LIMEY director Scott Weintrob traveled to South Korea to collaborate with ad agency Innocean Worldwide Europe and client Hyundai on a series of brand films introducing Hyundai’s entrance into the 2013 World Rally Car Series and a continuation of their “Thinking Forward” message and campaign. The promotional campaign, which launched last month at the Paris Auto Show, highlights Hyundai’s World Rally Car based on the re-designed and popular i20 car.
This branded film begins with the all-new Hyundai i20 lakeside. The car disappears and then re-appears as it transforms into the company’s new World Rally Car. The vehicle then shoots off at high speeds through treacherous yet sweeping landscapes, continuing to disappear and re-appear as it races through the countryside. They shot some of the most beautiful scenery in Korea including countryside locations, rice fields, and lake scenes. They also shot at the Hyundai R&D track. The film was shot with Arri Alexa cameras. With the use of a Milo motion control rig and repeatable heads, the team brought together state-of-the art technology and creativity to execute the various visual effects. A duplicate car painted completely black was also used in various plate shots and removed in post.
“It was very important to me that when the car disappears and reappears, the various elements –dust, water, rain–continued without the car,” said Weintrob.
The agency had reached out to LIMEY early last summer to secure Weintrob’s expertise shooting in the automotive genre. Because this was Hyundai’s re-entrance into the World Rally Car Series after a few years’ hiatus, the pressure was on. Under a strict NDA, Weintrob was brought in to view Hyundai’s design of a new Rally Car based on the popular i20 compact 3-door model sold in various markets around the world but not the U.S. Built by a team of engineers at the Hyundai R&D center in Korea, the car would be seen for the first time at the Paris Auto Show.
“Quite often, I am called in to work on a car commercial before the vehicle itself is actually finished,” explains Weintrob. “But this was a truly unique situation with the car being created for the World Rally Car Series. It was really cool shooting in South Korea, they have everything there in terms of equipment and technology but as can be expected they had their own style of shooting. I enjoy that part of shooting overseas as it’s always interesting to learn and witness a different system. This was truly an international job with creative and production talent coming from literally around the world: we were the Epcot Center of film for one week.” Even losing half a day of shooting due to a record-breaking typhoon didn’t put Weintrob off: “I’m from England, so what they called a typhoon was a bit of wind and rain to me. Also, when the skies get dark and cloudy and the wind starts to blow, those are ideal conditions for shooting cars. That’s when things get interesting.”
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More