In a campaign for the new NFL Network, ad agency Triple Double commissioned the digital effects talent of Ring of Fire. The four spots are a tribute to THE NEWLYWED GAME where the contestants, NFL players and coaches, play for the ultimate prize.
In NEWLYWED INTRO, the spot opens on a 70s style game show set and introduces the players, as well as the host of the new NFL Newlywed Game. VICK & MORA reveals the heart-pounding rush of answering the game-winning question for Michael Vick and Jim Mora of the Atlanta Falcons. CHAMP & JOHN and GIANTS give insight into how the other couples fare in the game with Champ Bailey and John Lynch bickering over money and dinner, and the Giants team complaining about their significant others wardrobe.
An interesting aspect of this project for Ring of Fire was that the background game set is actually from original footage for the 70s show, which was provided by CBS. The only practical props used in the campaign were a greenscreen bench, the placards held by the football players and the lattice background and podium used by the host.
The players were shot in their respective cities against greenscreen, explains Jerry Spivack, Ring of Fire creative director and on-set supervisor. We built a greenscreen bench that matched the dimensions of the seat in the original NEWLYWED footage. A pre-edit of the footage was necessary before the shoot to select the angles, which we then shot and lined up in the post process to appear seamless.
The Ring of Fire team used Inferno and Henry to clean up the background plates and composite the football players into the game show footage.
The most challenging part of this project was lining up the angles to the game footage, added Spivack. Once we had an edit, we knew what angles we needed to shoot per shot. With each set of players, we only had an hour or less to shoot so we had to predetermine the angles before production in each city. We had positions and marks on the floor and knew exactly where to move the cameras and props. It was a fantastic experience working with Triple Double again, having collaborated with Allan [Broce] before. The project could not have gone better. Everyone was on board throughout the entire process and it was a very united effort.
Credits include:Ad Agency: Triple Double, Inc./Venice, CaliforniaCreative director: Allan BroceExec producer: Cheri Anderson Producer: Jeff Ferro
Production Company: NFL Films/Mt. Laurel, New JerseyDirectors: Erik Moe & Allan BroceDP: Hank McElwee Production supervisor: Alan BrownLine producer: Lorena Pannizzo
Editorial Company: The Now Corporation/New York, New YorkEditor: Nelson LeonardAssistant editor: Tripp McCartyExec producer: Nancy Finn
VFX Company: Ring of Fire/West Hollywood, CaliforniaExec producer: John MyersCreative director/on-set supervisor: Jerry SpivackProducer: Zenta KronitisInferno artists: Paul Geiger, John Ciampa, Alicia Aguilera, Thomas Downs & Brent GilmartinHenry artists: Brian Shneider, Tina Eastlake & Mark RobbenRotoscope: Gary Mortensen
Post-Production Company: Company 3/Santa Monica, CaliforniaColorist: Mike PethelOnline editors: Alicia Aguilera & Thomas Downs @ Ring of Fire
Graphic Design: Buck/Los Angeles, CaliforniaCreative director: Ryan HoneyArt director: Orion TaitExec producer: Maurie EnochsonProducer: Nick TerzichDesigner: Yker MorenoAnimators: Yker Moreno, Amy Won
Music Production Company: Blueprint Music/New York, New YorkComposer: Gary SchreinerExec producer: Mary Wood
Audio Post-Production Company: Lime/Santa Monica, California & RavensWork/Venice, CaliforniaMixer: Rohan Young @ Lime (NEWLYWED INTRO and GIANTS)Mixer: Robert Feist @ RavensWork (VICK & MORA CHAMP and JOHN)
Ring of Fire is an award-winning visual effects company working in commercials, TV and film. The studio is located at 8300 Melrose Avenue 2nd Floor, West Hollywood, California 90069. For more information, visit www.ringoffire.com.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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