Executive Producer and Line Producer Michele Abbott has launched Road Trip Films, an agile production company/production service model designed to accommodate commercial shoots anywhere, on any scale.
“Our goal is to serve as master facilitator and faithful traveling companion,” said the well-traveled Abbott, whose career spans two decades and who has been involved the production of Music Videos and Television Commercials for some of the industry’s leading artists and agencies.
Breaking with tradition, RTF does not maintain a formal directorial roster. Rather, choosing the road less traveled, the company has ready access to an array of freelance directors depending on the creative and production requirements of the project. Creative Talent have included Director/Cameramen, Agency Creative Directors, Feature Directors, Visual Effects Artists, Post Production Houses, Promotional Directors and Field Producers. Road Trip is Non DGA; it is, however, IATSE Union Signatory which allows for access to top level Commercial Crew and Directors of Photography. Road Trip is also a Member of the AICP.
Before opening Road Trip Films, Abbott earned her stripes as a freelance producer with production companies such as RSA, Partizan, and SMUGGLER. She has produced for directors Jake, Luke, and Jordan Scott, Sam Jones, Laurence Dunmore, Sam Bayer, Hype Williams, Brian Beletic, Bryan Singer, Warren Kushner and countless other standout talents. Music videos for Madonna, Mary J. Blige and The Wallflowers share space on Abbott’s resume with Commercials for Amex, AT&T, Nike, Visa and over 10 years of Producing the California Tourism Campaigns.
Abbott’s “life on the road” makes her company a unique resource as a Production Service. On that front, some of Road Trip’s clients include ARCO, Cisco, NFL Network, Sony, Pepsi, Samsung and The United Nations.
"My love of road trips rose to a new high on one of my all time favorite jobs, Nike ‘Magnets’, featuring Lance Armstrong and directed by Jake Scott," Abbott explained. "It started off with a brilliant idea for ‘tech scouting’ all over the state with the crew in a rock ‘n roll bus. We ventured from Northern California to the Arizona California Border to Austin, Texas, chasing bikes, trains, geese and buffalo along the way." Abbott’s other inspiration for Road Trip was producing the California Tourism campaigns for more than 10 years. Traveling with the agency, client and crew to the best places in California could hardly be called work, she explained: "We traversed Tahoe to Napa, San Francisco to San Luis Obispo, Disneyland to San Diego with Celebrities in most every scene. Logistics, diplomacy and organization combined with truly enjoying the views along the way, make for successful and memorable adventures."
Road Trip Films acts as both Production Company and Production Service. Capable of any size job – from full-size commercial film shoot, to a smaller HD video approach – Road Trip can facilitate any and all production needs. Road Trip offers bidding, location scouting, travel coordination, payroll, insurance and overall production support.
“Agility should never be confused with compromise – whether it’s a complex production or an insert, we maintain a standard of excellence across the board,” Abbott concluded. “At Road Trip Films, whether putting together a large-scale commercial shoot or working lean, from agency boards and Web content to running footage, I strive to create more memorable work and continue the adventure!”
