It’s hard out there for a bag, unless of course you stay with Staybridge.
When Atlanta video production company FUGO Studios was approached with an exciting concept for a series of ads for Staybridge Suites, we were thrilled to be working alongside a local agency on creative material. The scripts featured a series of bags describing all the reasons they love Staybridge suites. The challenges we’re numerous and mainly centered around the task of clearly establishing the source of narration in each ad as the bag itself. FUGO tackled the series with gusto.
The production would take the team across Atlanta, shooting within three Staybridge Suites locations. An army of bags were “auditioned” before the final stars would be settled on, and in the end an arsenal of bags, crew, and filming equipment would be wheeled in and out of rooms, down halls, up stairs, across pools and through the various Staybridge lobby’s over a three day shooting schedule. The final product is a series of Staybridge ads that meet the challenges of the script head on.
A Little NASCAR
There is an old Hollywood adage that suggests, “Never work with children or animals.” Well, no animals on this one, but we’ve definitely got the ‘children’ thing covered.
When the team at Atlanta based video production company FUGO Studios was approached by producers from NBC Universal’s sports division, we we’re obviously curious. By the time the first meeting had finished, curiosity had been replaced by excitement. The production concept was simple enough: Have celebrity Rutledge Wood interview groups of children about NASCAR and get honest, unscripted thoughts on the motor sport. The reality of actually putting the concept together however, was far from simple.
Over 100 kids were tested for on-screen presence and general knowledge of NASCAR to put together 5 groups of 5. Each of these groups would then be filmed in a round-table discussion with Rutledge. The conversations would all take place on a set dressed to look like a NASCAR classroom. FUGO Studios producers located an actual Atlanta area school and moved into a kindergarten room, covering the space with all manner of race-themed goodies. By the time the last hand-colored stock car racing flag was hung, the entire room took on the feel of NASCAR clubhouse, ready for Rutledge Wood to hold court.
As the cameras rolled, the FUGO Studios team was treated to a wild range of impromptu moments from the kids. In the end, the production was a success, and it turns out that working with children isn’t all that bad.
Jim Ellis Audi of Atlanta
Atlanta video production company FUGO Studios was recently approached by Jim Ellis Audi of Atlanta in order to produce a new video. The production would be an exercise in exploring the high-octane world of Audi Automotive while bringing a creatively cinematic flare to local dealership commercials.
The FUGO Studios team attacked this challenge with the usual tenacity they bring to bear on every video production. After a visit to the dealership to scout the facility, the production professionals arrived in the pre-dawn hours, quickly moving into place and assembling a battery of equipment. As the sun began to peek over horizon, the production company was in the air, shooting a series of beautiful aerial establishing shots of the Jim Ellis Audi complex. Inside, cars were carefully situated and the filming began. The FUGO team shot a series of vignettes inside and along a fleet of Audi’s top of the line vehicles.
The end result is a local dealership commercial that is miles above the norm. The lesson here: just because it’s local doesn’t mean the quality has to suffer; a mantra that repeatedly makes FUGO Studios the go-to Atlanta video production company.
Hilton “Bring It” Ad Campaign
Atlanta video production company FUGO Studios was contacted to produce a series of ads for the Hilton family of suites. The production took place across several Atlanta area Hilton suites and centered on the idea that Hilton suites are large enough for you to “Bring It” … The “it” in question being anything you can think of.
So, we brought it.
The FUGO truck as well as two 15’ cube trucks loaded with props and costume options pulled up to the production, while a set of Arri 4k HMI’s run off a generator truck provided lighting on a grand scale. Every inch of each room was meticulously styled, steamed, smoothed, vacuumed, dressed, analyzed, discussed, fed into client monitors across the hall and then analyzed, discussed, redressed, restyled, re-smoothed, and shot over a three day production period. To say they were long days would be a severe understatement, but in the end the results made the effort well worth it.
Ever Wish Ad Campaign
There isn’t usually much room for comedy in the world of banking; that is unless you consider retirement portfolio strategy as hilarious as we do, or you happen to live in north Florida. Enter Community First Credit Union.
When a Florida Agency contacted Atlanta video production company FUGO Studios, there was a collective gasp in the room. Here was a client unafraid to inject a bit of humor into their commercials. Yes, Atlanta video production varies wildly in types and styles of projects, but it is rare by any standard to be asked to feature a live lion. Not wild enough? Maybe you prefer a scene featuring a tattoo of a face, on a face? How about ear gauges large enough to slip your arms through? Community First’s “Ever Wish” campaign (as in “Ever Wish” there was a better way to bank?) was refreshingly original on paper, but it was up to video production company FUGO Studios to bring it to life.
This simple two-word theme spawned some surprising results, and no small amount of challenges for FUGO Studios. It would take three whirlwind days of production to realize Community First’s vision. FUGO would ultimately pull out all the stops, using everything from visual effects to live action. Raw cuts of pork would be thrown at imaginary lions, while cat wranglers would give FUGO producers the option of using a one-eyed-cat for a particular scene or choosing the standard two-eyed variety.
We went with two eyes, but in the end there was nothing standard about this shoot.
2017 Delta Safety Video
As part of the Delta Air Lines “Midnight Oil” welcome and safety video design, the FUGO Studios team wanted to introduce two new elements: A strong side light from the aircraft windows imitating a sunrise glow and the use of a remote head and jib in order to fly the camera throughout the aircraft, adding never-before-seen movement to a traditionally standard video.
We immediately realized that trying to do either of these on a live plane would be difficult to impossible. Enter the Delta Mock Cabin.
The Delta Mock Cabin is principally used as a training facility for Delta’s on-board personnel, perfectly replicating the interior of their fleet of aircraft. For FUGO Studios it represented an opportunity to film on a controlled set, giving us the ability to perfectly light for our look.
Perhaps the most dynamic aspect of the shoot came through the use of the remote-head camera jib. For the first time, the camera is able to fly over passengers, along aisles and seats, and give the audience a view that is impossible on a live airplane.
In addition to the mock cabin, one of the most challenging aspects of the “Midnight Oil” shoots are the live plane nights. The complexities of working aboard live aircraft range from limited plane availabilities to tight quarters, and even the most seasoned film crews have to rise to the occasion.
For FUGO Studios, the day begins at 9pm. The team rolls up and packs out, moving the gear into Delta’s midfield support bays. From here, everything and everyone rides cross-tarmac to the waiting jetliner. Once aboard, the show begins. Background extras are brought aboard, lighting is set and little by little the safety presentation come to life.
It is an exercise in patience, in working under tight conditions, and in working through the rigors of exhaustion. In all it is the live plane shoots that test us, and ultimately bring the FUGO Studios team together.
Midnight Oil
When one of the most iconic brands in the world comes back for a second round, you know you’ve done something right.
In late August 2016, Delta Air Lines contacted FUGO Studios with a spectacular opportunity: Produce the 2017 Delta on-board welcome and safety videos. The videos represent a major portion of Delta’s customer facing marketing and branding. The videos are shown on every Delta flight around the world with an annual viewership of 180,000,000 people,
Obviously, we were eager to get started.
FUGO Studios was tasked with producing an engaging welcome video featuring Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian as well as a new and unique safety video. The videos needed to stand apart, to highlight Delta’s brand pillars, the reasons that Delta operates at the highest standards. For the team at FUGO Studios this boiled down to one phrase:
Midnight Oil.
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EXT. DELTA ROOFTOP – EARLY MORNING
As the sun begins to crest over the famous “Fly Delta Air Lines” sign, Delta CEO, Ed Bastian walks into frame. He is poised and confident. He walks as he delivers his lines to camera.
You are the reason for our long hours and hard work, the reason we’ll never stop improving.
Welcome aboard.
Camera floats up and towards the Delta signage.
Fade to Black.
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4:00 AM. The FUGO Studios team arrives at Delta headquarters in Atlanta. Having rendezvoused with the jib operator, our first order of business is getting up to the roof. The FUGO team begins to unload and move in, each case carried three stories straight up – the mercury outside hovers at 19 degrees.
As the clock begins to count down, the team looks to the sky, every minute watching black turn to deep blues and then quietly into dawn. In two hours Delta CEO Ed Bastian will walk out in front of the camera. The team will have approximately 10 minutes to get the shot. Power cables run three stories back down to the ground floor. The space heater in the tent barely keeps up in the the icy dawn. The Alexa is assembled and mounted on the jib in almost total darkness. With half an hour to go the team runs several test passes before the big show begins.
Despite the early call, the record temperatures and the difficult set-up, the shot went off perfectly.
It’s always an honor to work with clients as prestigious as Delta, but it is especially meaningful that Ed Bastian would give us his morning to stand on a freezing roof with FUGO. In the end Mr. Bastian was extremely professional and prepared, making all the difficulties of getting the shot well worth the effort.
TOC = Technical Operations Center.
Ever wondered where Delta Airlines maintains and repairs their aircraft? Where new components are replaced and in many cases manufactured? How do you paint a plane? What does a stripped down jet engine look like? Exactly how many coffee stations does a 24-hour operation require over a 63-acre facility? Do you back a Boeing into a hangar or go in nose first? What do you call the guy with the red glowing batons? When does the cafeteria stop serving lunch? Which of the 7 stories houses the seat repair bay?
Well, FUGO Studios can tell you.
As part of the Delta Air Lines “Midnight Oil” project, the FUGO Studios team recently filmed across the TOC complex. Moving a production around 63-acres while lighting and shooting in a working aircraft hangar isn’t easy, but it’s definitely interesting.
American Cancer Society
In May of 2016, FUGO Studios had the privilege of working with American Cancer Society. Our task was to tell the story of ACS through a series of vignettes with cancer survivors, doctors and researchers, and ACS representatives. It was certainly an emotional journey for us, but also an inspirational peek into the amazing work ACS does daily for so many cancer survivors.
FUGO Studios is a collective of passionate production professionals; the most important thing for all of us is story. To be entrusted with the great honor of telling story of ACS is truly special for us.
From a production standpoint, the real lessons we learned in the ACS series all boiled down to giving these stories the treatment they deserve. To inform an audience about the work ACS does to support cancer survivors was an exercise in stewardship, in reflection, and in honoring the sensitivities of these amazing stories.
Take a look at the video and some behind the scenes images from the shoot.
Bold Flavors
The great thing about the world of video production in Atlanta is that you never know who’s going to knock on your door. As the city continues to transform into a production capitol, more and more brands are looking to Atlanta for video services.
In March of 2016, FUGO Studios was contacted by Schlotzsky’s in order to produce a 30 second national advertisement. The task was to feature several new sandwich creations, and reflect their uniquely bold flavors against appropriately matched visuals. The FUGO Studios team quickly went to work breaking down the script, scouting locations, and designing the production.
Over the course of a two-day shoot, FUGO Studios filmed within the King Plow complex, shooting the Schlotzsky’s line of sandwiches and ingredients in multiple locations. The food was meticulously styled and filmed to imbue the final visuals with a handcrafted, artisan quality. By playing on the strong connections between the on-screen textural qualities of the food and the locations, the commercial reflects a general gourmet quality.
Check out the video and some behind the scenes photos of the shoot!
Dog Dreams
After a Top 5 finish in the 2014 Doritos Crash the Superbowl competition with “Breakroom Ostrich”, FUGO Studios entered once again with “Dog Dreams”. In this year’s entry, we get a hilarious look inside the mind of a dog and a man as they share a dream of chasing after a Doritos truck.
This production was our first opportunity to shoot with the Phantom Miro, which can shoot 1,500 frames per second in HD, allowing for high quality, extreme slow motion. (To understand just how slow this is; a one second clip in 1,500 frames per second can be slowed down to last over a minute, while staying smooth the entire time).
We also were able to work with a talented dog trainer who provided us with the perfect dog. We shot the slow motion on green screen so we were able to place the super slow motion into a shot that was otherwise at normal speed.
We had a great time making this video, and once again we were very successful in the competition, placing in the top 20 out of nearly 5,000 entries!
Check out the video and some behind the scenes photos of the shoot!
Vanilla Gift Card
FUGO Studios and Guillotine Pictures teamed up with local agency Forty Four Digital to create this fun holiday spot for the Vanilla Gift Card.
Shot over three days in Atlanta, the spots required almost a dozen different camera set-ups. Great attention was paid to each set-up so that it would complement the actor’s character. The natural lighting gives this piece a “slice of life” feel, and color coordination between the wardrobe and sets gives the “pop” needed for a national broadcast commercial.
We were fortunate enough to get to shoot in the 2012 Southern Living Idea Home in Senoia, Georgia. This beautiful home was camera-ready, and it’s owners made shooting there a real treat. It was also great to get to work with a great team of talented people all working towards a common goal.
Genetic Testing
FUGO Studios was approached by JScreen to create an overview video for their company that could explain some fairly complex information in a simple and attractive way. JScreen is a genetic testing company focusing on the Jewish denomination.
FUGO Studios created a three minute long animation that utilized colorful typography and fun animated characters to inform the viewer about JScreen in a clear and approachable manner. A simple and cool color palate was utilized to highlight key terms and concepts in the JScreen process. FUGO focused on bringing the relevant information into focus and conveying important statistics in clear visual terms. The entire animation was storyboarded out before animation began. Take a look at the storyboards and final video stills to see how the animation came together from the original idea.
Brains
The Ad Agency Iris Worldwide approached FUGO Studios to produce two commercial spots for (Co)Lab, Atlanta’s annual collaborative leadership summit. The objective for these videos was to engage and inspire innovative minds to collaborate on progressive improvements for Atlanta’s future.
The first spot centers on a fictional cooking show called Food For Thought, with a zombie host tasting for quality brains available in Atlanta. For this spot FUGO shot at the critically acclaimed restaurant Ecco in downtown Atlanta. The excellent zombie make-up was created by Andre Freitas who has worked on high-caliber projects such as The Walking Dead and Zombieland. This zombie host stands out from the clean attractive restaurant, bringing attention to the irony and comedy of the concept.
Miracle
What do you get when you mix a doctor helping a couple make a baby and a bag of delicious nacho cheese Doritos? Well… A miracle of course! It’s the latest FUGO Studios project, an entry into the Doritos Crash the Superbowl contest where the best commercial can grab a coveted spot on the Superbowl and even win 1 million [Read more…] about Miracle