By MILLIE TAKAKI
Father doesnt always know bestaat least, not in Wrong Turn, a :60 (with a :30 lift) for Blakes Auto Body of San Rafael, Calif.
The spot opens on a station wagon carrying a vacationing family of four, lost on a desert road. Not listening to his wife who says they should continue to go straight, the dad confidently makes an abrupt right turn, not realizing he has entered a weapons-testing zone. After fighter jet planes bomb the road, the station wagon limps back over the hill, smoldering, and badly damagedathe family now with blackened faces and tattered clothes. Choosing to ignore his blunder as well as his angry spouse and kids, the father begins whistling to the tune of If Youre Happy And You Know It, Clap Your Hands. Just as the cars bumper falls off, a voiceover asks, Need a body shop? And then Blakes logo appears.
Wrong Turn came out of Jessen Productions, San Francisco, which also served as the ad agency. Chuck Jessen wore multiple hats as the spots director, creative director, exec. producer, copywriter and co-art director (with Bart Price). Stu Smith was assistant director/production manager. This is Jessens fourth in a series of humorous, industry-recognized spots for Blakes; the most notable being Sledgehammer which was produced back in December 95. The commercial showed a woman smashing a car with a sledgehammer. She enjoys a catharsis of sorts, believing that shes dismantling the beloved automobile of an ex-lover. But revenge is short-lived with the realization that the car belongs to someone else. Sledgehammer went on to win the local one-market category in the 96 International Broadcasting Awards competition, made the short list at Cannes and the Clio Awards, copped a Bronze at the London International Advertising Festival and a District ADDY citation of excellence. Sledgehammer and another Blakes ad, Falling Star, were featured last year on the FOX Networks Worlds Funniest Commercials special.
Wrong Turn premiered in Northern California last month. It also has been syndicated for use by body shops in seven other U.S. markets.
DP Vance Piper shot the spot on location in the Antelope Valley area of Southern California. Monaco Film & Video, San Francisco, provided film processing and dailies.
Steve Kallick of The Post Office, San Francisco, served as offline editor. Online and digital effects enhancements were done by Dennis Marriott of Realtime Video, San Francisco. Colorist was Michael Kennan of Varitel/ San Francisco. Tom Disher of Disher Music and Sound, San Francisco, scored, recorded and mixed the audio track.
“Memoir of a Snail” Takes Top Prize At London Film Festival
The Official Competition jury said: “Our jury was incredibly moved by Adam Elliot’s Memoir of a Snail, which is a singular achievement in filmmaking. Emotionally resonant and constantly surprising, Memoir tackles pertinent issues such as bullying, loneliness and grief head-on, creating a crucial and universal dialogue in a way that only animation can. The jury is delighted to recognize an animated film alongside its live-action peers.”
Rounding out the winners of this year’s films screening In Competition are:
- Winner of the Sutherland Award in the First Feature Competition – On Falling (Dir. Laura Carreira)
- Winner of the Grierson Award in the Documentary Competition – Mother Vera (Dirs. Cécile Embleton, Alys Tomlinson)
- Winner of the Short Film Award in the Short Film Competition – Vibrations from Gaza (Dir. Rehab Nazzal)