By Scott D. Pierce

| The Salt Lake Tribune

For the second year in a row, Utahn Tyler Dixon has won $25,000 in the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl contest. As one of five finalists, he’s got a shot at the $1 million first prize.

But he’s already won something money can’t buy — love.

Photos

• 

At a glance

—

See the ad

“Dog Park” can be viewed at › crashthesuperbowl.com.

	Join the Discussion
	Post a Comment

"Last year’s Super Bowl was so much fun," said Dixon, a freelance video producer who now splits his time between Lehi and Los Angeles. "It was the best week of my life. I ended up meeting my girlfriend, Heather, down there."

Heather Kasprzak was another of the finalists in the make-a-Doritos commercial competition. Her spot, "Birthday Wish," didn’t win the top prize, either.

"But we started dating," Dixon said, "and we actually made this ad together this year."

He’s the writer/director and she’s the producer of their ad, "Dog Park."

If Dixon’s spot made the top three of online voting (which closed Sunday), it will air during the game. If it was No. 1, he’ll be $1 million richer.

It didn’t escape his attention that last year’s winner, "Pug Attack," featured a dog.

"I’m like, ‘Of course dogs like Doritos. Duh! Dogs will eat anything,’ " Dixon said. "But to me, it’s not about that. It’s about what people will do for Doritos."

"Dog Park" features a couple of guys at a dog-agility competition who forget to bring dog treats. When they try to get their pet to perform using a Dorito as a reward, all the humans in the background begin to do tricks.

It was filmed at the elementary school he attended in San Diego (where his mother still teaches), with equipment rented from a dog trainer Dixon found on Craigslist. The actors and dogs are volunteers, including the guy who delivers the punchline, Salt Lake City native Shane Thueson.

"He’s not even an actor," Dixon said. "He’s my writing partner. I hate to say this, but he was the last possible person to do it. And Doritos told me it’s his delivery of that line that put us over the top. It’s so serious, so deadpan."

Last year’s ad, "The Best Part" (with the guy licking another guy’s fingers to taste the Doritos) cost $82.50 to make. This year’s ad cost $1,300 because Dixon had to rent a camera and other equipment.

He’d love to win $1 million, but Dixon still hopes this will help him break in as a commercial writer/director.