I’ve worked under water a few times now, (if you have any scripts that need shooting underwater, send them to us, I know how to do it!), it’s a difficult environment to work in. Everything behaves differently underwater. Lighting, people, hair, make up. It’s a bit like being in a zero gravity environment, things tend to ‘float’ off just when you don’t want them to. It’s hard to get people to ’stand’, the water keeps them moving. You’ve got to make sure that they have air, because you can’t keep bringing them up and down out of the tank, or the sea, or whatever. So I have great respect for this spot, I know what it took to get them to the final edit, I know that they would have had problems with wigs and facial hair just coming unstuck and floating off, and that to actually get everyone to look at though they were on the floor!….and have you ever tried loading a camera when you’re under water? But seriously, it’s a fun way to shoot, even when there are sharks who can count around. (Did you know that sharks can count? Neither did I until we had to shoot with them in France!) So enjoy, and well done to the team involved in this.
May 20, 2009
May 15, 2009
War!
by Max Brady
I saw this spot on telly, it made me sneeze! I suffer from Hayfever, and a whole host of other allergies that can create havoc with my eyes and nose, and sometimes my ears! :-0 My cat, my dog, dust, (a handy one I admit to get out of house cleaning!), you name it, if it’s airborne, it can make me sneeze, violently.
So I love this. It captures just what it’s like when you wake up and look out the window, with your eyes already itching, sneezing, and you think to yourself, “another gorgeous day, better stay indoors.” This film was created by someone who truly understands what it means to be allergic, and every shot makes me want to aiichoo, (is that how you spell it?). Great production values, and I especially love the sound design!
May 13, 2009
Sausages!
by Max Brady
We were invited on Monday to our first BBQ of the year on the rooftop of Odessa Club. So we went along. I’m not the greatest fan of sausages, I like to know what actually went in there, and I’m kind of wary of what ‘rusk’ means. But I recently discovered Jane Russells Original Irish Sausages, and I love what she’s doing with them. Jalapeno or Parmesan sausages anyone? I met Jane, and then we started ‘engaging in social meeja’ as they say! So we’re fans of her on Facebook. But it’s great to see a small artisan brand like this jump into the world of advertising, and social media is a great way to do it, so I’m going to plug her shamelessly! She sells in shops that are outside of your average Tesco, and at farmers’ markets but you can find your local shop to purchase on her website:
http://short.ie/7qh6kj
May 11, 2009
Falling in Slow Motion!
by Max Brady
I love things shot in ultra slow motion, there is something almost balletic about the movement. Ultra slow motion gives you a whole new perspective on how things are, you get to see things in a completely different way. This spot from agency Cayenne in Milan makes great use of the ultra slow motion of a high speed digital camera. I would have loved to have done this. Firstly because I love to shoot in ultra slow motion, and then also because I could have used trampolines and crash mats, and had fun throwing people off buildings! (My only gripe? I didn’t get to do it, and neither did the Maxfilms Director in Milan, Dario Piana.) 
May 5, 2009
I Can’t Work Out If I’m Slightly Amused, Or Disturbed…
by Max Brady
…I came across the Aztec version of this first, which is also confusing me as to my emotional state. While I waited for it to load, I found this version on another site that I frequent, and I’m really not sure if I’m amused, or disturbed. The premise, the atrocious ‘Oirish’ accent, and little people in hideous polyester tracksuits….
I mean surely everyone knows that the Leprechauns also got above themselves in the days of the Celtic Tiger and wouldn’t be seen dead in polyester! So, agency Creature, Seattle, and director Jim Hosking of Biscuit Filmworks, were you trying to amuse us, or disturb us on the other side of the pond. And if you want to see the Aztec version, you can find it on YouTube. Oh, and PS, it rains so bloody much here, that I don’t know where you got your idea that this is the Rainbow capital of the world!
