LOS ANGELES, USA — Automobile manufacturer KIA has teamed up with Great Guns USA Director Bruce St. Clair for a heartwarming campaign shot in the California desert.
The campaign centers on members of a family, each in a different KIA car which effortlessly navigates the winding trails of a remote rocky expanse. Under a setting sun, they exit the vehicles to huddle together under a vast rock face, onto which the younger generation projects old videos of their parents – a unique celebration of their anniversary.
Creative agency David & Goliath gave Bruce the brief to capture a family coming together to surprise their parents in a distant location, infused with both energy and emotion. Bruce was drawn in by the storytelling angle, keen to show how the vehicles enable the family to create special memories together.
Needing a large expanse that could accommodate the number of cars, Bruce opted to shoot on location rather than in a studio. The campaign required a unique setting only accessible by the range of cars, and was therefore shot in Blayney Ranch (Palmdale, CA), an area of desert wilderness popular for filming. It also offered a rocky outcrop for the projection of the home footage, which was then expanded further in post.
The crew then faced the challenges of navigating the weather and limited hours of daylight. The final film had to show the cars arriving at sunset, with the projection starting the moment the sunlight disappears, which couldn’t be cheated. The team had to film two hours before sunset and two after, rehearsing the position of the cars and the arrival of the family during the day to ensure none of their limited time was wasted.
Bruce commented, “I love filming cars and storytelling. The human element in these automotive commercials is what attracts me, showcasing how cars can play a role in creating stories, memories, and adventures, rather than just being vehicles. I also enjoyed shooting on location – there’s something unique about it that drives us to get the best shot at the right moment.”
CREDITS:
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Great Guns USA
MD/EP Oliver Fuselier
HOP Melissa Jacobs
EXEC ASST Kelsy Haden
DIRECTOR Bruce St. Clair
LINE PRODUCER Joey Zadwarny
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Blake Deross
COMMERCIAL COORDINATOR Jen Bilec
1st AD Jason Lomardo
2nd AD Nick Fiore
CLIENT: KIA
VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING Russell Wagner
NATIONAL MANAGER, RETAIL MARKETING Kathleen Zimmerman
OPERATIONS MANAGER, RETAIL MARKETING Amber Ewell
MANAGER, NATIONAL ADVERTISING Candelaria Powell
DIVERSITY MARKETING MANAGER Brandi Johnson
AGENCY: David & Goliath
FOUNDER/CHAIRMAN David Angelo
CCO Ben Purcell
ECD Avi Pinchevsky
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Nick Micale
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bennett Austin
AD Jason Magnes
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Sarah Patterson
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Jonna Hicklin
MANAGEMENT SUPERVISOR Benjamin Porter
GROUP ACCOUNT DIRECTOR/DMG Candace Logan
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Maile Connell
PRODUCT SPECIALIST Travis Ray
CAMERA
DP Tim Thompson
1ST AC Bill Robinson
2ND AC Noah Glazer
DIT Daniel Wiowode
LIGHTING
CHIEF LIGHTING TECHNICIAN Max Goldberg
ASSISTANT LIGHTING TECHNICIAN Kurtis Meyers
LIGHTING TECHNICIAN Ryan Breitenbach
HYPHENATE ELECTRIC DRIVER Jose Ruiz
HYPHENATE ELECTRIC STAKEBED DRIVER Steve Hodge
GRIP
KEY GRIP Josh Markvan
BEST BOY GRIP Richie Brush
GRIP Jason Webster, Nick Klein
HYPHENATE GRIP DRIVER Johnathan Gonzalez
HYPHENATE GRIP STAKEBED DRIVER Wilson Sun
ART DEPT
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Joaquin Grey
PROP MASTER Geoffrey Turney
PROP ASSIST Nick Dunn
LEADMAN Tommy Loya
WARDROBE/HAIR/MAKEUP
COSTUME DESIGNER Ric Renae Hughes
1ST ASSISTANT COSTUMER Miranda Zorn
KEY MAKEUP Val Conlan
VTR/SOUND/SCRIPT
VTR Robbie Johnson
SOUND MIXER Charles Barnhart
BOOM OPERATOR Greg Gardner
SCRIPT SUPERVISOR Laura Auldridge
LOCATIONS/TRANSPO/MISC.
LOCATION MANAGER Flint Maloney
GANG BOSS Jordo Edelman
VAN DRIVER Pete Dicecco, Javier Maza, Chris King
MOTORHOME DRIVER Kenny Gonzalez
VIDEO VILLAGE VAN Joe Marsi
WATER TRUCK Brian Eastveld
CRAFT SERVICE Andrew Davey
CRAFT SERVICE ASSIST Jill Bryman
PRODUCTION SUPPORT
FSA Antonio Durran
MEDIC Mike McLaughlin
SNAKE WRANGLER Aaron Wells
CCO Kristian Moore
TESTING COORDINATOR Michele McKeehan
PA Kathleen Cuevas, Mirannda Hernandez, Joaquin Katigbak, David Guerrieri, Jose Ramos, Reggie Ware, Lorne Volat, Max McGarry, Andrea Villanueva, Sasson Lonner
TALENT
HERO DAUGHTER Christine Kilmer
HERO MOM Birgitte Kristen
HERO SISTER Gina Vitori
HERO DAD Reed Rudy
HERO BROTHER Schoen Hodges
DRIVER Sera Trimble, Rhys Millen
EXTRAS Dan Sap
CAR PREP Ray Scott, Jake Kubin, Ricardo Silva, Matthew Martinez, Christopher Martinez, Javier Chavez
POST PRODUCTION
VFX HOUSE Jamm Visual
EP Asher Edwards
SENIOR PRODUCER Mike Wigart
FLAME ARTISTS Jake Montgomery, Troy Moore
EDITORIAL Spinach LA
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Jonathan Carpio
PRODUCER Patricia Gushikuma
MANAGING DIRECTOR/EDITOR Adam Bright
VENDORS
CAMERA Keslow Camera
CAR RENTAL California Rent-A-Car
CASTING Petite Casting
CATERER Global G Catering
CRAFT SERVICE McCraftys Inc
COVID COMPLIANCE Kristiane Moore
DRONE Aerial Mob
EDITORIAL Spinach LA
ELECTRIC RENTAL Arclight
GRIP RENTAL Honeyhammer Grip
GENERATOR Powerhouse
HARD DRIVES Filmtools
INSURANCE Dewitt Stern
MESSENGER Per Great Guns
MOTORHOME Zio/Sunset Studios
PAYROLL Wrapbook
PERMITS Per Flint
PROD. SUPPLIES Quixote
SHIPPING FedEx
STAKEBEDS Truck WKZ Studio Services
TRUCKS Galpin
VTR Per Robbie
WALKIES Ruckus
