Kommitted Director Nathan McGuinness just completed a close collaboration with The Kaplan Thaler Group and VFX studio Asylum to create Features, an energetic new spot for Continental Airlines. The elaborate :30 is a blend of live action and VFX footage that required a unique synthesis between the two companies in order to meet the exact vision of the agency as it develops its campaign promoting the airline's newest-in-the-industry fleet.

The spot features close-up shots of an airliner's sleek fuselage and engines, with sunlight glinting off metal as a deceptive voiceover touts aerodynamic design, fuel efficiency, and interior comfort to lead the viewer into thinking they are viewing a standard car commercial. These images alternate with lightning-quick flashes of sleek instrument panels, leather chairs, and a television monitor showing a car cruising down a winding road. Just after the ruse is revealed by the voiceover proclaiming that the vehicle can do "zero to five hundred before you even realize you're in the air," a Continental jet rockets through the clouds.
The Creds:

Client: Continental Airlines
Spots Title: Features
Air Date: October 2009

Agency: Kaplan Thaler Group
CD(s): Jack Cardone, Michael Grieco
Managing Dir/Broadcast Producer: Lisa Bifulco
Producer: Tim LeGallo
Account Director: Chisato Murata

Prod Company: Kommitted
Director: Nathan McGuinness
EP: Marc Siegel
Producer: Jodi Fisher
Production Supervisor: Moira Hurley

Editorial: Cosmo Street
Editor: Adrienne Gits
Producer: Jerry Sukys

Post/Effects: Asylum
EP: Michael Pardee
Producer: Diana Cheng
Bidding Producer: Michael Hanley
Coordinator: Jennie Burnett
CG Supervisor/Producer: Jeff Werner
VFX Supervisor: Jonathan Hicks

Lead Inferno Artist: Jonathan Hicks
Inferno: Miles Essmiller

3D:
Lead Modeler: Greg Stuhl
Modeler(s): Julian Sarmiento, Toshihiro Sakamaki
Animator: Samir Lyons
Particle TD: David Schoneveld
Lighter: Matthew Maude
Texture: John Hart
Lead Matte Painter: Tim Clark

Design:
Lead Design: Simon Cassels
Design(s): Tony Meister, Stanley Ng

Shoot Location: Newark Airport, NJ
About Kommitted:

Production company Kommitted Films was founded in 2005 by Director Nathan McGuinness, the Academy Award and Bafta nominated Co-Founder/Creative Director of the VFX company, Asylum. Shortly after, in 2006, veteran Executive Producer Marc Siegel was brought on to expand the directorial roster, feature film slate, and music video presence. Over a short time period, Kommitted Films has numerous recent high-profile spots for Target (peterson milla hooks/MN), Nintendo (Leo Burnett/Chicago) and Blackberry (RIM) (Arc Worldwide/Chicago).

Kommitted Films is uniquely positioned to direct and produce commercials, music videos, features and emerging media content for web and mobile platforms.

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