MPC REVS UP FOR RENAULT MEGANE ‘SPORT’

Michael Gracey has directed ‘Race,’ the new Renault Megane Sport job for the ‘everything is sport’ campaign.  The 60: and a 30: version of the ad draw on Renault’s rich racing heritage, showing how each part of the Megane has had to prove itself and evolve to become part of the best in class Megane sport.  Produced by Colin Hickson at Publicis, for Creatives Stuart Farquhar and Alistair Ross, the ad signals a departure from the normal process with ‘Shake’ leading the compositing, and Flame in support, 3D animated car parts and backgrounds created in Maya.

 

The commercial, features a cross between a motor race and a ‘Star Wars’ style pod race and was conceived using a highly detailed animatic provided to MPC by the Director.  The ad is set in a hi-tech car assembly plant, home to fast moving car parts.  MPC’s Jim Radford and Carsten Keller attended the shoot at Shepperton studios to gain reference for the entirely photo-real 3D backgrounds and 3D models of car parts such as spark plugs, wheels, brake disks and callipers which were later created in Maya with HDRI lighting, integrated using Shake. Bespoke sparks, smoke and heat haze were combined with live action plates to add to the assembly plant atmosphere.

 

With the Director in Australia, MPC used the remote cine-sync facility to communicate with him, that way, he could approve, and comment on shots as the team completed them.  

 

He explained '...it was really produced in such an outstanding manner.  The team you assembled was creative and passionate about what they were producing and for me that is such a rarity these days in post production. I couldn't agree with you more, the work is such a reflection of the people involved and I can only say how impressed I am with what you have achieved in such a short period of time.'

 

The ad is on air in the UK from 15th February 2008.

 

Ends

Credits

Director: Michael Gracey

DOP: Alex Barber

Production Company: Partizan. London

Producer: Ella Sanderson

Editor: Ben Harrex at Final Cut, London.

Agency: Publicis, London

Agency Producer: Colin Hickson

Creatives: Stuart Farquhar & Alistair Ross
Post Production Company: MPC

Post Production Producer: Paul Branch

Telecine: Mark Gethin

VFX Supervisors: Carsten Keller, Suzanne Jandu

Lead Animation : Jorge Montiel

Lead Lighting : Andrew Lodge

VFX Team: Anthony Bloor, Andreas Graichen, Alfonso Sicilia, Mike Cawood, Mike Gilbert, Clare Pakeman, Georgios Cherouvim, Ahmed Gharraph, Adrian Williams, Kieran Belshaw, Dave ‘Skippy’ Clifton, Chrys Aldred, Pete Rypstra,  Alex Harding, Sterling Archibald, Dean Robinson, Lewis Guarniere, Olivier Jezequel, Rich McKeand.