This spec spot takes us back to the early 20th Century. A car of the time period is seen puttering along the road. In the background are the San Francisco Bay, the Pacific Ocean and the water passage that connects them–the Golden Gate Strait.
A boat is seen making its way through the water. Back then the body of water was just that–with no bridge to span it.
We are then taken on a journey forward through time, primarily during the four years (1933-’37) when the Golden Gate Bridge was constructed. In one scene, we see a construction worker in the foreground as the bridge starts to build itself before our eyes. Finally the bridge is seen spanning the Strait’s vast reaches, connecting San Francisco to Marin County. To this day the bridge still ranks as one of the construction marvels of all time.
A voiceover relates that the Golden Gate Bridge was originally just a dream. “But with the right strategies and the right resources,” says the voiceover, “dreams begin to take shape. And the bridge–that many said could not be built–was.”
The black-and-white construction footage then turns to full color as we see the Golden Gate Bridge today in its full splendor. The voiceover continues, “Bank of America was there–celebrating 150 years of lending for projects big and small.” A Bank of America logo serves as the spot’s end tag, with a supered message echoing the voiceover reference to the financial institution’s 150-year history of lending.
Titled “Golden Gate,” this spec ad was directed by David Dozoretz, who also served as hybrid writer/art director on the job. Dozoretz runs a Los Angeles-based pre-visualization shop, Persistence of Vision, and recently completed pre-vis on Mission Impossible 3 and X-Men 3. On the side he has directed some spec work to further his aspiration to get into commercial helming.
Dozoretz’s background includes working at Industrial Light+Magic (ILM), San Rafael, Calif. (now in San Francisco) where he helped to develop the pre-vis pipeline for the Star Wars films.
For “Golden Gate” Dozoretz deployed such tools as the Maxon Cinema 4D for 3D modeling and animation, and Apple Shake for compositing. The work was done largely on Mac G5s.
The spec job entailed considerable planning and meticulously executed effects. For example, for the opening shot, a background plate was captured in HD. Visual effects work included replacement of the current San Francisco skyline with a digital version circa the 1930s, sky replacement, a digital ocean and boat, and removal of the present day Golden Gate Bridge and the road’s rail guard.
Among other touches were the creation of a digital crane, an animated trellis and north and south towers for a subsequent scene as the construction of the bridge unfolds before our eyes.
Additional credit goes to DP Ron Fricke, producer Ted Gagliano and CG artists Kevin Aguirre, Chad Hoeftig, Shane Cook and Hunter Kuhnert.
Directors Amy+Pilar and Jose Antonio Prat Join Reform School
Boutique content production company Reform has added comedy directing duo Amy+Pilar (Amy York Rubin and Pilar Boehm) and award-winning multicultural director Jose Antonio Prat to its roster for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded entertainment.
Partners in both life and art, Amy+Pilar are know for their sharp wit and comedic timing. Their synchronicity is evident in a body of work across TV, film and commercials. Prior to joining Reform School, Amy+Pilar had been repped in the ad market by production company Knucklehead.
Amy has directed high-profile comedy sketches featuring stars like Amy Schumer, Kate McKinnon, and Sarah Silverman. On the episodic front, Amy has helmed for series such as Fresh Off the Boat, Casual, Superstore and Angie Tribeca--as well as the pilot for the hit Netflix comedy Dead to Me.
Before joining forces with Amy behind the camera, Pilar was a psychotherapist, a background that informs her ability to create fascinating characters and stage irresistible, nuanced performances. Amy and Pilar’s shared passion for comedy brought them together. Their collaboration began with a Synchrony Bank campaign, starring cult-comedy favorite Maribeth Monroe (Workaholics), and they went on to direct the pilot of the Hulu series Love, Victor. Amy+Pilar’s ad fare also includes spots for Uber’s “Go-Get” campaign and “Shift,” starring Martin Starr.
“We have been fans of Amy and Pilar for a long time,” said Ryan Ennis, executive director at Reform School. “They excel at capturing comedic performances and dialogue. Coming from the TV and L.A. comedy scenes, they’ve built a strong following and collaborated with some of our favorite funny people.... Read More