Working with Celebrities

From time to time we're called upon to work with celebrities - from Dr. Maya Angelou to singer/songwriter Demi Lovato and everyone in between.

Recently, our team came back from a shoot with the Robinson family, stars of the hit A&E show, Duck Dynasty.

This was particularly challenging in that we had them for a grand total of four hours. And we had four scripts to film.

Techniques such as shooting down the tunnel? Flew out the window!  We ended up relying on the power of their personalities - and their popularity.  The promos have done fairly well for us. Here are two of them. What do you think?



I particularly like this one, because it was later in the day, the guys were a bit punchy by then, and the giggles were authentic. In fact, the whole take was a riff done by them, unscripted. Sometimes you get your best material that way:

The drama of back acting

No one does this better than Spielberg.  Take a look at this clip from Schindler's List.

Not a technique one immediately thinks of using as a director. But it's powerful.

The most powerful moves in cinema

What shots really evoke emotion in a film or video? Are there certain camera moves that are more effective than others? In a word, yes.

One of the best lessons I was taught by one of my mentors, JKH, was the power of depth.
Whenever possible, shoot down the tunnel.

This provides your viewer with context, to be sure, but also allows for the single most powerful move you can have your characters make: the move into the lens.


Take a look at these screen grabs from the movie Amistad and you'll see what I mean:

On Directing

I'm a director of everything from tiny little "how to" videos, to PR pieces and feel-good stories, all the way to the larger scale film productions like the series I'm involved in now. You'll be able to see what I'm working on in a few short months, but in the meantime, as a director, it's my job to ensure it all happens.

Directors have to answer a thousand questions a day: "do you like this vase in the shot?" (props) to "should she wear the purple or the green shirt?" (wardrobe) to "do you want him to sit or stand?" (director of photography) "I'd really like to rent this light for $200" (gaffer) "can we be out of this location by 5?" (location manager) all the way down to "when would you like to break for lunch?" (production assistant).

Even the placement of salt shakers is carefully considered!

And that's aside from my primary task, which is to work with the people in front of the lens, whether they're actors or "real" people, to get that shot that emotionally resonates with you, the viewer.

And if it's someone who's never been in front of the camera before, it's my job to engage them in such a way that they forget the big, scary lens they're standing in front of, and instead give me that part of themselves that makes them so uniquely them. That's not an easy thing for a person to do, when surrounded by a crew of strangers and a bunch of equipment and lights! And it's one of many reasons I'm behind the lens and not in front of it. ;-)

(this slideshow was from an earlier production for a holiday series featuring singer/songwriter Jewel.)

Everything we do is about communicating, about making sure that what we film is deserving of your attention.  We have to earn your interest, and so we strive to make our production as interesting, captivating, riveting as possible.

Most days on set are earlier than a normal day, and they last later for me than for the rest of the crew (mainly because of those thousand questions!). It's exhausting, mainly because you pour your heart and soul into what you're filming. But it's rewarding and creatively fulfilling.

I especially love those shows where I get to tell stories and give you a glimpse into another person's fascinating life -- and hope that I can make it as interesting for you as it is for me. We recently produced such a film, and I was thrilled beyond words to be able to tell the stories of three fellow bloggers -- friends that you know and love. Hopefully it'll be released soon and I can share it with you.

What to Storyboard?

So you have a show you're working on and you want to get everything just right. Do you spend the time - and funds - to have it storyboarded out?

In the past, I have - especially in cases where I feel the client may not be grasping the vision of the piece.

But according to Hallmark Hall of Fame director John Kent Harrison, it's a waste of time.

His advice?

"Only storyboard the special effects and any scene that has multiple camera shots. Simply shot list the rest."

A Director's Responsibilities

I recently attended a director's workshop led by Hallmark Hall of Fame director John Kent Harrison. He's known for sweeping period pieces, such as "Helen of Troy" and the critically acclaimed "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler."

I really loved his punch list on what the first and main responsibilities of a director should be.

• First, you must establish geography.
• Then you need to establish the camera’s POV. Who is telling this story? Then that's where your POV must be.
• Once you establish the geography and POV, you need to establish intention.
• Finally, stay within story structure and don’t give it away until the end.  Suspense is important!

Here's an example of establishing POV. The use of the long lens isolates the boy in this scene and it's clearly told from his POV:

Impressive video, and the stuff that haunts a director's dreams

An impressive feat - and every producer/director's nightmare: a complete video shot in a single take. With so many moving parts and an equal number of opportunities for mistakes to occur.

I'd love to know how many takes it took to get The One. Enjoy.

The use of humor in video

Ace Metrix, the leading company in television analytics, recently released a year-long study on humor in advertising.

They reviewed over 6,500 nationally-breaking ads in the U.S. that aired from January, 2011 to March, 2012.

The results were surprising. 

They discovered that humorous ads did not perform better than ones that didn't use humor. Enjoyment was up, the willingness to view an ad more than once increased. But bottom line, where the advertisement translates to sales...humor did not compute.

You can download the report or read the press release Ace Metrix's site here (they will ask that you register to get the download, but there is no cost).

The right music can have a powerful impact

A tune, coupled with powerful lyrics, can be an effective tool in the hands of the advertiser.
In this spot, Nestle Purina (via our agency of record, Leo Burnett) spins a poignant and evocative tale - without words.

Just music and a few home movies.

What do a wooden ball, a smartphone and a forest have in common?

This amazing TV ad.

Chiaroscuro

A few days ago someone I work with tipped me off about a guy. It's not unusual to hear about someone who is an artist at his craft. What sets this guy apart is that he's not a Coaster. He's not even in a top tier metro demographic. This guy lives in a little town in Kansas.

And he's got The Eye. Composition. Timing. Chiaroscuro. And most of his work is with nonprofits. Or wedding videos.

Seriously. Wedding videos. And they're good. So good, in fact, that I'm taking notes - I want to incorporate some of his technique in an upcoming film.

Check out Robert G. Productions. My bet is the guy has a background in photography. His storytelling is rich in imagery. Enjoy.

Um.

Just Um.

A very interesting use of robotics....

(From Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide for Andes Beer in Buenos Ares)

Sometimes you just gotta love technology.

Headroom. Legroom. Creative Room.

I'm just dying to take a crack at a show that utilizes this type of stop motion.
I can guarantee stop motion is going to be on my pitch list this year when I meet with clients.

I particularly like how Nissan has handled it. Take a look at their commercials "Legroom" and "Headroom" - you may want to hit the pause button a time or two to appreciate the not-so-registered technique and the fun, upbeat look that brings to the overall ad (well okay, multi-striped socks and pink hair might add a teensy bit of something, too).

I can see this being used as a way to get an audience who has 'seen it all' to look once again, through a fresh set of eyes.

A Smart New Promotion

Who knew the United Arab Emirates had such a problem with plastic bags? Evidently it's so bad, the government has declared that their use is to be discontinued by 2013.

With the help of Leo Burnett - Dubai and an innovative concept, they're well on their way.

Take a look:

Challenging Reality: a creative way to get your message across

The nice thing about film is its ability to suspend reality and invite you into a world of illusion.

That illusion, the creative interpretation you use as a vehicle to deliver your message, can have a huge impact on how that message is received.

I love this particular treatment and can think of tons of applications for it - ways to get your audience to think outside the box.

Enjoy.

Profile: My Cat From Hell (Animal Planet)

As a producer/director, I usually cringe when I see the list of reality TV titles gracing show schedules these days. Oh there are the ones with production values slightly less embarrassing than your average home video. But you will never convince me that "Teen Mom" is, by anyone's definition, Good TV. Sorry, just not going there.

However, there is always that rare exception to the rule and My Cat From Hell is most definitely one of them.

A show has to have entertainment value to make it on a channel's TV schedule, and this one delivers. Its host Jackson Galaxy is colorful, articulate and fun to watch. But what really makes this show stand out is its content.

photo courtesy Valerie Allen PR

This show isn't just about entertainment; it slips in a hefty dose of education as well. And it's an education that is desperately needed to help battle against the egregious numbers of cats euthanized each year in the United States.

According to the American Humane Association, more than 71 percent of cats entering shelters are euthanized - that's well over a million kitties each year.

Jackson's personal mission, in his own words, is "to keep cats from being euthanized -- out of shelters and off the streets for reasons that are entirely preventable." With more than 15 years' experience helping people manage feline behavioral issues - and over 1,000 one-on-one cases (both in-home and in rescue situations) under his belt, this man is uniquely equipped to do something about it.

In 2011, he launched My Cat From Hell in partnership with Animal Planet. Each episode of My Cat From Hell showcases a "hopeless" situation where a cat owner is at wits' end. These people are just a breath away from giving up on their feline companion. The behavior exhibited by these kitties would certainly make them less adoptable - and probably earn them a death sentence - in a shelter situation.

As a volunteer for cats at Wayside Waifs in Kansas City, seeing the solutions to each new behavioral issue could conceivably help me be a better advocate for each cat that I help socialize. And that is reason enough to support My Cat From Hell by watching it each week.

Shows like this don't stay on the air if the viewership isn't there, so I urge you to grab your favorite beverage, prop your feet up and enjoy the season premiere of My Cat From Hell with me this Saturday, January 7 (8 PM, ET/PT). You won't just be supporting one of the few good shows on the air. If you're a cat lover, I guarantee you'll find it entertaining - and educational - as well.

Create or Else

I love Ogilvy's site, Create or Else - mainly because I just love the name.
It's a worldwide youtube channel "founded and curated by Ogilvy" as a creative outlet for those of us who just have to, well...
create or else.

And in the spirit of the concept, I'd like to share with you an example of one of the more innovative expressions of creativity.

It's a video on the Create or Else site from Motion Theory Media that demonstrates that even data is art. In fact, not only is it art, it's becoming the hottest new trend in art.

Here's what went into creating this art:

And here's the finished piece:

The Catvent Calendar

Yet another marriage of video with social media: Big Fuel, a social media agency in New York, has partnered with the Humane Society of New York to create this unique and festive calendar.

There is a video for each day of the season, and each video features an adoptable animal (or animals) in a  themed setting.

Great use of both video & social media! AdAge thinks so, too: they are one of today's Creativity Online spotlights. Click the image below to visit the calendar.

The Value of a Single Second

MontBlanc is hosting a contest, in honor of the 190th anniversary of the invention of the chronograph.

I'm not sure what this has to do with pens, except for the fact that chronograph literally means "time-writer," nevertheless, the contest is in full swing.

This contest fascinates me because in order to enter, you must submit a film of your own making...
but it can't last more than a second in length.

24 lousy frames, 29.97 at best.  What can you capture in that single, perfect, moment in time? And is it even enough to register on one's consciousness when viewed?

Entitled "The Beauty of a Second," the contest is being presented by renowned filmmaker Wim Wenders. Here is MontBlanc's film promoting the contest.

What would your perfect second be?

Fodder for ideation

Here are this year's Emmy nominees for Best Commercial. Which one would you choose?