McgarryBowen brought-in George Spyros to conduct over 20 interviews as research for the final 10 testimonial radio spots which he also directed. JPMC wanted to share its commitment to community development banking. George was tapped for his experience working with and interviewing C-suite executives in a range of business sectors. George’s experience with and understanding of non-profit organizations played a significant role in achieving the desired result of creating naturalistic testimonials. Given the reliance on non-actor talent, George requested a Skype video patch with the audio houses in each city. Although not customary, being able to communicate visually with talent was key to drawing out the great performances we hear in the spots. And for the local market spot, George had the opportunity to direct talent in person at NYC’s Sonic Union.

Bronx, NY: Part of The Solution (POTS)

Dallas, TX: Woodall Rodgers

[See post to watch Flash video]
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Detroit, MI: Southwest Housing

[See post to watch Flash video]
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Seattle, WA: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

[See post to watch Flash video]
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San Francisco, CA: MECPRO

[See post to watch Flash video]
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Big City's Work for McGarryBowen Agency

Lobster Roll Wins Guinness World Record with Kraft Miracle Whip

Kraft Miracle Whip Lobster Roll Spot :60

Kraft Miracle Whip Lobster Roll Spot :15

Maya Angelou 2008 Olympic Poem "Amazement Awaits"

Marriott In-Room Video

Reebok Fit - Inspirational Video

Reebok Fit - Follow-Up Inspirational Video

Reebok Sports Brand: The Sport of Lifestyle

Maya Angelou Libraries Greeting

Marriott: Driven Campaign Behind The Scenes

Chevron Shanghai Expo 2010

Verizon Wireless B2B Talent Interviews

Chase Blueprint Talent Interviews

JPMC Community Development Banking Spots

As we previously mentioned, Discovery hired us to produce some short-form videos as interstitial programming for Planet Green. Hosted by TreeHugger founder Graham Hill, we took to the rooftops of Manhattan to see how New York City honey with made in the hives of urban Beekeeper David Graves.

Planet Green Interstitials

Roof Top Farms

Bee Man

Brooklyn Standard Sustainable Bodega

Recycle-A-Bicycle

About Planet Green Interstitials

Discovery's Planet Green Network

Treehugger Dot Com

BCP Tapped

We Did It: Planet Green Interstitials

Planet Green Interstitials Team BCP

George Spyros, Executive Producer / Director

Marcus Burnett, Director of Photography

Clark Caldwell, Writer & Producer

Michele LaTorre, Editor

Ryan Velasquez, Camera Assistant

Henry Torbin - Sound Mixer

Antonia Law, Assistant Editor

Johanna Wolff Abzug, Graphic Designer

Planet Green Interstitials BCP Gearhead

Sony PMW-EX1 Hi-Def Video Camera

Letus35 Ultimate Lens Adapter

Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera

Panasonic HVX200 Digital HD Camera

Panasonic P2 Card

Microdolly Hollywood: Basic Dolly Kit (Video)

Kino Flo 2ft. 4 Bank 4 Tube Fluorescent Light Fixture

Final Cut Pro Non-Linear Editing System

Sapphire Effects

Sony SxS-1 Cards & Memory Stick Adapter

Duel Adapter PCMCIA Card to ExpressCard Device

As we previously mentioned, Discovery hired us to produce some short-form videos as interstitial programming for Planet Green. Hosted by TreeHugger founder Graham Hill, we ventured out to Greenpoint, Brooklyn to the Roof Top Farms to speak with Annie Novak about her Growing Chefs program for kids.

Planet Green Interstitials

Roof Top Farms

Bee Man

Brooklyn Standard Sustainable Bodega

Recycle-A-Bicycle

About Planet Green Interstitials

Discovery's Planet Green Network

Treehugger Dot Com

BCP Tapped

We Did It: Planet Green Interstitials

Planet Green Interstitials Team BCP

George Spyros, Executive Producer / Director

Marcus Burnett, Director of Photography

Clark Caldwell, Writer & Producer

Michele LaTorre, Editor

Ryan Velasquez, Camera Assistant

Henry Torbin - Sound Mixer

Antonia Law, Assistant Editor

Johanna Wolff Abzug, Graphic Designer

Planet Green Interstitials BCP Gearhead

Sony PMW-EX1 Hi-Def Video Camera

Letus35 Ultimate Lens Adapter

Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera

Panasonic HVX200 Digital HD Camera

Panasonic P2 Card

Microdolly Hollywood: Basic Dolly Kit (Video)

Kino Flo 2ft. 4 Bank 4 Tube Fluorescent Light Fixture

Final Cut Pro Non-Linear Editing System

Sapphire Effects

Sony SxS-1 Cards & Memory Stick Adapter

Duel Adapter PCMCIA Card to ExpressCard Device

We’ve just finished shooting the shorts with Graham Hill. All four videos are now available! Please enjoy Roof Top Farm in the widescreen player above, and click on Bee Man, Brooklyn Standard Sustainable Bodega, and Recycle-A-Bicycle below to watch the other 90-second videos in the series.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Planet Green Interstitials

Roof Top Farms

Bee Man

Brooklyn Standard Sustainable Bodega

Recycle-A-Bicycle

About Planet Green Interstitials

Discovery's Planet Green Network

Treehugger Dot Com

BCP Tapped

We Did It: Planet Green Interstitials

Planet Green Interstitials Team BCP

George Spyros, Executive Producer / Director

Marcus Burnett, Director of Photography

Clark Caldwell, Writer & Producer

Michele LaTorre, Editor

Ryan Velasquez, Camera Assistant

Henry Torbin - Sound Mixer

Antonia Law, Assistant Editor

Johanna Wolff Abzug, Graphic Designer

Planet Green Interstitials BCP Gearhead

Sony PMW-EX1 Hi-Def Video Camera

Letus35 Ultimate Lens Adapter

Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera

Panasonic HVX200 Digital HD Camera

Panasonic P2 Card

Microdolly Hollywood: Basic Dolly Kit (Video)

Kino Flo 2ft. 4 Bank 4 Tube Fluorescent Light Fixture

Final Cut Pro Non-Linear Editing System

Sapphire Effects

Sony SxS-1 Cards & Memory Stick Adapter

Duel Adapter PCMCIA Card to ExpressCard Device

We heard tell of executive producer Ashton Kutcher’s drama The Beautiful Life at this year’s CW Network upfront. Having done a whole mess of stuff for CW shows Gossip Girl and America’s Next Top Model, we were looking forward to some fresh faces. Well here they are in the form of cast interviews of all the principals of The Beautiful Life: TBL. (Also be sure to check out our video of the red carpet premiere of The Beautiful Life: TBL which we covered for The CW.)

CLIP REELS CW's "The Beautiful Life: TBL" Cast Interviews

Overview Clip Reel

Sara Paxton Reel

Elle Macpherson Reel

All Interviews from the Cast of The CW's "The Beautiful Life: TBL"

Sonja (Mischa Barton)

Raina (Sara Paxton)

Claudia (Elle Macpherson)

Marissa (Ashley Madekwe)

Isaac (Corbin Bleu)

Cole (Nico Tortorella)

Chris (Ben Hollingsworth)

We Did It: The Beautiful Life:TBL Cast Interviews

All Things "The Beautiful Life: TBL"

We Did It: TBL Red Carpet

BCP Tapped: TBL Cast Interviews

TBL Reveals Racy Ad Campaign

About The Beautiful Life: TBL

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About Mischa Barton

Mischa Barton stars as Sonja Stone, a model who is desperately trying to regain her spot at the top of the fashion world, in The CW’s new drama “The Beautiful Life: TBL.”

Born in London and raised in New York, Barton shot to fame in ”The O.C.,” but started from humble beginnings in New York’s theater world, where she trained with such esteemed director/writers as James Lapine (“Twelve Dreams” at Lincoln Center with Donna Murphy), Tony Kushner (“Slavs!” at New York Theater Workshop with Marissa Tomei), and Naomi Wallace (“One Flea Spare” at the Public Theatre with Dianne Weist). She went on to work with modern-day screen icons, including Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in “Notting Hill,” Bruce Willis and Toni Collette in ”The Sixth Sense,” and Sam Rockwell in Sundance’s critically lauded feature film debut “Lawn Dogs.”

Established as one of the most sought-after young actresses of her generation, Barton was named Entertainment Weekly’s “It Girl,” Hollywood Life’s “Breakthrough Actress of the Year,” and was awarded multiple Teen Choice Awards for her work on “The O.C.” She also won Cosmopolitan’s Fun Fearless Female Award for “Knockout Ingenue” and Glamour’s “Women of the Year Award.” Barton has been ranked, for the last three years, as one of People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People.”

On the big screen, Barton recently appeared opposite Shirley Maclaine and Christopher Plummer in Sir Richard Attenborough’s “Closing the Ring,” and with Hayden Christiansen in the Dino De Laurentis film ”Virgin Territory.” Barton has also filmed “Assassination of a High School President” and the historical drama “Bhopal: A Prayer For Rain,” with Martin Sheen and Kal Penn. Even at such an early age, Barton has also made a major impression in the fashion and beauty world.

She has already graced the covers of countless international magazines and has become the face of numerous advertising campaigns. Barton is currently the spokesperson for Climate Star, an organization that fights Global Warming through social and legislative activism. She also serves as an Entertainment Industry Foundation Ambassador, teaming up with QVC to spread awareness and raise funds for women’s cancer research through the Fashion Footwear Association of New York Shoes on Sale Initiative. She has also become an ambassador for Save the Children.

Clients & Partners

The CW Television Network

Reitz Lange Television & New Media Production

Here’s a 15 second version of the spot Big City did soup-to-nuts for McGarry Bowen client Kraft Foods. The mission was to create a video for Facebook in the spirt of the on-air campaign. Why a “fifteen?” Well upon viewing the cut of the original 60, Kraft was so pleased with our work that they requested a this here 15 second version. Read all the project info as well as get a gander of our 90 second cut with one clicky-click-click.

World's Longest Lobster Roll with Kraft Miracle Whip

90 second version

60 second version

15 second version

Big City's Work for McGarryBowen Agency

Lobster Roll Wins Guinness World Record with Kraft Miracle Whip

Kraft Miracle Whip Lobster Roll Spot :60

Kraft Miracle Whip Lobster Roll Spot :15

Maya Angelou 2008 Olympic Poem "Amazement Awaits"

Marriott In-Room Video

Reebok Fit - Inspirational Video

Reebok Fit - Follow-Up Inspirational Video

Reebok Sports Brand: The Sport of Lifestyle

Maya Angelou Libraries Greeting

Marriott: Driven Campaign Behind The Scenes

Chevron Shanghai Expo 2010

Verizon Wireless B2B Talent Interviews

Chase Blueprint Talent Interviews

JPMC Community Development Banking Spots

FROM THE BIG CITY BLOG: World's Longest Lobster Roll

BCP TAPPED: Guinness World Record Attempt with Kraft Miracle Whip

World Record Lobster Roll Bun Baking Requires Custom Technology

Guinness World Record Winning Lobster Roll Media Roundup (Videos)

Miracle Whip Spots

Stephen Colbert Rant on Miracle Whip's Ad Campaign 'Don't Be So Mayo' (Video)

Colbert Report: Miracle Whip Buys Ad Space, Stephen Buys More Delicious Mayo (Video)

Colbert Report Miracle Whip Commercials Attacking Stephen (Video)

Here’s the original 60 second version of the spot Big City did soup-to-nuts for McGarry Bowen client Kraft Foods. The mission was to create a video for Facebook in the spirt of the on-air campaign. Upon viewing the cut, Kraft was so pleased with our work, that they requested a 15 second version viewable in its short entirety here. Read all about the project and get a gander of our 90 second cut with a single clicky-click-click.

World's Longest Lobster Roll with Kraft Miracle Whip

90 second version

60 second version

15 second version

Big City's Work for McGarryBowen Agency

Lobster Roll Wins Guinness World Record with Kraft Miracle Whip

Kraft Miracle Whip Lobster Roll Spot :60

Kraft Miracle Whip Lobster Roll Spot :15

Maya Angelou 2008 Olympic Poem "Amazement Awaits"

Marriott In-Room Video

Reebok Fit - Inspirational Video

Reebok Fit - Follow-Up Inspirational Video

Reebok Sports Brand: The Sport of Lifestyle

Maya Angelou Libraries Greeting

Marriott: Driven Campaign Behind The Scenes

Chevron Shanghai Expo 2010

Verizon Wireless B2B Talent Interviews

Chase Blueprint Talent Interviews

JPMC Community Development Banking Spots

FROM THE BIG CITY BLOG: World's Longest Lobster Roll

BCP TAPPED: Guinness World Record Attempt with Kraft Miracle Whip

World Record Lobster Roll Bun Baking Requires Custom Technology

Guinness World Record Winning Lobster Roll Media Roundup (Videos)

Miracle Whip Spots

Stephen Colbert Rant on Miracle Whip's Ad Campaign 'Don't Be So Mayo' (Video)

Colbert Report: Miracle Whip Buys Ad Space, Stephen Buys More Delicious Mayo (Video)

Colbert Report Miracle Whip Commercials Attacking Stephen (Video)

Above is the LONG VERSION of the spot Big City did soup-to-nuts for McGarry Bowen client Kraft Foods. The mission was to create a video for Facebook in the spirt of the on-air campaign.

Maine Roller Derby girls and volunteers carry a long pan holding the roll.

PRODUCTION STORY: Get up to Maine, and quick!
The e-mail came in cum link to MSNBC story: Guinness World Record attempt for the longest lobster — Recipe includes 45 pounds of lobster meat and four gallons of Miracle Whip. When we got to Portland, Maine we found out that custom technology needed to be created just to bake the 60-foot bun. On the morning of the big event, word passed around that the gigantic bun would not be delivered via flatbed truck, but instead (shock) by the very hands (and wheels) of the Maine Roller Derby girls themselves! If the bun snapped in half on it’s way to the assembly table, the whole shoot would be a disaster since the attempt would be disqualified for a Guinness Record. Anticipation built up waiting for the roller girls to arrive. They were over an hour late and we began to fear the worst: Bun vs. Harley Davidson accident with the hog severing the precious baked-good in two. But that’s our job, not to worry. To keep cool baby. Ready to fire off the first shots on a moment’s notice. And that’s precisely where the editing spots begin: with that Harley we were concerned about providing the perfect open as the riders come upon the crazy scene of a block-long bun being ferried down Commercial Street.

Old Port Festival in Portland, Maine.

Volunteers cut the lobster roll into 4-inch pieces to be sold for charity.

Big City’s Creative Vision

Our goal was to nail the target demographic for the Miracle Whip campaign which aimed to engage young, hip tastemakers. So once we did our three-camera shoot of making the wining lobster roll, we had *yum* a taste for ourselves and then spent the rest of the day shooting youthful revelers at the Old Port Festival. This proved to be a good move since most of the folks assembling the lobster roll at the table were, um, let’s just say not our target demo. So, once we got into the Big City edit suite, we peppered in cross-cuts of the festival-goers which proved to provide the perfect feel for the spots.

Big City’s Special Sauce

DP Rob Featerstone shot with the Panasonic HVX200 dropping hi-definition files to P2 card with the Letus lens adapter and 35mm prime still-camera lenses. Most of his footage was overcranked to 48 frames-per-second slo-motion to give a grand feeling to the moments to be shared with Facebook viewers. Nature provided the lighting. Much appreciated, thank you very much, Nature.

Big City Makes the Cut

We did the long version cut to stock music while clearing the rights for the tune used in the full-up spots: Highschool Hoodlums by New Zealand rockers The Datsuns. An instrumental version was used in our final cuts, but you can listen to the lyrics on the band’s My Space page. Upon viewing the cut, Kraft was so pleased with our work, that they requested a 15 second version in addition to the original 60, both of which can be viewed below. Bon Appetit!
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60 second version

[See post to watch Flash video] _____________________________________________________________________________________________  

15 second version

[See post to watch Flash video] _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Big City's Work for McGarryBowen Agency

Lobster Roll Wins Guinness World Record with Kraft Miracle Whip

Kraft Miracle Whip Lobster Roll Spot :60

Kraft Miracle Whip Lobster Roll Spot :15

Maya Angelou 2008 Olympic Poem "Amazement Awaits"

Marriott In-Room Video

Reebok Fit - Inspirational Video

Reebok Fit - Follow-Up Inspirational Video

Reebok Sports Brand: The Sport of Lifestyle

Maya Angelou Libraries Greeting

Marriott: Driven Campaign Behind The Scenes

Chevron Shanghai Expo 2010

Verizon Wireless B2B Talent Interviews

Chase Blueprint Talent Interviews

JPMC Community Development Banking Spots

FROM THE BIG CITY BLOG: World's Longest Lobster Roll

BCP TAPPED: Guinness World Record Attempt with Kraft Miracle Whip

World Record Lobster Roll Bun Baking Requires Custom Technology

Guinness World Record Winning Lobster Roll Media Roundup (Videos)

Miracle Whip Spots

Stephen Colbert Rant on Miracle Whip's Ad Campaign 'Don't Be So Mayo' (Video)

Colbert Report: Miracle Whip Buys Ad Space, Stephen Buys More Delicious Mayo (Video)

Colbert Report Miracle Whip Commercials Attacking Stephen (Video)

Dr. Maya Angelou reciting her 2008 Olympic Poem Amazement Awaits

Big City Pictures recently produced a two-camera film shoot of the world-renown author and U.S. Poet Laureate Dr. Maya Angelou at home in her Harlem brownstone reciting the poem Amazement Awaits (full text below) which she wrote specially for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing China. The piece is intercut with archival footage of great moments from Olympics past and will screen on NBC during its August coverage of the games. Also, we’re thrilled to find out that the Olympic Committee will be distributing copies of this inspiring video to each and every athlete to view while they travel to Beijing to compete — we’re terribly honored to in some small way touch the lives of the 2008 Olympians.

Dr. Maya Angelou recites Amazement Awaits for an NBC Olympic short film

Executive Producer and Creative Director for Big City Pictures George Spyros and Dr. Angelou.

click image to enlarge »

As a Greek-American, I was pleased to have the opportunity to help spread the true spirt of the Olympic Games. In fact, Dr. Angelou’s last name is taken from her first husband surname was Angelopoulos. It was quite an experience speaking with the amazing Dr. Maya Angelou who is in person sincerely lovely, generous, imaginative and outspoken. Without prompting, she provided copies of two wonderful children’s books which she had written and autographed each to one of my twins Sophia and Hudson.

« click images to enlarge »

Team Maya Angelou 2008 Olympic Poem "Amazement Awaits"

Client: McGarryBowen Agency

Client: United States Olympic Committee

Katya Bankowsky, Director

George Spyros, Executive Producer

Tracy Zukowski, Line Producer

Kat Uhlmansiek, Production Manager

Kira Kelly, B-Camera Operator

Jeanne Lipsey, Director of Photography

Jon Montgomery, Gaffer

Justin Lundstrom, Production Coordinator

Gear Maya Angelou 2008 Olympic Poem "Amazement Awaits"

Arriflex SR3 Advanced 16mm Film Camera

J.L. Fisher Dollies

ARRI Compact HMI 2500 Watt Fresnel Flicker Free

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Big City's Work for McGarryBowen Agency

Lobster Roll Wins Guinness World Record with Kraft Miracle Whip

Kraft Miracle Whip Lobster Roll Spot :60

Kraft Miracle Whip Lobster Roll Spot :15

Maya Angelou 2008 Olympic Poem "Amazement Awaits"

Marriott In-Room Video

Reebok Fit - Inspirational Video

Reebok Fit - Follow-Up Inspirational Video

Reebok Sports Brand: The Sport of Lifestyle

Maya Angelou Libraries Greeting

Marriott: Driven Campaign Behind The Scenes

Chevron Shanghai Expo 2010

Verizon Wireless B2B Talent Interviews

Chase Blueprint Talent Interviews

JPMC Community Development Banking Spots

MORE Sophia & Hudson

Amazement Awaits
By Maya Angelou

Sheer amazement awaits
Amazement luxuriant in promise
Abundant in wonder

Our beautiful children arrive at this Universal stadium
They have bathed in the waters of the world
And carry the soft silt of the Amazon, the Nile,
The Danube, the Rhine, the Yangtze and the Mississippi
In the palms of their right hands.
A wild tiger nestles in each armpit
And a meadowlark perches on each shoulder.

We, the world audience, stand, arms akimbo,
Longing for the passion of the animal
And the melody of the lark
The tigers passion attend the opening bells,
The birds sing of the amazement which awaits.

The miracle of joy that comes out of the gathering of our best, bringing their best,
Displaying the splendor of their bodies and the radiance of their agile minds to the cosmos.
Encouragement to those other youth caught in the maws of poverty,
Crippled by the terror of ignorance.

They say Brothers and Sisters, Yes, try. Then try harder.
Lunge forward, press eagerly for release.
The amazement which awaits is for you.
We are here at the portal of the world we had wished for
At the lintel of the world we most need.
We are here roaring and singing.
We prove that we can not only make peace, we can bring it with us.

With respect for the world and its people,
We can compete passionately without hatred.
With respect for the world and its people,
We can take pride in the achievement of strangers.
With respect for the world and its people,
We can share openly in the success of friends.

Here then is the Amazement

Against the odds of impending war
In the mouth of bloody greed
Human grace and human spirit can still conquer.

Ah … We discover, we ourselves

Are the Amazement which awaits
We are ourselves Amazement.

Eco Fashion Model Summer Rayne Oakes on the Asian Elephant Art & Conservation Project and gifts for Animal-Lovers

AMAZING ELEPHANT VIDEOS: Pachyderm Paints Self Portrait! Summer Rayne on Elephy Animal-Lover Gifts & Software That Gives You Elephantine Memory on Susty
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MORE Discovery TreeHugger commercials & segments with Summer Rayne Oakes

TreeHugger Holiday Gift Guide & On-Air Spots

TreeHugger Gift Guide

TreeHugger Go Green

Gifts 4 the Outdoors Lover

Elephant Art Green Gifts

TH Gift Guide Spot :15

TH Go Green Spot :15

TH Go Green Spot (Buy Green Tag) :30

TH Go Green Spot (Buy Green Tag) :15

IPM Motion Graphic "Snipes"

We Did It: TH On-Air & Web Spots

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