Nothing like a seemingly inevitable high-speed collision to promote NHL hockey coverage and in the process establish the brand identity of the network carrying those games: Versus, a.k.a. VS.
The sound of tires tearing up the terrain precede shots of a vintage muscle car racing through irrigation fields to out run a fast moving train approaching a railroad crossing. Shots alternate between the train barreling down the tracks and the speeding automobile. At the last moment, the car goes airborne, narrowly missing a broadside disaster with the train–and from there the spot immediately cuts to a pro hockey game with players slamming one another along and against the walls of the rink.
The screen cuts to black and the VS. logo appears, at which point we hear the period end buzzer, followed by the tag, “Versus–The Competition Is On.”
“Chase” is part of a three-spot promo package for the VS. Network directed by Enda McCallion of bicoastal Epoch Films for agency TAXI, New York.
Jerry Solomon executive produced for Epoch, with Pat Harris serving as producer. The DP was Steve Chivers.
The TAXI team consisted of exec creative director/art director Wayne Best, copywriters Vinit Patal and Nathan Frank, art director Paul Caiozzo and producer Cheri Anderson.
Rick Lawley of The Whitehouse, New York, edited “Chase.” Sound designer on the spot was Stephen Dewey of Machine Head, Venice, Calif. Visual effects house was Ring of Fire, West Hollywood, Calif., with an ensemble that included creative director Jerry Spivack, Inferno artist John Ciampa and exec prdoucer John Myers. Audio post mixers were Rex Recker and Tom Goldblatt of audioEngine, New York.
Review: Director Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked”
It's the ultimate celebrity redemption tour, two decades in the making. In the annals of pop culture, few characters have undergone an image makeover quite like the Wicked Witch of the West.
Oh, she may have been vengeful and scary in "The Wizard of Oz." But something changed — like, REALLY changed — on the way from the yellow brick road to the Great White Way. Since 2003, crowds have packed nightly into "Wicked" at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre to cheer as the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba rises up on her broomstick to belt "Defying Gravity," that enduring girl-power anthem.
How many people have seen "Wicked"? Rudimentary math suggests more than 15 million on Broadway alone. And now we have "Wicked" the movie, director Jon M. Chu's lavish, faithful, impeccably crafted (and nearly three-hour) ode to this origin story of Elphaba and her (eventual) bestie — Glinda, the very good and very blonde. Welcome to Hollywood, ladies.
Before we get to what this movie does well (Those big numbers! Those costumes!), just a couple thornier issues to ponder. Will this "Wicked," powered by a soulful Cynthia Erivo (owner of one of the best singing voices on the planet) and a sprightly, comedic, hair-tossing Ariana Grande, turn even musical theater haters into lovers?
Tricky question. Some people just don't buy into the musical thing, and they should be allowed to live freely amongst us. But if people breaking into song delights rather than flummoxes you, if elaborate dance numbers in village squares and fantastical nightclubs and emerald-hued cities make perfect sense to you, and especially if you already love "Wicked," well then, you will likely love this film. If it feels like they made the best "Wicked" movie money could buy — well, it's... Read More