Nicholas Carlton » Blog

Hyundai Santa Fe: Real Family Test Drives

Nick — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:14:54 +0000

Update – 21/11/11:
The spots have been featured on Campaign Brief, Mumbrella, B&T and AdNews.

Finally, I can reveal what we’ve been working on the last 2 months! Big thanks to everyone who worked so hard on the project. Check out the three spots for Hyundai here.

Directed and Produced by Nicholas Carlton & Shaun Crawford
Executive Producer – Mark Campbell
Production Company – RedLever
Agency – Innocean
Director of Photography – Shyam Ediriweera
Editor/Color Grader – James Lawler
Music/Sound Design & Mix by Dmitri Golovko
Production Manager – Shaun McAlpine
Production Assistant – Marie Mauron
Gaffer/Camera Assistant/Data Wrangler – Marcus Alleman
Narrator – Jeremy Kewley
Assistant Editor – Daniel Kerr
Sound – Keith Bottomley
Make-Up Artist – Eloise Loxton
Runner – Lisa Kappel
Special Thanks to Cail Young

The three spots can be seen online including on Hyundai’s Facebook Page and YouTube.

The Sound of “Transmission”

Nick — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 12:24:28 +0000

An oft overlooked aspect of film is sound. Many people easily associate cinema with pictures, however it is prudent to remember that the cinema experience is essentially 50% pictorial and 50% aural. When I went about conceptualizing my short film, Transmission, I knew that the sound would be inseparable from the visual conceit of the film, in that the film would be so hyperstylized that the visuals, music and sound design all melded into one experience. I wanted to assault the viewer’s senses both visually and aurally. When I think of film, I always think of music. I’m constantly reminded of something Kubrick said, that is -

A film is – or should be – more like music than like fiction. It should be a progression of moods and feelings. The theme, what’s behind the emotion, the meaning, all that comes later.

To me, the greatest films are lyrical and visceral. I’m talking about the films of Michael Mann, Wong Kar Wai, Terrence Malick and John Woo. My belief is that film at its most powerful is ultimately an emotional experience, everything else – plot and character are intellectual experiences and consequently are not as important. The best filmmakers, in my opinion, are the ones who are editors, and the best editors have a keen sense of rhythm, more often than not they may have a musical background.

My past week has been heavily focused on working with the various people involved in creating and designing everything you hear in Transmission. Dmitri Golovko did the fabulous and sophisticated score, Leon East enhanced the environment through his sound design and Neill Bell brought it all together in the sound mix. They all did a brilliant job and I couldn’t be happier! The result is a hyper-stylized, and hopefully emotionally engaging film that should be enjoyed as a piece of style, rhythm and emotion. I can’t wait to release it!

Transmission – Wrapped and in Post!

Nick — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 07:06:27 +0000

Finally! “Transmission” is wrapped. We shot over an intense 2 and a half days, and I could not have done the film without my amazing crew! Jacqui Hocking (1st AD) and Shyam Ediriweera (DP). The film looks absolutely incredible thanks to Shyam and the VCA’s new RED ONEs and RED primes. I’m really happy with the film and can’t wait to get it finished to show you all! Currently there are a load of VFX shots that need to be completed. Become a fan on Facebook! Here are some pics (click for high res)!