An Ideal World, Orange County’s leading hybrid studio has collaborated with Director, Aaron Heck and Heckart Studios to deliver Korbel Champagne’s latest ads. An Ideal World managed not just the visual effects for the project, but the editorial and final coloring also.
Founder, Robb Hart explains, "The best visual effects come from early involvement and total integration. The Korbel spot is a perfect example. Before shooting even began, we advised on the cameras and the lighting. We know the RED and the Phantom very well, having used them for our Nissan and Honda spots respectively, earlier this year."
On set, Hart and Visual Effects Assistant, Sharon Diaz, were present for the entire shoot, providing invaluable supervision throughout. Combining a Sonnet Raid with an eCinema Systems™ display, and two MacBook Pro laptops, Hart and Diaz were also able to capture, playback and grade the footage in HD. Director of Photography, Rolf Kestermann was able to review footage from the RED and the Phantom with Heck and Hart, on set.
The spot, featuring a freestanding bottle of Korbel champagne magically erupting, required extensive planning.
"We had to make sure that our cork popped at the perfect moment. Using a special rig, devised just for the shoot, we forced real champagne up through the bottle and gauged how much pressure it would take to fire off the cork. Once we knew how many pounds per square inch it was going to take, we programmed the motion control system – carrying the 1000/frames per second Phantom – to send a signal to the rig and blow the cork just as it passed overhead. We were working with the tightest of angles…and it worked brilliantly!" says Hart.
Experts in handling the RED camera’s 4k files, An Ideal World’s crew knew that the RED’s remarkable picture capabilities made it the perfect choice for capturing the rest of the footage for the spots. Scenes included an upscale bar, beautiful patrons and, arguably, the most glamorous champagne-spraying scene in television history.
When it came to post, matching the RED footage with the Phantom footage, though complex, proved no problem for An Ideal World’s team. Combining REDCINE, Shake and Final Cut Studio, a perfect match was achieved.
As for the rest of the post process, An Ideal World sets itself apart with a less than traditional approach. Founder and Lead Artist / Compositor, Robb Hart explains:
"We’re a studio that is proficient in the production, the editorial, the effects and the finishing. This allowed us to get a bit radical and interweave the processes. When you’re working with 15 seconds, every frame is precious and hugely impacting. As a small cog in a big machine you don’t have these options, and that is the beauty of being a boutique. It’s a wonderful opportunity to creatively ‘collaborate’ with a client, to allow the different stages to influence each other, and to have fun doing it is nothing short of priceless."
An Ideal World’s collaboration with Heckart Studios has produced four different, though equally stunning, 15-second commercials that are currently airing nationally. The various spots can be found below.
<a href="http://www.anidealworld.com.korbel/Korbel_Angel_YBRK0801H.mov”>An Ideal World: Korbel – Angel
<a href="http://www.anidealworld.com.korbel/Korbel_The_Look_YBRK0802H.mov”>An Ideal World: Korbel – The Look
<a href="http://www.anidealworld.com.korbel/Korbel_Girls_YBRK0803H.mov”>An Ideal World: Korbel – Korbel Girls
<a href="http://www.anidealworld.com.korbel/Korbel_Big_Bang_YBRK0804H.mov”>An Ideal World: Korbel – Big Bang
For a copy of An Ideal World’s reel please contact Timothy Walsh, or visit www.anidealworld.com.
ABOUT AN IDEAL WORLD
Robb Hart formed An Ideal World in 1997. Hart’s prior credits include, Film Editor at Thames Television, launching MTV Europe, and Director of Digital Video at Virgin Interactive. The studio services advertising agencies and production companies with award winning VFX and post, as well as production. Recent collaborations include: Acura, Farmer John, Honda, Mercedes Benz, Nesquik, Nissan, Time Warner, Toshiba, Wienerschnitzel and Yokohama.
ABOUT KORBEL
Established in 1882, Korbel Champagne Cellars has been a part of America’s greatest celebrations for more than 125 years. It has been the exclusive champagne of the past five presidential inaugurations. Based in Sonoma County, CA Korbel sells the largest volume of premium traditional method sparkling wine in the United States.
