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Johnnie Walker - The Man Who Walked Around The World - (2009) 6:28 (UK)

brentter's picture
Posted by brentter on Aug 7 2009

Sorry, flash is not available.

This is about as cool as it gets when telling the history behind your brand. Johnnie Walker and BBH London got Scottish actor Robert Carlisle to narrate the story while walking through the misty Scottish highlands. Shot in one continuos take (#40 to be exact) this really shows off the acting chops that Carlisle possesses as he delivers the 5 minute+ bit while interacting with various props along the way (my favorite is when he gets a drink). Jamie Rafn was the director.

Credits: 

Agency: BBH, London
Agency Producer: Ruben Mercadel
Creative Director: Mick Mahoney
Senior Creative / Copywriter: Justin Moore
Art Director: n/a
Director: Jamie Rafn
Production Company: HLA, London
Producer: Stephen Plesniak
Director of Photography: George Richmond
Post Production & City: Glassworks, London
Editor & Company: Kate Owen, Marshall Street Editors, London
Shooting date: July 2008

Your rating: None Average: 5 (2 votes)

Lovely. Makes me want to stand up and applaud.

Dabitch's picture
Submitted by Dabitch on 7. August 2009 - 10:27.

Is that a commercial or the worlds most expensive corporate film?

James_Trickery's picture
Submitted by James_Trickery on 7. August 2009 - 12:33.

A pal on adlist (adgrunt Alec) just tipped me to the discussion about this ad going on in steadicamforums. Figures I'm not the only one squinting at zooms wonderng how did they shoot that. In the forums they have this;

Got a reply from the DIT:

The job was at least a year ago now, so some details are getting sketchy in my memory - I can't remember what lens it was but I think it might have been an Ultraprime, and I guess a 24 or a 32mm judging from how close Bobby was to the camera.

It was a rickshaw, pulled by two grips, with a garfield mount plus steadicam, operated by George. I'm not sure if the beginning and end were stabilised, but they didn't need it - I remember there was a tiny bit of very organic, non-distracting movement in the original, so I think they have taken it out.

They have done zooming in post on the actual frame during the shot, which ends up being a contrazoom, as the camera is coming further away from Bobby, but they have simultaneously zoomed in on the picture. Watch the background at 1.29 for eg. It's horrible. Again, unnecessary, as they seem to have done that just because they wanted a slightly tighter frame. I think there's another one later, but I don't have time to look for it now.

We had one half day for technical rehearsal, then two days shooting for just this one take. I think we did about 30 in all... I'm pretty sure the one they used was the very final take of all three days.

Dabitch's picture
Submitted by Dabitch on 7. August 2009 - 15:34.