MPC creates evocative commercials for Orange mobile

MPC have completed post on a series of Mother London-produced commercials promoting the services of the Orange mobile telephone network.
The campaign comprises six spots: ‘Gendarme’, ‘David’, ‘Patricia’, ‘Snoring’, ‘Architect, and ‘Coincidences’, each developing a story or character which reflects a service offered by Orange. The series has a “European look and an Americanised voiceover” which extends its appeal as an international campaign. The ads were all composited in Inferno, with three of the commercials containing visual effects.
Gendarme, (40 seconds) promotes Nokia photo messaging and features the artistic Officer DuPont who sees beautiful imagery everywhere he goes. A 35mm time-lapse camera was used to film a growing flower before blue screen. The plant was then composited into a crack in an office building where it grows and opens its petals. On a wider view of the office, the façade – including a window cleaner in a cradle – was repositioned and re-arranged with a sparkling effect being added to show the star system of Orion’s belt. This shape is later reflected by blemishes on the face of a colleague of Officer DuPont.
Snoring (40 seconds), set in a fire station, underlines customised ring tones by showing the individual recognisable snores or sounds made by each sleeping fireman illustrating attributed ring tones. The spot’s opening shot shows a model of a Swiss mountain village which was extended in inferno using matte paintings to create a wider view. Inferno Operator Alex Lovejoy then added life to the scene by illuminating bedroom windows and compositing in chimney smoke and falling CG snow. Steadicam shots of the 5 characters were seamlessly blended together to create one continuous camera move. Specific blue screen elements were used to help this.
Architect (40 seconds) looks at individuality. The perfect office environment is customised to fit with the idiosyncrasies of the specific member of staff working in each section. MPC’s Inferno artists projected stills onto 3D geometries in order to create panning shots moving from aisle to aisle. Ziggy Zigouras carried out a multi-layered composite of the office model in order to incorporate live action.
(GB)