Introducing your new life-idol Axel Kiener in 'Whale', part of the 'Smellegendary' campaign for Old Spice by Wieden+Kennedy (Portland) in collaboration with The Mill, directed by Steve Rogers of Biscuit Filmworks.
Director:
Steve Rogers
Production Company:
Biscuit Filmworks
Agency:
Wieden+Kennedy (Portland)
How do you film a tennis hero on the back of a sperm whale, complete with paparazzi crowded around trying to snap him as he hits perfect tennis volleys? Good question!
The Mill’s Creative Director and Head of 2D Tim Davies comments, “This campaign is definitely amongst the proudest work of my career and this campaign has really raised the bar as far as cinematic and epic quality. The three-week shoot took place in South Africa, where I felt at home as one of five Australians on set. I take my hat off to Steve Rogers’ expert directing, Mandy Walkers’ beautiful cinematography and the exquisite edit from Gavin Cutler. And of course, none of it would be possible without the brilliant minds of our friends at W+K (Portland).”
Adds Tim, “The biggest mandate for this commercial was to film as much as we could next to the ocean, to make it as realistic as possible. We found an Olympic swimming pool adjacent to the ocean at Camps Bay in Cape Town. Here we could capture the correct lighting, film actors against a beautiful sky, with an in-camera horizon which provided the level of reality needed. We then set about creating the 100% CG sperm whale alongside extremely sophisticated water simulations to show the direction of movement, and the ability to create a wake behind the whale resulting in a completely CG-generated ocean. The hero moment for me is the reveal of our giant customized CG sunglasses.
We look forward to seeing Axel on his next adventure!”
Agency: Wieden+ Kennedy (Portland)
Senior Producer: Lindsay Reed
Producer: Monica Ranes
Executive Creative Director: Mark Fitzloff, Joe Staples
Creative Director: Craig Allen, Jason Bagley
Creatives: Matt Sorrell, Jarrod Higgins
Copywriter: Nick Morrissey
Account Director: Liam Doherty, Michael Dalton
Head of Production: Ben Grylewicz
Production Company: Biscuit Filmworks, Revolver Films
Director: Steve Rogers
Executive Producer: Holly Vega
Producer: Pip Smart
Director of Photography: Mandy Walker
Editing Company: Mackenzie Cutler
Editor: Gavin Cutler
Edit Assist: Brendan Hogan
VFX & Design: The Mill
Executive Producer: Enca Kaul
Senior Producer: Dan Roberts
Production Coordinator: Kris Drenzek
Shoot Supervisor: Tim Davies
Creative Director: Tim Davies
Head of 3D: John Leonti
2D Lead Artist: Tim Davies
3D Lead Artist: Tom Graham
2D Artists: Tara DeMarco, Daniel Thuresson, Andy Dill, Robert Murdock, Don Kim, Dag Ivarsoy, Jeff Langlois, Ashely Forbito, Adam Lambert, Tim Robbins, John Price
3D Artists: Phill Mayer, Hartwell Durfor, Kenzie Chen, Yorie Kumalasari, Brett Angelillis, Mike DiNocco, Katie Yancey, Blake Guest, Jenna Kind, Monique Espinoza, Steven Olson, Milton Ramirez
Art Department: Brett Lopinsky, Laurence Konishi, Kelsey Napier
Colour: The Mill
Executive Producer, Colour: Thatcher Peterson
Colour Producer: Antonio Hardy
Production Coordinator, Colour: Diane Valera
Colourist: Adam Scott