The segment was shot out of sequence, which is usually the case in these types of shoots, but it never makes the production any easier. Basically, shortly after we started shooting the kitchen scene, the recycling truck arrived from Waste Pro. We certainly didn’t want to keep those guys waiting around forever, so we decided to move the production outside, and that meant that the pancakes would have to be put on hold!

Cliff Craig, my production assistant was a huge help in getting everything ready outside. He handled the equipment set-up while I directed the talent on camera. Janie assisted with the talent as well and also helped with continuity. We knew that we had a tight schedule to keep, so we had to move quickly. The outside element was a lot of fun because we were able to utilize the crane and the steady cam, which is always a blast! These tools always increase the production value, and I try to incorporate them as often as I can.

Once we finished up with the recycling truck, we moved back inside to finish making the pancakes. I had been expecting Gracie, my daughter, to be a little more obnoxious than she was. Ironically, she was an angel during the entire shoot. We were able to get her to fling some syrup around on the table. That made for a cute shot.

In post, I used a matte and some simple motion tracking to expose the text. I took advantage of the truck movement in an otherwise static shot by adding a motion blur, which provided a cool effect. I also enhanced the entire sequence by crushing the blacks a little and adding a light blur for softening the skin. Overall, it was a 48 hour turnaround for a 60-sec PSA.

Great job everyone.

This video was a test sample shot for a new advertising concept. Basically, our team met early one morning, packed up all of our gear, and hiked more than a mile through the woods to the production site. Fortunately, we were able to arrive at the scene while the lighting was still ideal.

Technically, the shooting session was complicated because of the rough terrain and proved to be physically exhausting for the crew and the model. Overall, we spent several hours gathering shots and creative angles from this stunning location.

In the end, it was a fun day with outstanding weather. The lighting helped provide clean, crisp video for the sample!

I love this stuff!