Medtronic — Commercial

When I got a call from an agency saying that one of their clients would be shooting a commercial for their European audience that needed to look like it was filmed on location in Europe––when in actuality it would be filmed in Chicago––I knew my job would get interesting. We had two exterior scenes in particular that I knew would be tricky to sell as Europe, so I called my Location Manager who was incredible as always and came through with a perfect spot. Then, with some help from our awesome Art Department, we pulled off the aesthetic we were going for. This commercial also required a small set build which meant bringing in my buddy, Jeff, who I often turn to for handy-man projects. He built us a set in a local studio for one of our internal scenes, and then the remaining INT scenes were shot in a third-floor condo that had no elevator… which meant my G&E crew got their exercise! 

Following weeks of client and agency meetings, we spent a few more weeks in multiple casting sessions and hours of location scouting. Our Director, DP, Gaffer, Art Director, and I went to tech scout each location. Then I sent all of the pictures taken, along with photos of the cast, wardrobe and props, to my incredible Storyboard Artist who mocked up each shot for us.

There were a lot of moving parts to this production, including two company moves that were seamless thanks to my friend “Moose.” His MoPro Chicago “Honeywagon” makes shoots like this one go smoothly when we need a constant area for talent and clients, or a work-place to keep our production office from having to pack-up and move all the time. I also have to shout out George Zak for the culinary excellence his Chicago Catering Co. brings to our Chicago based sets. I’ve been lucky to work with some amazing caterers all over the world, and George is undoubtedly one of the very best. Providing my cast, crew and client with good food is very important to me, because beyond doing excellent work as filmmakers, I believe that creating an unforgettable experience on set is just as important as what is happening within the