Directors Eric McCoy and Justus Meyer, known collectively as Mccoy | Meyer, are very proud to announce that their original Hot Wheels web series, produced for the brand through Tongal, has earned some of the year's first Platinum and Gold AVA Digital Awards.
Earlier this week, executives from the AVA Digital Awards – which is administered and judged by the international Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals – awarded Mccoy | Meyer's branded content series for Hot Wheels "Epic Race" a Gold Award for Directing, and a Platinum Award for Editing. The project also received an Honorable Mention for Special Effects.
Imaginatively conceived as a movie created by kids using their Hot Wheels, the storytelling, production design, and craftsmanship of "Epic Race" combine to form a highly entertaining short-form adventure that also feels very authentic. "The Hot Wheels team was incredibly supportive of the film series and gave us a lot of creative freedom to play," Mccoy | Meyer said. "It was a great example of creative synchronicity that ultimately led us to that Pixar sweet spot, where the story is entertaining for kids and adults alike."
After debuting the first episode on YouTube in late October, and the finale in late November, all five episodes combined now have over a million views. They can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/HWseries.
According to the directors, who are on the roster of production company Dictionary Films, editorial credit goes to David Andreini of Cutters, which is also home to the project's VFX supervisor, Patrick Kujawski. Key credits also include director of photography Ryan Wood, production designer Courtney Johnson, art director Ari Laden, sound designer and mixer Jamie Coupar of 48 Windows, and Company 3 colorist Bryan Smaller.
For production, the directors planned to shoot all of the series' stunts practically, in-camera. "We worked closely with cinematographer Ryan Wood to design creative shot sequences to flip trucks and smash cars into buildings. We had 235 shots to complete in just six days, which meant we needed to have four active sets in various stages of production. To accommodate this, our production designer Courtney Johnson created identical versions of Cruiser City, and we hopped from set to set."
As footage came in, Andreini deftly assembled one action sequence after another. In the process, he earned deep respect for his editorial talents, as well as his sharp thinking under pressure. "The success of this series is a testament to the talent of David and every other member of our team."
About Mccoy | Meyer
Since joining together in 2012, the Mccoy | Meyer duo has already directed more than 75 short-form projects (many awarded through the LA-based content sourcing company Tongal) and earned a Telly Award, multiple AVA Digital awards and a Certificate of Recognition from the U.S. Congress. Their commercial reel includes spots for Famous Footwear, General Mills, Hershey's, Hot Wheels, The LEGO Group, P&G, Verizon and Western Union, among many others. Mccoy | Meyer is represented by Dictionary Films. To learn more, visit http://mccoymeyer.com.
