Four members of a film crew making a Nissan commercial in a remote section of the Vancouver area died when the helicopter they were on board crashed into a glacier on June 22. At press time, the identities of three of the victims were confirmed: director Paul Giraud, 47, of bicoastal/ international HSI Productions; first assistant cameraman Mikael Glattes, 37; and grip Ivan Weber, 28. The name of the fourth victim, a Yukon-based copter pilot, had not been released per his family’s request.
At press time, Canadian authorities were investigating the cause of the crash. Newspaper reports in Canada said that the accident took place as the crew was apparently attempting to get a shot of a Nissan truck perched on a lower glacier when the copter’s rotor was clipped. The Nissan job was out of TBWA/ Chiat/Day, Los Angeles. According to Nissan, the decision to shoot in Canada was made prior to the start of and had nothing whatsoever to do with the current U.S. spot actors’ strike; the location was singled out for its unique terrain and the dramatic impact it would add to the commercial.
News of the tragedy spread worldwide, casting a cloud over festivities at the Cannes International Advertising Film Festival, where Giraud, a Malibu, Calif.-resident, had been honored in years past. A highly regarded filmmaker, Giraud had spent the past 11-plus years at HSI. He had won a pair of Cannes Gold Lions in ’96 for the PBS spots "Safe Haven" and "Hoop Dreams" conceived by Hal Riney & Partners, San Francisco (now Publicis & Hal Riney).
Born and raised in South Africa, Giraud got his start there by shooting freelance news footage for ABC. He also found work as an assistant cameraman on British-produced features such as The Wild Geese and Zulu Dawn. In a SHOOT interview earlier this year, Giraud recollected his early industry experience and the opportunities afforded him: "British crews are brought up in that old school of spending years on each rung of the technical ladder. The result is that they’re such old pros and you can learn a lot of from them. The South African system was just the opposite. If you went in there and attacked it with energy and commitment and produced results, you could progress really fast, very far, very quickly."
Giraud did just that, assembling a varied resume and diverse reel that established him firmly as a leading spot director internationally. "I try to go for people that are real. I love big exterior stuff and interior lighting stuff. And I love humor and characters. But I think visually," said Giraud in describing his work, thankful that he was difficult to pigeonhole as a director.
Among Giraud’s latest efforts was a three-spot package for Aetna U.S Healthcare via McKinney & Silver, Raleigh, N.C. The ads, "Home Plate, "Diner" and "Labor Day," carry a visual signature that enhances the message conveyed by everyday people who need healthcare information and advice. Giraud also recently turned out a series of Royal Caribbean commercials for Arnold Communications, Boston. He characterized the project-Arnold’s first effort for the client-as being ideal in that it offered creative flexibility. "We literally went to countries for two to three days, ran around, looked at what worked, shot some stuff and came back. It was a great project. There was a lot of energy."
The Royal Caribbean spots ("World Can’t Come to You," "Voyager," "Big Difference" and "Not By You"), which began airing in January, were designed to attract young vacationers and played to the beat of Iggy Pop’s "Lust For Life." They represent a dramatic departure from the cruise line advertising norm.
In the same SHOOT interview, Giraud expressed his affinity for the advertising discipline. "I love commercials," he said. " I love the fact that you’re thrown into new situations. You get addicted to this change, this energy, this constant flow. I’ve loved every day in the business. The only thing I hate is conference calls. I don’t think anybody appreciates those. But the shooting process is just so exhilarating."
Giraud is survived by his wife Valerie, daughter Adele, his brother Pierre and his parents. HSI issued a statement which read: "Our deep-felt sympathy, thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends and fellow crew members of those involved in the accident."
