Heaven
Sent
We are always excited when we are able to inspire people through our
work. In this example we were contacted to produce a chrome XDAll for
a TV ad campaign; read on to find where the inspiration led O2.
The actual product is too small to light and shoot successfully, and
we advised a size of one metre to give the correct quality reflections
and depth of field.
Where's the Rub?
There’s usually a rub somewhere, and with this project, we had
a chronic deadline to meet. Two weeks from green light to shoot day.
Tight under normal circumstances, and made even more so by the fact
the XDAll needed a chrome finish. This means using a partner company,
specialising in ‘vacuum metalising’. The bottom line is
they needed two full days to chrome the object, which pulled our timeframe
even tighter.
Because we never compromise the final delivered project, there was only
one way to manage it; a committed, experienced team of modelmakers working
round the clock to deliver.
Accessing drawings of products like this is difficult and not time-friendly,
so we started creating our own drawings, taking dimensions from the
actual XDAll product. As each component was drawn, the drawing would
go into the hands of the modelmaker to get to work.
We scheduled five days for the making of the parts, two days for chroming
and one day assembly and finishing. This left a two-day cushion to allow
for unforeseen problems with the chroming.
The days were long, but we finished the components on time. Beautifully
smooth, with a mirror finish we sent them to be vacuum metalised. Vacuum
metalising is not an exact science, although when it works it looks
fantastic. We waited with baited breath to see the results, and were
disappointed to find blemishes in the finish. Unfortunately the only
way forward was to carefully polish back the surface, and send back
with breath doubly baited…
Thank the lord, when it returned it looked amazing. All of the long
hours and extra commitment were worth it, and we shone almost as much
as the model, with pride this time.
Inspiration
We delivered on time, the shoot went well, and this is where the inspiration
comes in; O2 were so pleased with the model it was shipped straight
from the shoot to O2 headquarters to be displayed. inspiring them to
ask us to create a ten foot product replication for outdoor advertising.
To the same high spec, with buttons and screen lit. As we were fabricating
that beauty, we were also asked to create twelve off, 700mm long XDAll’s
to be used as part of another outdoor advertising campaign. Again, with
a lit screen.
It's
Easy
This is where our clients find great value with us; because our skills
cross the media gamut completely from one side to the other, we are
able to use the experience gained on creating for example an XDAll for
TV, and use it on the four-metre and 700mm versions. This saves money
and gives great consistency and efficiency for all involved. Only one
project manager to call for all three projects…
Results
All units were created to the Hothouse IWG standard, on time, and everyone
at O2 was ecstatic.
_
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Stills
from the commercial
