Search form

MPC Goes Into Battle With You/Live Magazine

Traktor has directed MAIL ON SUNDAY'S new theatrical commercial for the weekly newspaper supplements YOU/LIVE MAGAZINE. The ad agency was BBH London and the post work was carried out at MPC. The comical ad, titled "Battle," centers around a GLADIATOR style battle scene appropriately set in the same location as the field seen in the opening sequence of the movie. The fight takes place between an army of men on one side and women on the other.

The spot begins with a closeup of a woman launching into full battle cry on top of a jet ski and a man responding astride a motorbike yielding a golf club. A fight ensues, with spears and cannonballs replaced by amongst other things handbags and radio controlled cars.

The mayhem escalates until finally, each side draws on their reserve of the new magazines: "You" for team women and "Live" for team men, rolling them up into a baton before charging toward each other. Post battle, a serene, hazy ambience takes over, with the men and women covered in mud sitting down relaxed, reading their magazines together.

MPC extended the crowds and enhanced the overall look and texture of the ad. CG crowd simulations augmenting the crowd of 200 live-action male and female extras, with Massive swelling the troops to circa 5,000 3D people. All the foreground crowd elements had to be meticulously roto-scoped so that all the CG crowds could then be composited into the shots.

Frank Lambertz's 2D team created depth and atmosphere by adding 2D smoke and darkening the clouds to give a more ominous feel during the battle scenes. In Flame, sparks and smoke were added to the cars to make them appear more aggressive. Flags were added in 2D and the cars and dogs were also duplicated. Senior digital matte painter Henrik Holmberg created the epic post battle field featured in the penultimate shots.

Telecine work was carried out by Jean Clement Soret, who was briefed to give a "print" look to the film negative, heightening the contrast between colors and making the film appear "bolder."

The spot will open during the trailer section with the premiere of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END.

Please view the ad at www.moving-picture.com/youlivemagazine.

Credits:

* Post -roducer: Justin Brukman/Graham Bird* VFX supervisor: Franck Lambertz* CG supervisor: Vicky Osborn* VFX team: Chrys Aldred, Paul Bayliss, Robin Carlisle, Ali Dixon, Adam Geffen, Miles Glyn, Lewis Guarniere, Henrik Holmberg, Duke Miller, Cenay Oekmen, Dean Robinson, Mark Robinson, Leila Smith, Greg Wilton.

Bill Desowitz's picture

Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.

Tags