Optimus and ONE at Optimus recently teamed with agency 426 Inc. to direct, edit and finish a spot for the National Auto Parts Association (NAPA) website. “The Art of Braking”–directed by ONE at Optimus director Mark Pallman and cut by Optimus editor Jim Staskauskas–leverages 22 ReplayXD cameras mounted at various points on a Ford Mustang and a Ford 4 x 4 in action to capture the power and responsiveness of Reactive One® performance brake rotors, sold at NAPA.
In the spot, stunt driver and National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Funny Car driver Jon Capps maneuvers a car armed with Reactive One Performance brakes at speeds north of 90 mph. He gives the brakes a run for their money, and they perform beautifully. At the end of the spot, we see that Capps has spelled out “One” in skid marks, effectively creating a piece of art using a rotor, rubber and asphalt.
With all the cameras–mounted everywhere from the wheel wells to the gas and brake pedals to the gear shift to the driver’s helmet–Optimus had 30 hours of footage to from which to cut the 60-second spot. “The ReplayXD cameras provided us with amazing angles and incredibly high quality pictures, as they are small enough to be mounted almost anywhere and they hold up in the most extreme conditions,” commented Staskauskas, who has significant experience cutting high action, high speed work. “We even put one on a remote control helicopter for aerial shots. The result is a beautiful spot highlighting all the best angles from the shoot.”
“The NAPA spot is a great example of the benefits of working with an integrated production house such as Optimus,” said ONE at Optimus executive producer Kipp Christiansen. “Our production and post teams were on set to ideate and execute with 426 Inc., allowing for creative collaboration and streamlined communication throughout the entire process. Moreover, we were very impressed by the performance of the ReplayXD cameras and their incredibly nimble and sturdy mounts, which allowed us to capture angles and stabilized footage that we could not have gotten with other cameras. We were able to supplement the provocative camera angles with narrative, including close-ups of the driver getting into the car and the installation of the brake rotors.”
“A Complete Unknown,” “The Brutalist,” “Gladiator II,” “Wicked” Among ADG Excellence in Production Design Award Nominees
The Art Directors Guild (ADG, IATSE Local 800) has unveiled the nominees for its 29th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards. The ceremony, hosted by actress and comedian Rachael Harris, will take place on Feb. 15, at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown.
Among the motion picture nominees are the production designers on A Complete Unknown, The Brutalist, Gladiator II, Nosferatu and Saturday Night in the Period Feature Film category; and Alien: Romulus, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Dune: Part Two, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Wicked in the Fantasy Feature Film category.
Television nominations span the likes of Bridgerton, Fallout, House of the Dragon, The Lord of the Rings: Pachinko, Rings of Power, Ripley and Shogun.
The ADG Awards celebrate excellence in production design across theatrical motion pictures, television, commercials, music videos, and animated feature films. The 2025 Cinematic Imagery Award will be presented to Academy Award®-nominated director and filmmaker Jason Reitman, whose body of work includes Juno, Up in the Air and Saturday Night.
“This year’s nominees showcase the incredible artistry and vision that define our craft and our industry. We’re thrilled to bring the Guild together to celebrate the achievements of these incredible production designers and their art departments,” shared award show producers Michael Allen Glover, ADG, and Megan Elizabeth Bell, ADG, in a joint statement.
In addition, the ADG will honor Lisa Frazza, Barbara Mesney, Dan Sweetman, and J. Dennis Washington with Lifetime Achievement Awards. Legendary production designer Carl Jules Weyl will be inducted into the ADG Hall of Fame as part of the... Read More