Much of this week was engrossed by the AT&T Park shoot that was scheduled for Tuesday. Rather than write about each day, for this weeks entry Ill simply write about what went into the shoot, and what I got out of it. So, here goes:
Finally the day of the big ad shoot had arrived! There had been so much buildup to filming at AT&T Park, it was surprising how quickly Tuesday snuck up on me. But I was ready to see the magic behind a BSA advertisement take place, and as always, everyone here was equally enthused to make sure everything went according to plan. After quickly getting settled, B2, Harrison, and I drove over to AT&T Park, armed with scripts, cameras, recording devices, small notes, and anything else we needed to make a quick tweak or two to the spot.
When we arrived, the representatives of the Giants were already stationed in the batting cage, sorting out lights, camera angles, and positioning for Pagan (he was running late). After last weeks prepping period there wasnt too much tinkering that went into the set, but the nets at times tangled with the equipment, making it slightly difficult to change the lighting quickly. Some of the gear would be moved around several times throughout the hour-plus we spent in the batting cage, but it was convenient to have a stationary base layer of tools ready to go when we showed up. At this point, we were only missing a small, negligible piece of the puzzle: the actor! (Note: sarcasm doesnt really translate over text, does it?)
Pagan finally turned up and took a few warm-up hacks, followed by B2 taking a couple of practice swings (two dribblers to third, but he insisted he bats lefty) demonstrating to Pagan what he wanted. The timing of the ad was the trickiest part to arrange, as Pagan would end up talking to himself via split screen in the final product (thats all the insider info Im allowed to give you! Check out a sneak peak HERE), so with a few takes to orient himself, we were off. He was taking the spot seriously, which allowed B2 to make the necessary changes and edits as we moved along.
The Pagan shoot went quickly and smoothly, and it was time to move on to the second act of the day, featuring Sergio Romo. Having seen his previous acting gigs with BSA, I was personally looking forward to see how the man who replaced Brian Wilson on top of the facial hair charts would fare. Knowing how the Giants closer celebrates after shutting down the opposition during the ninth inning, it wasnt surprising to see just how animated and lively Romo was. He had no problem SCREAMING HIS LINES into the camera, adjusting his voice or positioning to combat the sounds of the flapping flags, or even dressing up as Elvis. After a healthy amount of laughs and botched lines Romo had completed his part of the ad, and we were ready to head back to BSA headquarters.
In what was an educational experience straight from the top drawer of the advertising world, I learned more than I had hoped about the process of creating an ad. From the brainstorming step to the actual filming, it was edifying to observe and learn as the ad moved along the BSA conveyor belt. Obviously, there is still so much work to do in order to air the spot, but Im quite happy with how much Ive seen so far. Hopefully, before my time here is over, I will be able to take in a couple more similar experiences, and leave with a strong understanding of how to draw up and direct an advertisement.
Quote Of The Week:
“Playing it safe is the most popular way to fail” – Elliott Smith