(10.8mb) The final version
This is a public service announcement I shot for an Alachua County campaign called Gear Up, Buckle Up — to encourage kids (11-14) to buckle up their seatbelts. They gave me the general idea and Rafael and Nick helped me riff on it
What I Thought Would Happen:
This is the first video that I didn’t also produce myself. “Production” is making calls; getting permits, locations, props, food, and actors; and making sure everything goes back the way you got it after you’re done with it. It’s all the real leg work that happens before you get to the fun part: shooting.
So I had no idea what would happen with this. The shooting actually got canceled the first time it was going to be shot. I thought it was dead in the water, but it ended up being scheduled for the next weekend.
What Ended Up Happening:
Everything was exactly in place (the food I requested, the car we had to rent, the permits for the field, the actors to play the players) it was great. All the people I called to help crew showed up on time and did amazing.
So many people showed up and were enthusiastic about doing it that I felt bad during the times there wasn’t anything for some people to do.
All the actors that Jessica (the producer) got were really friendly and enthusiastic. We got driven around instead of having to drive places and pick stuff up ourselves. It was great. I could really start working like this all the time.
Overall:
I don’t know how much this video will encourage kids the be safe (it seems like older people will be more entertained by the kitsch than kids), but the whole thing seems like an exercise in creating a PR campaign — so in that respect I think it does its job.
It moves a little bit fast, but that’s better than moving slow. Also, I think that the initial first draft version below is much more fun (despite the fact that it isn’t as effective in getting the point across). I cut 7 seconds of the field scene for the final version. There’s something I find really funny about Tameka getting chased around the field in the version below. I could probably watch an entire minute of just all those shots cut together.
It seemed like everyone was having fun and you can tell by how well it turned out. And no-one complained. Not once.
(11.6 mb) The first version before being cut down more
Who?
Producer: Jessica Jarvis / PRSSA / Bateman
Director: Shaun Spalding
Assistant Director: Ryan Moulton
Crew: Dawnice Tims, Nick Boisson, Danny Djeljosevic, Ben Kline, and Dan Homrich,
Actors: Chris, Chad, Cedric, (I forgot the last player’s name I’m sorry) and Tameka
