This :30 takes place in a Famous Barr department store, the cast consisting of two mannequins and a woman. The mannequins—a male and a female—are standing on display. However, the spot turns a bit mischievous when the camera zeros in on the male dummy, who is admiring an attractive young shopper.
The woman shopper is looking at herself in the mirror, trying on different outfits that range from casual to professional to a tad suggestive. Clearly, the guy mannequin likes what he sees, as a devilish smile plays across his lips. However, his female mannequin companion is nonplussed, judging from her facial expression.
Suddenly a purse comes into view and smacks the male mannequin in the head. The camera returns to the lady mannequin to show the same purse dangling from her hand. A smile now brightens her face.
The spot ends with the Famous Barr logo, accompanied by the slogan, "Always something exciting."
"Caught" is one of two mannequin-starring spots in a campaign for the The May Department Stores Company, which owns various shops throughout the country, including those under the Famous Barr banner. The other commercial, "Let’s Go Shopping," shows three female mannequins who ditch work to go shopping, trying to blend in with their human counterparts.
Both :30s were directed and shot by Eric Saarinen of Plum Productions, Santa Monica, for Doner, Southfield, Mich. Chuck Sloan and Shelby Sexton executive produced for Plum, with Beth Pearson serving as producer.
The Doner team was comprised of executive creative director John DeCerchio, creative director John Dent, copywriter Dave Busch, art director David Doolittle, executive producer Sheldon Cohn and producer Laurie Irwin.
Editor was Steve MacCorkle of Avenue Edit, Santa Monica. Online editor was Glen Bennett of Asylum Visual Effects, Santa Monica. Colorist was Mike Pethel of Company 3, Santa Monica. Denise Brown produced for Company 3. Audio engineer was Bob Miller of Multi Image, Detroit.
The facial expressions were put on the mannequins by an ensemble at Asylum Visual Effects, including visual effects supervisor John Fragemini, executive producer David Hofflich, producer Whitney Luxton, compositors Bennett and Perri Pecora, CG producer Jeff Werner, modeler Brandon Perlow and CGI artist Pink.
The composers on "Caught" were Paul Cartledge and Phillip Jewson of Joe & Co., London, with Craig Hazen of Zen Music, New York, serving as executive producer/producer.
