Back to main site.A Movable Feast with a Bike Race Running Through It
Posted by Brendan | Filed under behind-the-scenes, new work, traveling
Lost in the TV compound at the TdF
So, this month finds me at the Tour de France producing the French component of a daily Tour highlight and analysis show we’re doing for VeloNews.tv. Today is the “rest day” which isn’t really a rest day at all for us, but rather a day to catch up on feature segments we have in progress and try and get to the myriad press conferences and interviews that the key riders are doing today.
What can I say about the Tour at this point? It is the world’s grandest movable feast. The sheer scale of it harkens back to some Pharaohesque after-life vanity project, except it gets set-up, taken-down, moved at least 100 miles, and set-up again…every day. And somewhere in the middle of it, there is this bike race that happens. Which honestly ranges between mildly interesting and heart-stoppingly dramatic. I don’t care who you are, or whether or not your a cycling fan, but the “wisdom versus youth” drama between Lance Armstrong and the young, brilliant Spaniard, Alberto Contador transcends sport. No matter who eventually triumphs the story will be fascinating.
For Futuristic Films, this project has been an exercise in pushing the limits of Internet broadcasting, taking our expertise in branded entertainment to an entirely new level.
Pesonally, this project has been a complete mixed bag. One moment it is absolutely nightmarish, a sleepless Groundhog Day scenario, constantly racing the clock and struggling against a never-ending stream of logistical, technical, and creative issues. The next moment it is pure magic — gazing across a breathtaking Pyranean landscape or walking the narrow cobble streets of Barcelona into the wee hours of the morning.
The crazy thing is…this thing isn’t even HALF over.
Stage 7 Finish
A “Full-House” in Fortune Valley
Posted by Richie | Filed under Uncategorized, new work
The most depressing thing about commercial work is watching 15 hours of impeccably orchestrated set direction, light and sound crafting, and countless hours of talent selection and prop design, turned into a broadcast spot that you will most assuredly miss while dipping your chip in a couch marathon of TV worshipping. In fact, while watching the Rockies game two days ago I almost missed my cameo as an extra in one of the spots. The ads have been airing very regularly on FSN and other regional broadcast networks. I am the hardly discernible black-shirted, clapping blob who appears at the tail end of the 3rd spot. I am so cool.
The BEST thing about commercial work is watching the magic of talent, vision, and experience unfold in concert to yield a product that is on budget and effectively developed.
Here are the 3 thirty-second spots Futuristic Films produced alongside Juice Communications for Fortune Valley Casino. All three spots were filmed in one long and fruit-bearing day.
Wallah…
Director: Jasper Gray
Production Company: Futuristic Films
Agency: Juice Communications
Client: Fortune Valley Casino