Directing collective Megaforce, Riff Raff Films and visual effect/post studio MPC team to conjure up a different kind of hailstorm and with it a deliciously contemporary take on Singin’ in the Rain in this spot for Burberry titled “Festive.”
Titled “Festive,” the piece centers on a quartet who dance through the streets; each step choreographed by the (La)Horde collective and creatively written, imagined and directed by Megaforce via Riff Raff.
A joint statement from Megaforce read, “We found the idea of this film digging though Burberry’s history. The founder, Thomas Burberry, created innovative weatherproof clothing that was used by polar explorers, which gave us this idea of a story that saw its characters braving the elements with ease. That iconic scene from the film Singin’ in the Rain came to our minds so we wanted to draw inspiration from it and make a version that speaks for our times. This year has been tough for us all, so we wanted to push the metaphor and transformed the rain to ice blocks. We also changed the narrative from a single character to a group of friends because going through the adversity is a thing that we’d better do together.”
Riff Raff owner/EP Matthew Fone noted, “The most pleasing thing for me about this collaboration is how Megaforce took the brief of capturing what Burberry stands for today alongside its prominent heritage; and made a festive film that encapsulates the notion of both, in a simple metaphor of adversity in their own, inimitable way, no baubles.”
Alex Lovejoy, creative director at MPC, added, “We always knew the Burberry ‘Festive’ film was going to be a special project. The film showcases our ambition to challenge the ordinary and push the boundaries of remote postproduction. A key element was building the falling ice blocks, to do this successfully it was essential to capture data on set, so we took detailed photogrammetry of the streets and referenced real ice blocks shattering. This was used as the base for our CG so that it could be synchronized exactly with the live action. We are all incredibly proud of the final film, which was a lot of fun to create.”
CreditsClient Burberry Ricardo Tisci, chief creative officer; Rod Manley, chief marketing officer; Rachel Crowther, VP, creative; Al Watts, Sean Bell, art directors; Rose Percy, director of production; Asha Joneja, sr. producer; Cara Gillies, producer; Rebecca Haddaway, production coordinator; Luke Stazaker, sr. manager, postproduction; Susie Miller, styling editor; Fran Dyke, jr. styling editor; Jake Clements, assistant stylist. Agency & Production Riff Raff Films Megaforce, creative & direction; Matthew Fone, exec producer/owner; Nick Goldsmith, producer; Hannah Fowles-Pazdro, Georgia Mills, production, managers; (La)Horde, choreographer; Ben Gill, first assistant director; Katelin Arizmendi, DP; Ib Kamara, stylist; Marco Puig, production designer; Lucy Fewell, stylist; Paul Mann, Neil Gawthrop, SFX. Editorial Final Cut Joe guest, editor. Postproduction/VFX Moving Picture Company (MPC), London Ryan Hancocks, VFX producer; Alex Lovejoy, creative director and 2D lead; Fabian Frank, Rob Richardson, 3D leads; Matthieu Toullet, colorist. (Toolbox: Nuke, Flame, Houdini, Maya, Arnold, Ftrack, Baselight) Sound Design/Audio Post 750MPH, London Sam Ashwell, sound designer/mixer. Song/Music “Singin’ in the Rain,” written by Herb Brown, Arthur Freed; published by EMI Music Publishing Ltd; vocals by Dreya Mac; produced and arranged by Lank and Tank for Twenty Below Music; Emily Pritchard, music producer at Twenty Below Music Cast Zhane Samuels, Kevin Bago, Robinson Cassarino, Chantel Foo.
Apple, Director Aoife McArdle “Capture” Cinematic Slow-Motion Filmmaking On iPhone 16 Pro
Aptly titled “Capture,” this spot from Apple’s in-house creative ensemble shows the high caliber mobile filmmaking of which the iPhone 16 Pro is capable. Directed by Emmy and DGA Award nominee (for Severance) Aoife McArdle via production company SMUGGLER--and lensed by cinematographer Edu Grau--the commercial captures the iPhone’s ability to record in 4K120fps ProRes and then adjust playback speed after capture in the Photos app to create cinematic slow-motion filmmaking. This breathtaking imagery is showcased in a wide range of circumstances--from epic action to intimate moments.
The tagline: “Hollywood in your pocket.”
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