Denny’s is an unlikely late night destination for young people after a rock concert. But looking to increase the likelihood is bicoastal agency Filter Creative Group with this “All Nighter” Denny’s website spot which is also getting some regional broadcast play.
Seated at a Denny’s table are a motley crew: a T-Rex dinosaur character, a unicorn who appears to be a bit of a stoner, a gent in leprechaun garb, and a regular guy who’s the voice of reason.
The latter declares “what a night,” to which T-Rex responds, “yeah.” The unicorn, with french fries falling out of his mouth, affirms that the evening’s show “rocked.” The leprechaun retorts, “What you remember of it.”
A friendly Denny’s waitress, with some trepidation, approaches the table and drops off the check. The leprechaun whips out a pot of gold as payment, to which the waitress responds, “Got anything smaller?”
The normal guy in the group comes to the rescue, handing her some regular currency.
Unicorn senses that the waitress is “so into me.”
“Nobody’s into you,” snaps back the leprechaun.
“I’m into me dude,” affirms the unicorn.
“Obviously,” says the leprechaun sarcastically.
An end tag carries the Denny’s logo accompanied by the website address wwww.dennysallnighter.com. A voiceover chimes in: “Good friends, good value.”
This offbeat slice of night life was directed by David Jellison of Santa Monica-based TWC.
The Filter team included creative heads Alan Miller and Alan Sartirana, writers Evan Anderson and Patrick Strange, and project manager Connie Sang.
Jeff Snyder served as exec producer/producer for TWC. Kim Johnson was production supervisor. The DP was Bryan Newman.
Editor was Jason Painter of Nomad Editorial, Santa Monica.
Character fabrication was done by Rob Burman of Sticks and Stones, Tujunga, Calif.
Netflix Series “The Leopard” Spots Classic Italian Novel, Remakes It As A Sumptuous Period Drama
"The Leopard," a new Netflix series, takes the classic Italian novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa and transforms it into a sumptuous period piece showing the struggles of the aristocracy in 19th-century Sicily, during tumultuous social upheavals as their way of life is crumbling around them.
Tom Shankland, who directs four of the eight episodes, had the courage to attempt his own version of what is one of the most popular films in Italian history. The 1963 movie "The Leopard," directed by Luchino Visconti, starring Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon and Claudia Cardinale, won the Palme d'Or in Cannes.
One Italian critic said that it would be the equivalent of a director in the United States taking "Gone with the Wind" and turning it into a series, but Shankland wasn't the least bit intimidated.
He said that he didn't think of anything other than his own passion for the project, which grew out of his love of the book. His father was a university professor of Italian literature in England, and as a child, he loved the book and traveling to Sicily with his family.
The book tells the story of Don Fabrizio Corbera, the Prince of Salina, a tall, handsome, wealthy aristocrat who owns palaces and land across Sicily.
His comfortable world is shaken with the invasion of Sicily in 1860 by Giuseppe Garibaldi, who was to overthrow the Bourbon king in Naples and bring about the Unification of Italy.
The prince's family leads an opulent life in their magnificent palaces with servants and peasants kowtowing to their every need. They spend their time at opulent banquets and lavish balls with their fellow aristocrats.
Shankland has made the series into a visual feast with tables heaped with food, elaborate gardens and sensuous costumes.... Read More