte
Stylist: Young-Ah Kim
Script Supervisor: Lashawn Garnes

Post-Production:
Editor and After Effects: Jamie Rusiti
Post Supervisor: Marianna Terenzio

Music: Music Box, LLC
Music Score: Jordan Yaeger
Sound: Digital Arts, NY
Sound Design: Josh Heilbronner
Coloring: The Mill NY
Colorist: Damien Van Der Cruyssen

BFI TVC CREDITS

Client: Ferrero Mainstream Chocolate North America
SVP Marketing, Ferrero Ferrero Mainstream Chocolate North America: Mark Wakefield,
VP Marketing, Ferrero Mainstream Chocolate North America: Silvia Borla
Marketing Director, Butterfinger: Miguel Zorrilla

Agency: Piro
ECD: Tim Piper
Writers: Tim Piper, Colin Nissan, Rory Kennett-Lister
Art Directors: Jamie Rusiti, Mike Kirkland
Creatives: Shawn Smith, Daniel Rosenberg, James Best
Managing Director: Jennifer Natuzzi
Producer: Marianna Terenzio
Senior Account Supervisor: Elizabeth Skovron
Head Strategist: Jeremy Wilson

Production: Piro
Executive Producer: Daniel M Rosenberg
Director: Tim Piper
Producer: Melissa Murphy
DOP: David McFarland
1st AD: John Lowe
2nd AD: Henriette Ohno
Set Design: Latisha Duarte
Stylist: Young-Ah Kim
Script Supervisor: Lashawn Garnes

Post-Production:
Editor and After Effects: Jamie Rusiti
Post Supervisor: Marianna Terenzio

Music: Music Box, LLC
Music Score: Jordan Yaeger
Sound: Digital Arts, NY
Sound Design: Josh Heilbronner
Coloring: The Mill NY
Colorist: Damien Van Der Cruyssen