Our brief for this Jim Hosking directed commercial was to elaborate on the beautiful locations and art department builds shot in Auckland, New Zealand. Working from a strong practical base, most of the work for this spot required us to augment the scenery so it would fit in with the look and narrative of the film.

The concept for this commercial required a mansion located within a picturesque orchard landscape. Finding these two elements in one location was not possible, so we found the ideal orchard and embellished it with idyllic orchard surroundings.

In order to achieve the desired landscape we took various location orchard shots to composite into the base plate. With no apples growing on the trees at the time of the year we were visiting, and the shot involving a complex dolly move, we decided a CG approach would work best. Regular NZ collaborators Toybox aided in creating the CG trees seen in the final composites, complete with ripe apples hanging from the branches.

CG elements combined with live action plates shot back in NSW helped achieve the close-up of the sign, and the effects on the pullout shot where a tree is shaken by a vibrating belt machine.