Directing Celebrities (Carmelo Anthony Ad)

[spidey]

It's interesting thing to do. Some people get so start struck to even approach them other go at them as if they are normal people, but I find that you have to walk a line, make them feel wanted, and comfortable and it's easier to get the challenges done.

I recent was giving the project of directing a spot with carmelo anthony.

Challenge write 15 scripts in 5 hour span. have them pick the script. they picked a script but then changed it to an idea they had and you have to write for that, 48 HOURS before the shoot. We were then flown in from NC to NYC had to find extras other components. We then found out we only had from 10am to 1 with Carmelo. Tight.

We got there for the shoot started prepping and shot scenes till 10:30am, he showed up. the deafening silence pressed the room. The we talked while the extras took a 5 minute break. We immediately starting shooting his sequences out. We'd do it several ways and I'd check and make sure he was okay at all time. if he needed anything, he said he was fine and we continued on. by 12:30 we got his scenes done. he was impressed by the speed, the last shoot he was on was a footlocker spot where he had to say a line 40 takes he recalls. So it's humbling with a modest budget we have he thought we did great in the in. He took pictures with the extras and crew and he left. We finished the rest of the spot. Edited and had it our a week later. for me it was great and he said he loved it. I'm glad he did.

just dont get intimidated and things will run smoothly.

heres the spot. let me know what you think. we only had 5 hours to shoot it all, i think it was a success.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjwdUCF_zYc


jeremy

 

[OddBirdman]

I'm an editor. When I watch these I watch them with the sound off. I thought the paper football edit looked timed well. The flaming logo at the end was a really nice touch. I think the color is just a tiny bit off but I can understand lighting budgets have to be considered. It's probably something a very very minor RGB mod could fix. Overall very nice job, and nice job on getting the job as well.

I've worked privately for a couple of celebs and I've always found the "Hey" approach works best for me. When I met them I say, "Hey." Not in the interrogative way - of course - because if you do that then they might yell, "What?!" and then pepper spray you. More like, your buddy you play Ultimate Frisbee with show up and is like "Hey," and then your like, "Hey." Like that.

I also never ask for autographs or photos. I can snap frames from B Roll for that. I worked with a very well known comic book artist. On the inside I was giddy. This artist inspired my whole sense of humor with his illustrations. But I did the best I could to keep it cool and it came together quite nicely. I feel like there is a fan line. I try not to cross it. I would rather be regarded as a fellow professional than as a fan. I feel like you get a chance to know people on a more personal level that way.

I've learned in my career so far a little bit about what public attention - on a very small scale - feels like and having people cross boundaries makes you wary of everyone you meet on a certain level. It's like a fry meme: "Not sure if fan or wants me to put lotion in basket." When someone is a fan the walls will go up. At the same time it perfectly acceptable to express that you are a long time fan, after the shoot, after you have been able to become comfortable with one and other. THEN get the flake of skin, eyelash, or less frequently the limb that fell off of them in the first scene so you can sell it on e-Bay.

I'm also not saying to be inattentive. Being attentive should just be a part of your nature toward people you are working with. I showed up with a "My mustache brings all the girls to the yard." t-shirt at the above shoot. I gave it to him as a gift. Not to kiss his butt but I truly thought he would find it funny. He did. It broke the ice.

Considering their artistic input is also very important as well. I don't care what your position is on the crew if you think you have a solid idea I want to hear it. However, If you have a very solid treatment outline, scripts, and storyboards, a decent production animatic, and your numbers in order to inspire them on some level then you may find they will be very respectful of the idea of representing your art in the way you want it represented. Getting people fired up about an idea is very important. I also feel you should pay them. They've earn it, and their name they have worked very hard to maintain will provide you with a broader audience.

And really, the most important thing you can do keep the relationship with a celeb is don't ask them for favors. There are quite a few well known people who ate a lot of Ramen Noodles, waited on jerks, even lived in the street for their opportunities and I've found that they feel that if they had to earn it, so should you. I agree with that. Pay the fee and appreciate paying it. As you write them a check, remember it them that is doing you the favor.

The OP's last sentence is absolutely correct though. Just be cool. Don't try to look like you're being cool. Fly casual.

 

[jghenderson]

Every celeb will obviously be different, but I think the best way to deal with them in general is to just treat them like regular people. It's important to remember that celebrities are followed everywhere, and they are constantly the center of attention. On a professional set is really the only place many of them get to truly relax and just be themselves. Because of this I think a strict no autograph policy is a good idea. Just treat them like human beings, let them relax and have a good time, and hopefully they'll enjoy themselves. You will of course always get the celebs that are spoiled and wish to be treated like royalty, and you have to judge the circumstance accordingly and decide how far to go in appeasing their wishes.

I should note, I have never directed a celebrity, but have been on sets with some really big names. All of my opinions here are based on what I saw on those sets.


As for your ad, i thought it was good. It was fun, Carmelo did a great job. My only critiques would be that the lighting wasn't that great, and I think it could have been a teensy bit shorter and still gotten the point across. Overall nice work though! Especially for 5 hours!

 

[john threat]

great job sonny!

i like when the producer is there to glad handle the celebrities so that i can concentrate on the creative.

 

[spidey]

Every celeb will obviously be different, but I think the best way to deal with them in general is to just treat them like regular people. It's important to remember that celebrities are followed everywhere, and they are constantly the center of attention. On a professional set is really the only place many of them get to truly relax and just be themselves. Because of this I think a strict no autograph policy is a good idea. Just treat them like human beings, let them relax and have a good time, and hopefully they'll enjoy themselves. You will of course always get the celebs that are spoiled and wish to be treated like royalty, and you have to judge the circumstance accordingly and decide how far to go in appeasing their wishes.

I should note, I have never directed a celebrity, but have been on sets with some really big names. All of my opinions here are based on what I saw on those sets.


As for your ad, i thought it was good. It was fun, Carmelo did a great job. My only critiques would be that the lighting wasn't that great, and I think it could have been a teensy bit shorter and still gotten the point across. Overall nice work though! Especially for 5 hours!

Thanks the video was originally 2 minutes (bleck) i got it down to 100 minute but then the owners of the company wanted to add double graphics at the end instead of one also they wanted graphic video graphic where i would have done graphic graphic video for the final hit so it made it 115. i could cut shorter but they wanted the info of the science there most importantly. remember i had to come up with this in a 2 day span keeping their idea and trying to keep it somewhat entertaining.

I agree on the lighting it could have been better specially if i had more time. but it was get in there and go. No money No time + celebrity = GO! lol.

but over all I'm happy. I hope next time for more time and a DP.