The Mill Performs with Audi and BBH

14th April 2008 - Putting the spring into Vorsprung durch Technik, ‘Gymnasts’ is the new 60-second commercial for Audi, introducing the high-performance RS 6 Avant – the most powerful road car in the company’s history – to TV viewers across the UK.

As flame and VFX supervisor for the spot, Yourick was keen to understand the director’s creative vision for the ad: so he not only worked with Paul on the pre-vis, tests and overall creative planning at storyboard stage, but also attended the rehearsal and shoot at the sound stage in Budapest. He then spent two weeks back at the Mill, working on some 40 shots: for the opening sequence in which the gymnasts depict the car’s headlights, for example, the performances were shot separately and put together in three passes, duplicated to mirror the other side. Soft flares were added to this shot to give texture, shadow and the illusion of the headlamps’ glow. For most sequences, the gymnasts’ performances were shot at different times and then layered to create larger groups, as if dozens of athletes are moving together in unison.

Thanks to DoP Alex Barber’s beautiful lighting, Yourick and Telecine artist Mick had a beautiful 35mm film negative to work with; they provided a bleached monochrome grade, adding in shadows, flares and textures to soften the overall feel of the film and give it its rich, saturated monochrome look. The hoop shot was created by Mill 3D artist Han Ter Park using Maya.

Product - Audi RS6 / Title - Gymnasts / Agency - BBH / Creatives - Toby Allen - Jim Hilson - Kevin Stark - Nick Kidney / Producer - Olly Chapman / Assistant Producer - Matthew Towell / Production Company - Prettybird / Director - Paul Hunter / DP - Alex Barber / Executive Producer - Kirstin Emhoff / Producer - Mike Rosen / Editing Company - Cut & Run / Editor - Andy McGraw / Music - Leftfeild / Post Production - The Mill / Producer - Darren O’Kelly - Harry Jones / Telecine - Mick Vincent / Lead Flame/VFX Supervisor - Yourick Van Impe / Flame Assist - Gareth Parr - Andy Bate - Adam Lambert / Shake - Peter Hodsman / 3D - Han Ter Park / Previz team - Rob Van Den Bragt - Fabrice Le Nezet - Jules Januad - Francois Roisin / Airdate - Thursday 10th April / Kit - Flame - Shake - Maya - Baselight

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