Ariel Shepherd Hall How does it begin? The book, movies, commercials? It all starts with an idea and a table. John and I attended a production meeting at one of our favorite ad agencies. In this scenario, there were five people; all with different skills to contribute. There was a color wheel of minds configuring and concocting ideas onto one piece of paper and the goal was to make a fun and interesting TV spot. There was the existentialist; who came in with preconceived imagination. He laid out his ideas in front of the opportunist, the head man (and owner) of the agency. The opportunist has to make sure that the “magnificent idea” is sorta within budget but still doable. He agrees because what opportunist turns down a good idea? Then the realist comes walking in. She comes in with realistic questions, she may be the party pooper but she also brings up good points; she makes sure we stay within the confines of the budget. What is the most efficient way to execute the “magnificent idea”? And obviously she asks the most important question of all “can we really do this?” Now I, the observer, absorbs all of the dramatic process. I don’t say or contribute anything, I just watch. The best part of spit-balling is when the surrealist enters, John the video producer, the man who walks into a hi-powered meeting then declares rhinoceros. What does a rhinoceros have to do with anything? Well it sparks the ears of the existentialist “…well a rhinoceros could fit with our idea” in which convinces the opportunist “Yea! Everyone loves a rhinoceros!” and finally leaves the burden of sea change to the realist “well a rhino doesn't make sense but if everyone says it’s ok, then it’s ok”. A rhinoceros with a magnificent idea. There you go with the madness in the methods.
Ariel scouting the rhinoceros Now what daunted upon us was making these left-field ideas come to fruition. Mainly running errands to retrieve props used for recreating a fantasy. Oversized crochet balls and boxing gloves were just the few props purchased while we were conceptualizing more ideas for the commercial. When the production day approached it was the duty of the surrealist to transform an exhilarating idea into a compelling television car commercial. He morphed his focus into a pragmatic fashion. It’s the symbiotic trust from each other that gives the direction on how the production performs. Endless preparation of possible ideas and tangible objects was just the beginning of producing entertainment for all, but only few will fit with the time and financial constraints.
This is the beginning of my aerial view from start to finish. Join me on my adventurous encounters in the next blog.
Ariel studies French at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and will be an exchange student in Paris by the end of Summer. She chose to intern with Christensen Media in the mean time to better her skills in media production.]
This is the beginning of my aerial view from start to finish. Join me on my adventurous encounters in the next blog.
Ariel studies French at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and will be an exchange student in Paris by the end of Summer. She chose to intern with Christensen Media in the mean time to better her skills in media production.]
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