Just a figment of my imagination.
I just love going through old files looking for ideas to write about. I always hope that I’ll come across an image that will bring back fond memories of the time I was traveling two hundred and fifty days out of the year. One of these images I came across was from a campaign for Conoco.
Once in a while I’ll bring out a photo to answer a question one of my students that are taking my online class with the BPSOP has asked. I always keep a folder of these to show in one of the daily reviews I have during one of my personal workshops I conduct all over the place.
This image was taken during a ten day print and billboard campaign I did for Conoco. We produced most of these in Kansas City, Missouri (my hometown) since the largest advertising buy was in the midwest.
During a weekend creative retreat up at my lakehouse several weeks before, we came up with several ideas that would later become either a two page spread or a billboard. We also saved some time to come up with ideas that we had not thought of and if time permitting would create; a dream assignment!!
We spent some pre-production time in KC to scout possible locations in case we came up with a story that would match it. Btw, the building in the background is actually a museum, not a residence.
That evening we were having dinner in a Chinese restaurant and suddenly an idea began forming in my mind. I quickly began telling the art director what I was thinking and he immediately was all over it; like a cheap suit.
The idea involved using the museum as a private residence and having Chinese takeout being delivered..all we needed was someone Chinese to be the model.
It was too late to call a local modeling agency and because of the schedule we had only the next afternoon if we were going to pull it off. The actually the uncle of the local hair and make-up person we had on the shoot; and the suit was actually his!!!
Since we were in a Chinese restaurant, surely we could convince someone to be our stand in. Especially since we had money in the budget for just such a thing.
Sitting over in the corner was a couple that just had their menues delivered. I sent my producer over to ask the man if he would be willing to be our model and that we would pay him five hundred dollars in cash. After explaining my idea to him he thought it would be fun to do; and the money was a big factor.
We spent the next morning gathering props, a property release, vehicle, and wardrobe so we could be set up and ready to shoot in the late afternoon. So what you are seeing was only happening in my imagination and not actually a part of real life.
Unfortunately the client didn’t want to spend additional resources in producing this ad so it wound up on the pervebial cutting room floor…but I still have the photo and memory to enjoy!!!
Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com, and check out my workshop schedue at the top of this blog. Come shoot with me sometime.
JoeB
