Herbal Essences dazzling new global spot is a lyrical journey that stars the brand’s new celebrity ambassador Nicole Scherzinger. Directed by Strato Films‘ Paula Walker for agency Atelier, the commercial transports viewers to a mysterious, beautiful realm where passions are stirred. View the project here.nn”Atelier came to us with a fantastic concept, one that speaks to my deep interest in creating experiences that amplify the senses and take people to new places real or imagined,” says director Walker. “The creatives wanted to enchant — and this informed every step of the project.”nn”Paula is an intuitive director who knows how to tell a story brilliantly,” comments Atelier Producer David Schiavone. “She has an amazing energy, and it was really exciting to spend time with her on this project.”nnnnWalker sought a location with expansive space and burnished luster of history as the fittingly dramatic setting for the highly choreographed narrative to unfold; A five hundred year-old Moorish palace in Seville, Spain provided the ultimate environment for the intricately designed shoot. During the filming, Walker and Scherzinger quickly developed a collaborative shorthand based on a shared background in dance and choreography.nn”Nicole has an incredible talent and ability to communicate a wealth of emotion and range with a subtle movement. She can command space, even one as dramatic as the palace,” comments Walker. “Her incredible beauty is equal parts femininity and strength, perfect for the spot. We all loved working with her.”nn”Paula and Nicole spoke a shorthand dance language,” recalls Atelier Creative Director Kristin Moore-Gantz, “An arm-gestured chat they shared right before Nicole’s courtyard entrance scene laid the foundation for one of those huge “all eyes on set, doing this in one take” cranes and cues magical dance shots. It was breathtaking from start of music to finish and left all of us in video village speechless. Paula’s directing is female strong, visually potent, and, just like her talent, embodies a wide range of compelling work, it is a fluid human dance.”nnWalker and the agency brought the footage to Union editorial’s Laura Milstein who crafted the edit set to the rhythm of the multilayered, pulsing music track. Although Walker and Milstein had worked together on prior projects, it was the first time they collaborated in person and relished the opportunity – and pure fun – of the experience both with Paula and Atelier. nn”The spot is all about strength,” notes Atelier Producer David Schiavone, “and it was incredible to see this reflected in the team behind the project – Paula, Nicole, Laura and creative directors Kristin and Holly – who came together on this ambitious piece.”nnCreditsnAgency: AtelierlbnCreative Directors: Kristin Moore-Gantz & Holly Flukinger nProducer: David SchiavonenAccount Director: Mollie Rosen nSupervising Account Director: Allison Stelzer nEP: Laura Lagatta nnProduction Company: Strato FilmsnDirector: Paula WalkernDP: Rolf KestermannnEP: Mark ConleynnEditorial Company: Union EditorialnEP: Caryn Maclean nEditor: Laura Milstein nAssistant Editor: Eddie MaldonadonSr. Producer: Sara Mills nnA newly certified Minority Owned Business (MWBE), Strato Films was founded by director Paula Walker and award-winning director of photography Rolf Kestermann. Both have worked extensively around the world providing a unique global perspective to countless television campaigns including work for BMW, Mazda, Revlon, Nestle, Kodak, Cover Girl, Acura, Coca-Cola, Mercedes, Target, Aveeno, and Bacardi. Throughout her career, Walker has directed music videos for artists including Babyface, Tracy Chapman, Dolly Parton, Lou Reed, Marc Anthony, Queen Latifah, Leonard Cohen, Carlos Santana and Tina Turner. A devoted student of dance and choreography, Walker has collaborated with such innovative companies as Pilobolus, Pina Bausch, The Frankfurt Ballet Company and The Dance Theatre of Harlem on commercials and experimental dance pieces. Strato Films is Executive Produced by Mark Conley. For more on the company, please visit: www.stratofilms.com.
Jessie Nagel @ Hype 323.938.8363 x102 Contact Jessie via email
Goldcrest Post Speeds Delivery of “Severance” Season Two
The New York Times recently wrote that the just-released Season Two of Severance will “blow your mind”—and we couldn’t agree more. Created by Dan Erickson and Ben Stiller, the Apple TV+ drama is smart, spellbinding, distinctly original and packed with surprises. For those who aren’t already devoted fans, the show centers on Mark Scout (Adam Scott), leader of a team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a “severance” procedure that surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. Goldcrest Post provided post services for both seasons of the show, including picture editorial support, sound editorial, ADR and sound mixing. Editorial for Season One began in 2020. Due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, Goldcrest supplied both onsite production offices and edit suites, and remote editing systems for individual editors, with everything linked to a central server. "Mixing at Goldcrest with our team has been a great experience,” says Stiller. “Bob and Jacob are in sync with our creative process and so good at what they do that the experience is always one where it's about how we can enhance the creative vision, with a baseline of knowing everyone is totally committed to making something as good as it can be." Diana Dekajlo, the show’s co-producer, says that the arrangement worked so well, they chose to continue the hybrid approach for Season Two. “We’re a remote friendly show,” she explains. “Whether we’re at Goldcrest, our studio in the Bronx or at home, our workflow is seamless. I conduct remote daily meetings with my immediate staff, and weekly meetings with editorial and VFX, and we talk to each other as if we were just down the hall. It makes for great staff... Read More