Watts Media Productions

Some of my favorite commercials

Durden10 — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:46:12 +0000

These include commercials from some of the best commercials directors out there: David Fincher, Spike Jonze, Michael Bay

Levi’s – “Doctors” – directed by Spike Jonze

Levi’s – “Elevator Fantasy” – directed by Michael Bay

“Got Milk” – directed by Michael

HP – “Constant Change” – directed by David Fincher

Nike – “Leave Nothing” – Dir. David Fincher
Agency: Wieden+Kennedy
Copywriter: Jason Bagley

Nike – “Second Generation” – dir. by Brian Beletic
Agency: Wieden+Kennedy
Copywriters: Derek Barnes and Paul Renner

side-by-side comparison

Anheuser-Busch Budweiser – “Whassup?” – dir. Charles Stone III
Agency: DDB

The commercials were based on a short film, entitled “True”, written and directed by Charles Stone III, that featured Stone and several of his childhood friends – Fred Thomas, Paul Williams, Terry Williams, and Kevin Lofton.

How AT&T made those awesome Talkative-Tyke Ads

Durden10 — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:34:37 +0000

Great article from Ad Age about how the filmmakers got such natural and funny comments from the kids in those new AT&T commercials. http://adage.com/article/news/talkative-tyke-ads-scripted-improvised/240487/

Quotes on Filmmaking

Durden10 — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:30:53 +0000

“Someone said to me, early on in film school… if you can photograph the human face you can photograph anything, because that is the most difficult and most interesting thing to photograph. If you can light and photograph the human face to bring out what’s within that human face you can do anything.”
- Roger Deakins, nominated for 10 Oscars in Cinematography as of 2013.

“There are no rules in filmmaking. Only sins. And the cardinal sin is dullness.”
- Frank Capra

“The hardest part about directing is getting out of the car.”
-Stanley Kubrick

“There’s nothing quite like the idea of failing spectacularly to excite a film maker”
- Mike Figgis

“Films are always pretentious. There’s nothing more pretentious than a filmmaker.”
- John Milius

“A film is – or should be – more like music than like fiction. It should be a progression of moods and feelings. The theme, what’s behind the emotion, the meaning, all that comes later.”
- Stanley Kubrick

“No art passes our conscience in the way film does, and goes directly to our feelings, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls.”
- Ingmar Bergman

“I think audiences get too comfortable and familiar in today’s movies. They believe everything they’re hearing and seeing. I like to shake that up.”
- Christopher Nolan

Behind the scenes at a McDonald’s photo shoot

Durden10 — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:12:12 +0000

This is a great example of how PR firms can use video to engage with the public. McDonald’s Canada has set up a website entitled “Our Food. Your Questions” to answer questions about McDonald’s food. They have several videos in the series, and this video alone has 8.1 million views since being posted on Youtube in June 2012.

TNT’s “We Know Drama” Viral Videos

Durden10 — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 04:14:13 +0000

These are the best hidden-camera pranks ever, and they completely fit in with the brand message too.

The first online commercial, to launch TNT in Belgium

The second online commercial, to launch TNT in the Netherlands

Orientation Video – USDA: NRCS

Durden10 — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 17:28:30 +0000

Agency: C2 Communications
Production Company: Rocket Media Group
Director / DP / Editor: Trent Watts

TV Spot – Dept. of Veterans Affairs

Durden10 — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 18:44:49 +0000

This was created on a 12-day turnaround (for the rough cut) on an extremely tight budget. We swung for the fences on this, turning what was originally written/budgeted to be a 1-day shoot on green screen into a 2-day shoot using real locations with carefully timed and choreographed shots.

—-CREDITS—-
Client: Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Production Company: Rocket Media Group

Writer / Executive Producer – Ward LeHardy
Producer / Director / DP – Trent Watts
Assistant Director – Patrick Hunt
Steadicam – James Yeager
Gaffer – Shelly Farrell
Key Grip – J.M. Reed
Composer – Simon Taufique
Sound – Travis Groves
Editor – Trent Watts
Graphics – Miles McNamee
Grip PA – Stu Haight
Set PA – Chance Gibson
Set PA – Mike Riley

Actors:
James Lewis
Vivian Allvin
Tuyet Pham
Ward LeHardy

Extras:
Karen Krock
Lorenzo Jones
James Gustilo
Peter Muggleworth

Special Thanks:
Mike Riley
Robin Thomas

Justin Bieber music video filmed on a Go Pro

Durden10 — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 20:28:38 +0000

I don’t care what anybody else says, this is an awesome music video. Despite only being filmed on a Go Pro, the camera work and choreography are extremely dynamic and create some highly energetic visuals. The only thing I don’t like is that Bieber takes credit for the writing and directing of it. It was actually directed by Jon M. Chu, who’s a pretty accomplished director in his own right (Step up 2, Step up 3D, GI Joe: Retaliation).

Another Comedy Gem from Skittles

Durden10 — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 21:05:40 +0000

Demo Reel – Oct. 2012

Durden10 — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 11:35:23 +0000

For a quick sample of my capabilities, you can watch this demo reel. It’s a selection of my work from the last 12 months. Cameras used were the Canon C300 (10%), Canon 5D Mark 2 (40%), and Canon 60D (50%).