CRABBIE’S
Grand National
Here Taylor James directed and produced an incredibly emotive TV commercial with Loaf Creative to celebrate the anticipation of the Grand National 2015, sponsored by Crabbie’s Ginger Beer. Running alongside a series of striking print ads, shot by photographer Guy Farrow, to show just how all-encompassing the Grand National can be. From the jockeys to the £1 punters on the high street, it really has become a part of British culture.
Another aspect we focused on was the theatre of the event, it isn’t just another horse race. We created something that will add fuel to the fire of excitement for the lead up of the Grand National. The stunning printed ads and powerful film epitomise how we at Taylor James and the Nation feel about this iconic sporting event.
SHOOT PRODUCTION | BEHIND THE SCENES
Working on the 2015 Grand National campaign was an incredible experience. Our challenge was the amount we had to do in a very short period of time, top jockeys don’t have much spare time you know, crazy that eh? Katie Walsh and Sam Twiston-Davies are at the very top of their game and therefore had a limited amount of time available for the shoot, so advanced planning and years of film experience were very important here.
We kept the crew small in order to keep the talent comfortable and shot as much content as possible on the racecourse with the available light. Guy Farrow shot the photography by driving alongside Katie on the gallops, then once he had the shots he needed we filmed Katie by driving ahead of her. Our camera crew did an incredible job of rigging a camera system in the back of the LandRover, enabling our Director of Photography to capture the captivating slow-motion footage.
Elements of the still shots and film were combined, for example in the clip where Katie rides down the gallops in a dress. This element of the shoot was a little stressful to say the least, horses and long dresses do not mix. Another (not so) shocking fact we learnt on this project!
This campaign is a great example of how stills and film can be shot together for cost-effectiveness and within time restraints and yet display complete continuity and an extremely effective awe-inspiring final result that our clients were after!
POST PRODUCTION | RETOUCH
We love playing with colour to get the right tone and feel for an image. There is so much potential.
