ABC’s 2016 Showreel: How It Was Made (Part 3)

CUTTING IT FINE

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“Hold up guys, have you seen ABC’s New Reel?” J.J. Guillén/epa/Corbis

Whether you’re editing a Feature Film, Music Video, Showreel or Scientology Infomercial, structure is gospel (Can I get an amen Tom Cruise?). My audience must go on a journey of some kind, which is no easy feat when the purpose of a Showreel is essentially selling a Brand.

It was important to assess what we wanted viewers to takeaway, so I devised a simple list.

  1. Style
  2. Skills
  3. Products
  4. Brand
  5. Ol’ fashioned Entertainment

This was than broken down even further with how to address them. We knew there would be a CGI animated portion, a perfect opportunity to demonstrate our Style, Visual Effects Skills, a distinct Brand and a fun slice of Entertainment.

Over the years, The Bats have developed a particularly unique flair to Editing and utilizing the art to ramp up excitement and pace. We demanded this would be conveyed within the first minute.

Amongst this opening 60 seconds is a montage of ‘money shots’ from our most thrilling projects. Everything from Robots to Zombies is on display, the kitchen sink approach, but necessary to drive home the point that A Bat Country Productions are not bound by a singular vision.

 FINE TALK. ALL WALK

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That’s right, The Bats Produced a fashion show

One minute on the dot and we have a prime example of the importance of structure. There’s only so long our eyes can be bombarded with striking images before saturation (Addressed to Mr. M. Bay) so it’s time to slow this mood down and as the kids say Netflix and chill.

Let’s hit the checklist. Editing and CGI are covered, now it’s time to unleash the pièce de résistance, Directing. Breaking up the opening montage with a short but sweet return to the convertible and desert (anyone notice it’s now set in the scorching afternoon sun) we enter the dialogue portion of the reel. Just a minute is required to cover four diverse but important projects in our portfolio, each demonstrating a variety of Products we offer and our exclusive Brand’s approach.

THE MUSICAL CRESCENDO

Geldof

Bob Geldof just watched the Reel

This Reel adheres to the classic three-act structure; opening Montage, mid-point Directing and a breakneck Finale. Music Videos are The Bats bread and butter, so it was crucial that this climatic build up host the finest Musical stars we have had the pleasure to work with.

We hyped you up in Act One, laid the story in Act Two and Act Three sends you off into the good night (*Cough* last CGI sequence set under the stars) with excitement and just enough tease of the greatness to come.

THAT’S A WRAP

The journey behind the scenes was as turbulent and thrilling as I hope the finished Reel is, and with my fine teams support (and some nifty tools) we produced an epic opus that only A Bat Country Productions can.

I’ll leave you with Alex Ferrari of Indie Film Hustle fames review:

I have to tell you something…no bullshit…THAT REEL FUCKIN ROCKED! Excuse my French sir. Really tight editing, love the music and content was top notch! Seriously congrats!”

Car-Jump

Damn proud

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