The Mill teamed up with Johannes Leonardo and Director Fredrik Bond of MJZ to create Bleacher Report’s debut TV commercial, ‘Up Your Game’. This star studded piece includes athletes Allen Iverson and Marquette King, actor Shameik Moore, celebrity sneaker dealer Benjamin Kickz, in addition to a tribute of famed sports reporter Craig Sager. This sensational spot delivers a fiery explanation of what sports fans “need to get” in order to really understand the game.
Working within a short turnaround, both VFX teams focused attention to their resources and strategic approach. 2D Lead Artist Martin Karlsson says, “In order to deliver strong visual effects we had to rely heavily on our creative flexibility and fluid communication between each team.”
The dynamic visual effects in the piece include a newspaper composited in mid-air catching flame, a CG baseball bat soaring and crashing through a ceiling, as well as a multitude of raining yellow penalty flags. The team shot the stadium sequence live in the Rose Bowl, shooting some of the flying flags practically and adding about two-thirds more once in post.
3D Lead Artist David Lawson comments, “It was a great partnership with MJZ and it was a huge opportunity to collaborate with Bleacher Report on their debut spot.”