Director Chris Folkens and producer Nathan Brown recently completed a 2-minute PSA for the charity World Vision entitled “I Run.” nnThe piece explores the personal reasons people run and poses a question at the end, empowering people to become involved with World Vision through organized athletic events.nnThe project was originally conceived by Team World Vision national director Michael Chitwood in late 2007. Over three years later, the project received a boost when an animatic was produced, showing the strength of the idea and motivating Team World Vision to get the project into production.nnThe project was shot over a 4-day period in the Los Angeles area, including the rain-soaked LA Marathon in March. The team chose Los Angeles for its incredibly diverse geographic options including a beach in Malibu, the desert near Palmdale, Mount Baldy, Lake Arrowhead and Malibu Canyon. nnThe project was shot on a Red MX by Joe Farris of Visions of Light. Folkens chose to shoot on Panavision Anamorphic Lenses to capture the beautiful scenic shots that the storyboards called for. Folkens remarked, “The anamorphic format offered us the best combination of epic vistas, juxtaposed with the beautiful and painterly soft focus aesthetic which really draws you into the close-up. Because of the long-form nature of the spot, Nate and I agreed this needed to be a very cinematic piece in order to garner the audience attention and keep the piece engaging through to the emotional ending of the spot. The spot needed to motivate people to join this noble cause, and everything from the lensing, to the locations, to the music, needed to support that end goal.”nnThe project was edited by Josh Bodnar with Whitehouse LA. Original music was composed by composer David Buckley of Firefly Music. Buckley composed for films such as “The Town”, “The Forbidden Kingdom”, as well as additional music for “Gone Baby Gone” and the hit TV-show “The Good Wife.” Audio was handled by Stephen Wilke of Open Sky Sound and Music. Graphics and VFX by Brian Bullock of Re:Think Post, color by Tyler Roth at Filmworker’s Club and finishing by Brian Higgins at Sol Design.nnTeam World Vision empowers groups and individuals to dedicate their sports and fitness goals to helping World Vision‘s work in Africa. nnWorld Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. For more than 50 years, World Vision has built strong relationships with more than one million donors, thousands of churches, and hundreds of businesses, foundations, organizations, and governments to work collaboratively to break the cycle of poverty. nnFolkens is a Chicago native and now lives in Los Angeles. He is a former producer at Leo Burnett Chicago and now works as a director/editor. Brown is a Chicago agency producer at Ruth, the creative marketing division of Edelman PR.nn
nThe final piece can be found online here. http://youtu.be/JRzY8oFX75In nTeam World Vision: www.teamworldvision.orgnWorld Vision: www.worldvision.orgnChris Folkens: www.mystic-films.comnNathan Brown: www.nathanpbrown.comn nCreditsnDirector: Chris FolkensnProducer: Nathan BrownnWritten by: Michael Chitwood and Nathan BrownnDirector of Photography: Joe Farris, Visions of LightnCamera Operator: Dave WightmannProduction Coordinator: Sam CarmichaelnProduction Assistant: Michael BarrynnEditor: Josh Bodnar, Whitehouse LAnOriginal Music: David Buckley, Firefly MusicnMusic Mastering: Scott JohnsonnAudio Recording, Sound Design and Mix: Stephen Wilke, Open Sky Sound and MusicnColor Grading: Tyler Roth, Filmworker’s Club ChicagonPost-Producer: Derek De Board, Filmworker’s Club ChicagonVFX: Brian Bullock, Re:Think PostnGraphics: Michelle Timpone, RE:Think PostnFinishing: Brian Higgins, Sol DesignNathan Brown Producer 773-368-9357 Contact Nathan via email
Contact:Chris Folkens Director 630-939-1156 Contact Chris via email
Who Needs Los Angeles? We Do.
One doesn't have to be a statistician to know that there are fewer commercials being shot in the U.S. today for the American market than ever before, and a dramatic decrease in L.A. in particular. In the last five years, as reported by FilmLA (the office tasked with issuing permits), L.A. commercial production has dipped 31 percent. But here’s the thing: This doesn’t mean that L.A. has lost its importance as the production center of the world. Production in L.A. is vital. It is the go-to. It’s where you can count on access to exemplary crews, a support infrastructure second to none, varied location and backlot options, a large population of on-screen talent and (fairly) predictable weather. The fact is, with overall decline and now the devastation of the fires, we’re on the brink of losing this mainstay resource. Without employment opportunities and now many without homes, talented and trained crew are bound to leave either the industry or the LA area for other opportunities, unless there are enough job opportunities to sustain a solid living. Now is the time when we ALL must support and bolster this community. Production is needed in L.A., now! Of course, advertising is a business, and marketers’ money should be spent as efficiently as possible, BUT we have to think beyond each production and know that if we lose the incredible resource of L.A. production as we know it, then marketers, agencies and the industry loses in the long run. Over the past several days, some agencies have issued directives to production companies that are unilaterally pushing upcoming production options out of L.A. The fact is L.A. is a large area, and many sections of the city and county are not directly impacted... Read More