Wild Plum director/DP Ericson Core recently completed a three-spot package for Jeep out of Global Hue that tested the limits of location scouting. On the three-day shoot, Core would need to film at locations as diverse as an urban cityscape, beachfront property, a dense forest, and a beautiful mountaintop.nn”We chose San Francisco as our base because of some of the great architecture and style within the city,” Core states. “Then we were able to move to the Redwood National Forest, some of the great beach roads in the area, and finally the Sierra Nevadas by Lake Tahoe which just can’t be beat for their beauty. By being able to shoot portions of the spots in each location, we really were able to get a vast diversity of scenery that wouldn’t be possible in a single day,” the director recalls.nnThe spot, “Like A Cloud”, required the Jeep to travel through a lush forest filled with fog – headlights cutting through the thick haze. To achieve this, eco-friendly smoke machines were used by effects company ReelFX on a closed road in the Redwoods. “The effects guys did a great job of creating a realistic atmosphere,” states Core. “A lot of what is seen in the final spot is done in camera, with some smoke added in post to increase the density even more by Method. The work done by the effects teams really made for an excellent finished product.”nn
nnCore also praised the ARRI Alexa camera for it’s beautiful imagery, even in slow motion. “We weren’t doing crazy slow motion – we were at 60fps – but the images we were getting were just stunning. I can’t say enough good things about that camera system.”nnThe final spot in the series, “The Most”, showcased the Jeep’s power and handling of difficult terrains. This took the crew to the Sierra Nevada mountain range and Lake Tahoe, where the vehicle would be climbing rocks and pulling a boat out of the water. “The Sierra Nevadas just can’t be beat for their beauty,” Core says. “I’m thrilled we were able to pull off shooting there and I think the spots really benefit from the locations we found.”nnnnCore also found working with Global Hue to be a great experience. “They were extremely open and collaborative from beginning to end which made the sharing of ideas that much more fluid,” recalls Core. “They came up with some great concepts that I was very excited to shoot. It’s not often you get to work on three very distinct spots over three days, but it was a great challenge and I’m really pleased with the end results.”nn”Like A Cloud” and “The Most” are currently on air. The third spot, “Maps”, will air later this year.nnCreditsnAgency: Global HuenChief Creative Officer, Vida Cornelious; Creative Director, Dolph Kawalec; Senior Copywriter, Jared Davis; Senior Art Director, Albert Loera; VP/Executive Producer, Cathy Antoniello; Senior Producer, William Riley; Production Business Manager, Yvette Aponte; VP/Account Director, Dennis Castillo; Management Supervisor, Tom Shanahan; Senior Product Specialist, Dan Hogan nnProduction Company: Wild PlumnDirector/DP, Ericson Core; Executive Producer, Shelby Sexton; CFO, Alisa Allen; UPM, Anton MaillieShelby Sexton Wild Plum Contact Shelby via email 310.823.7445
Who Needs Los Angeles? We Do.
One doesn't have to be a statistician to know that there are fewer commercials being shot in the U.S. today for the American market than ever before, and a dramatic decrease in L.A. in particular. In the last five years, as reported by FilmLA (the office tasked with issuing permits), L.A. commercial production has dipped 31 percent. But here’s the thing: This doesn’t mean that L.A. has lost its importance as the production center of the world. Production in L.A. is vital. It is the go-to. It’s where you can count on access to exemplary crews, a support infrastructure second to none, varied location and backlot options, a large population of on-screen talent and (fairly) predictable weather. The fact is, with overall decline and now the devastation of the fires, we’re on the brink of losing this mainstay resource. Without employment opportunities and now many without homes, talented and trained crew are bound to leave either the industry or the LA area for other opportunities, unless there are enough job opportunities to sustain a solid living. Now is the time when we ALL must support and bolster this community. Production is needed in L.A., now! Of course, advertising is a business, and marketers’ money should be spent as efficiently as possible, BUT we have to think beyond each production and know that if we lose the incredible resource of L.A. production as we know it, then marketers, agencies and the industry loses in the long run. Over the past several days, some agencies have issued directives to production companies that are unilaterally pushing upcoming production options out of L.A. The fact is L.A. is a large area, and many sections of the city and county are not directly impacted... Read More