The Mill collaborated with Coach, Inc. and director Bryce Wymer to create a fully CG dinosaur toy for their Christmas inspired spot “Introducing Rexy.”
The playful spot introduces audiences to #RexyTheCoachDino, a vivacious teen Tyrannosaurus Rex, who’s seen causing havoc around the Coach workshop before spilling out onto the snowy streets of New York.
Director Wymer via Mill+ worked closely with The Mill’s 3D team, who created Rexy from scratch in CG.
The team used a real leather model of Rexy, which can be purchased from Coach as a keyring, so they could perfectly match its material properties while developing the character in CG. The animation team also paid close attention to Rexy’s movement with the aim of filling her with life and enthusiasm.
Credits
Client Coach, Inc Production Mill+ Bryce Wymer, director; Zu Al-Kadiri, exec producer; Laura Morris, producer; Igor Martinovic, DP. VFX & Design The Mill Sallyann Houghton, exec producer; Julia Moore, producer; Edward Shires, shoot supervisor/3D lead artist; Corey Brown, creative director, 2D lead artist; Jeff Lopez, 3D rigging and animation supervisor; James Cudahy, Heather Kennedy, 2D artists; George Schermer, Peter Karnik, Eric Chou, Arman Matin, Jackie Liao, Ajit Menon, 3D artists; Mikey Rossiter, colorist. Editorial The Mill Jessica Ledoux, editor; Rachel Greco, edit assist. Sound Design Beatstreet Productions
Director Marc André Debruyne--who’s handled by production house Open Swim for U.S. representation--brings Coca-Cola’s legacy of celebrating holiday traditions to life in this campaign spotlighting Filipino Balikbayan boxes. The spot--out of Toronto agencies Taxi and VML--features Tita Rosita, owner of the oldest Filipino-Canadian grocery store in Toronto, whose much-adored shop was wrapped like a massive Coca-Cola-themed Balikbayan box as she prepared hundreds of boxes for customers to send their loved ones, with Coca-Cola paying for the boxes and the cost of shipping them to the Philippines. The spot is a testament to the brand’s prevailing facilitation of cultural and generational connectivity, especially during the holiday season.
The collaborative project--produced by Toronto production company MOWAD--was particularly special for Debruyne, who’s Filipino, because of the large presence of Filipino crew members on set. “It’s a totally surreal feeling when a work project crosses over into your personal life. It’s not too often that happens,” shares Debruyne. “The number of Balikbayan boxes I’ve sent home since I was a child, being surrounded by so many Filipinos on set – both crew and cast, and even being served pancit by Tita Rosita for lunch (and getting yelled at after because I didn’t have seconds) brought back so many wonderful memories of my mom. It was such a fun vibe on set. This wasn’t even a job, it was truly something special.”
