Bacardi Martini - A Beautiful Race / George Clooney - (2008) :30 (USA)

SMNY helps George Clooney channel his inner Clark Gable while dodging his competitor actress Shannyn Sossamon in A Beautiful Race, a stylish new romp for Bacardi’s Martini brand, via Momentum, NY and director François Girard.

Agency: Momentum
Post/Effects: Smoke & Mirrors/NY

From SMNY:

The Martini account has a special place in our heart along with the creative team at Momentum (Ty Baker and Alonso Davila) along with EP Akash Khokha, Editor Trish Fuller of the Whitehouse and director François Girard. Shot on location in LA, the Amalfi coast was always going to be dropped in later. To this end, Janusz Kaminski (recently Spielberg’s DP on Indiana Jones and double Oscar winner) shot everything against green screen, some 80 feet of it, and SMNY creative director Sean Broughton supervised the shoot over two days.
As per the last campaign, everything was to be B&W except the product. Sam Caine and Stephanie Isaacson rotoscoped every shot the product entered, for three sets of films over two days while Dan Kelly and Phil Akka composited sky plates, delicately balancing every scene and finally Sean Broughton created the opening shot and title design.

With over 20 shots in 3 days including title design and execution, it was necessary to have 3 flame suites and 2 roto suites on hand at all times. Multiple takes of Clooney were composited and the client was able to pick their favorite from fully finished offerings.

The Creds:

Client: Bacardi Global Brands/Martini
Spot Title: A Beautiful Race
Air Date: July 2008

Agency: Momentum
WWCD: Jeff Weiss
CD(s): Ty Baker, Alonso Davila
Producer: Akash Khokha

Prod Company: Independent Media, Inc.
Director: Francois Girard
DP: Janusz Kaminski
EP: Susanne Preissler
Head of Production: Leslie Evers
Line Producer: Lindsay Skutch

Editorial: The Whitehouse, NY
Editor: Trish Fuller
EP: Corina Dennison
Producer: Melanie Klein Post/Effects: Smoke & Mirrors/NY
Lead VFX Artist: Sean Broughton
Flame Artists: Phil Akka, Dan Kelly
VFX Support Artists: Sam Caine, Stephanie Isaacson
EP: Celest Gilbert
Managing Director: Jo Morgan
VFX Producer: Paul O'Beirne

Telecine: Nice Shoes
Colorist: Lez Rudge

Sound Design: Sound Lounge Music & Sound Design, NY
Sound Designer: Marshall Grupp

Music: Mutato Muzika

Shoot Location: Beverly Hills, CA