Big 5 Sporting Goods TV Commercial

Filming a sports ad promo underwater was no small challenge, but we were more than excited to meet the challenge! We used an ARRI Alexa camera inside of a Gates”Bulletproof” underwater cinema rig. Gates’ products are undeniably reliable, and their brand ensures the safety of their cameras, so with this premium setup we dove into the pool!  We were very aware of the acute level of planning and pre-production responsibilities involved in this shoot.  We stuck to our three tiered, tried and true process and pulled this off without a hitch.

Next we needed talent who could perform athletics seamlessly underwater—which is no easy task for anyone! We wanted to make sure our actors had real experience in the sporting divisions the ad was featuring: one of our actors was a baseball player, one a golfer, and one a boxer. Not only would these performers need to have top-tier athletic ability, but they also would need to hold their breath for extended times; stay grounded at the bottom of the pool; and look like professional athletes—calm, cool, and collected—the whole time. And they sure delivered!   We have a discerning eye when we choose the talent we work with.  We believe this attention to detail is what has earned us numerous local awards and accolades.

Have you ever tried running or walking in water, even just as an experiment? It does not come naturally, to say the least, and our talent had to work extra hard to perform athletic motions and movements that, on the ground, they would normally take for granted. This is certainly out of scope when it comes to traditionally choreography requests And even our filmmakers had to perform some challenging athletic feats to get their inspired shots, since we filmed sans snorkeling and scuba gear.

All in all, this project was a blast, and we at Spirinity look forward to shooting underwater again! Now try this: next time you’re swimming, attempt some “regular” movements to see what it felt like our for actors!

We are a full service, high touch production company.  If your project calls for something outside of the norm or something a bit avante garde, we’re confident we can provide the production services you need.  Whether you’re in  Hollywood, La Mirada or Sherman Oaks, our offices are an easy drive from anywhere in the LA metro area.   We welcome your phone call to start the conversation!  We’re here where you need us.