We’re excited to present “Head to Head” the motion spot from of our latest—and most ambitious—spec project, a still and motion based profile of worldwide brand Adidas. We continue to push the boundaries of our experience, equipment and collaborators to create new work outside of our current portfolio. Head to Head is a first for us, a unique and creative undertaking by our team and local industry partners. (You can check out the still images in our first post, Adidas | Head to Head | Vol. 1.)
This project was shot in one evening—a total of four hours—with many collaborators and a mishmash of audio, lighting and camera equipment. The hustle and bustle on set had the buzz and energy of a film production, where everyone has a very specific job tailored to their expertise. In this industry, for increased efficiency and reduced budget, we often find ourselves wearing many different hats on a shoot. This was a unique opportunity to perform very specialized roles, as the credits acknowledge.
Right away, it’s obvious that the setting of this story is gritty and minimal, and the last thing on the minds of our athletes is dropping the paddles and calling game. In the shadow of their highs, nothing else matters but the opponent across from them. Dramatic lighting showcases the intense energy of the scene, the driving action behind the simple narrative of these two dedicated, semi-professional table tennis players. It ignites a fierce sense of competition between the two players—and a concentrated passion for the game.
In the upcoming weeks, we’ll release another installment of our series Behind the Lens, featuring the production behind Head to Head. You’ll get an insider’s look at all the equipment, talent and techniques that made this shoot possible. On this project, and many others, we were lucky to work with some of Minneapolis’ top creatives.
As always, we extend a special thanks to our production partners:
Produced and Directed by Jonathan Chapman/JCP
Production - Bobbi Peacock
Assistant to Producer - John Fontana
Edit - Nathaniel Schmidt
Assistant Director - Tony Franklin
Director of Photography - Alex Horner
Aerial Photography - Picture Factory
Second Camera - Eric Schleicher
First A/C - Jules Ameel
Talent - Ahmed Zain/Henry Klaverkamp
Behind the Scenes - Nathaniel Schmidt / Bill Hickey
Art Department/Props/Wardrobe - Alison Hoekstra
Lighting - Michael Handley / Tasty Lighting Supply
Location Scout - Anne Healy
Production Assistant - Angie Marasco
Production Assistant - Nicole Klein
Production Assistant - Jaclyn Greeman
Color Grading - Jonathan Chapman
Original Music - Nick Mihalevich / Cape Status
Foley Artist - Nick Leisenheimer
