How would the game of football appear if you could see the action, as it unfolds on-field, through the eyes of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes?
Oakley answers that question, in highly stylized, hyperrealistic fashion, in a new film that celebrates the Luxottica eyewear brand's four-year deal with the National Football League.
All 32 NFL teams can now use Oakley helmet shields with Prizm technology, which enhances details for optimal visibility. This marks the first time in more than 20 years that players will be allowed to wear tinted visors during games. What's more, Oakley will offer NFL-themed eyewear in men's and women's styles (equipped with Prizm, naturally).
In a minute-long spot from Stept Studios director Leigh Powis, we view gameplay through Mahomes eyes, and his Oakley visor, as the league's reigning MVP throws a pass…
…and the scene cuts to Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster making the catch. We then experience the game from his perspective, and, toward the end, that of Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr.
Seeing three players in different NFL uniforms apparently in the same game is, well … different. But Oakley wasn't aiming for realism. (Note the heavy use of slow-mo and other video-game style effects.) Rather, the ad commemorates its overarching NFL partnership, so the brand believes casting three top endorsers makes sense.
"Showing the elevated Prizm crystal clarity was a challenge, because most POV cameras are smaller and lower quality than traditional cinema cameras," says Stept founder Nick Martini. "We approached this by building specialty POV rigs that could support cutting-edge large-format cameras—the Sony Venice and Phantom high-speed cameras. We then utilized a lot of CGI to fill the stadium with fans and create unique transitions."
A laid-back version of Louis Armstrong's "It's a Wonderful World," performed by Kesha Shantrell especially for the film—mixed with recordings of stadium crowds singing the song—provides an intriguing contrast with the intense on-screen imagery. (Yes, the song's overly familiar from dozens of commercials, but it works well with the game plan here.)
Oakley launched the film Monday night in New York City's Times Square, with the images flashing across multiple billboard screens:
"Our three hero players were all amazing to work with," Martini says. "JuJu seemed to have a great time on set, and ended up buying the whole film crew [100-plus people] dinner as a thank you at the end of the day."
Mahomes, the NFL's star endorser du jour, managed to grab all the headlines.
"The day we shot with Pat, he actually threw a football out of the Chiefs' stadium and it went viral online," Martini says.
CREDITS
Oakley
Oakley Creative Director Chasen Marshall
Oakley Producer Erin Byrnes
Oakley Athlete Manager Ryan Evert
Product Marketing Manager (KC) Tamara Weinstein
Creative / Production (All 3 Productions)
Stept Executive Producer Nick Martini
Stept Creative Director Adam Rachlitz
Stept Head Of Production Laura Cushing
Producer Brian Bell
Stept Director Leigh Powis
Stept Photo Producer & Production Manager Megan Arizmendi
Stept DP Brandon Kelly
Kansas City Crew
Producer Kevin Porter
Stept 1st AC Shaw Fisher
2nd AC (Camera A) Shawn Wright
2nd AC (Camera B) Tomas Pease
2nd AC (Camera C) Collin Martin
Media Manager Patrick Robinson
Still Photo Digitech Jason Tracey
VFX Supervisor Jerry Spivack
Gaffer Mel Graham
Key Grip (Driver) Karen Foglesong
Grip Steven Bartkoski
Grip Justin Browning
Grip/Swing Shane Ricketts
Grip/Swing Sean East
Dolly Grip Scott Lynam
Vanity - HMU/Stylist Sarah Lift
PA/Truck Joe Disciacca
PA Chris Hansen
PA Tyler Dean
PA Alexander Miera
PA Eric Warren
PA Anne Gravino
PA Jacob Schermerhorm
Jane Studios (Kansas City)
Jane Executive Producer Rich Rama
Jane Production Manager Bradley Alexander
Jane Producer Michael Montenegro
Jane Director Westley Sarokin
Crew Supervisor Mike Dix
Jane DP Adam Carboni
Jane 1st AC (B Camera) Alex Purifoy
NFL (Kansas City)
Coordinator, Sponsorship & Partnership
Management Elena Baker
KC: Main Contact Ganesh Nair
KC: Main Contact Greg Morrissey
KC Shannon Gault
KC Erin Byrnes
KC Brandon Ramos
KC Kellen Begnoche
KC Kim Hobbs
Cast (Kansas City)
Kansas City Patrick Mahomes
Talent Extra Kaleb Prewett
Talent Extra Sam Belfonte
Dana Point Crew
Camera Campaign
Stept 1st AC (A Cam) Shaw Fisher
Stept 2nd AC (A Cam) Drew Barnett
Cam Op B Cam Chris Naum
1st AC (B Cam) Taylor Dane Ross
1st AC (C Cam) Alex Fauver
2nd AC (B and C Cam) Kyle Huemme
Phantom Op Cam Riley
Phantom Tech Jamie Alac
DIT Zach Lyall
—Production
Production Supervisor Jay Aaseng
1st AD Cody Boesen
2nd AD Mark Jopling
PA - AD Melodi Tuna
PA - Set Grayson Clemmer
PA - Set Siya Bahal
PA - Set Tori Soper
PA - Set Jack Kelly
PA - Set Josh Sims
PA - Set Moises Carranza
PA - Truck Jonathan Rodriguez
—Camera
Photographer Matthew Coughlin
1st Photo Assist David Cooke
Digitech: LA Stefan Vlemingcritz
Photo Assist Jack Planter
—Grip
Key Grip Jason Rupe
BBG Lauren Callahan
Grip Adrian
Grip Austin Nelson
Grip Barrett Dennison
Grip Danny O'Bryan
Dolly Grip and Crane Luis Batres
—Electric
Gaffer Ryan Oppedisano
BBE Isaak Van Der Meulen
Electric Jeff Godshall
Electric Joe Escandell
Electric Driver Brock Kingsland
—Art Department
Production Designer Christian Carvallo
Art Assistant Alex Gorham
Art Assistant Will Houlihan
—Sports Coordinating
Sports Coordinator Ben Koesterer
Equipment Manager Gus Noguera
—Vanities
Stylist Lisa Gardner
Stylist Assist Rob Murphy
HMU Brielle McKenna
HMU Assist Laura Leiffring
—Production Support
Set Medic Paul Joubran
Craft Services Amy Smithey
Activation Team (Dana Point)
Director West Sarokin
Jane Rich Rama
OLE: Lead Elliot Curtis
OLE Vertel Scott
Cast (Dana Point)
Chargers Derwin James
Steelers JuJu Smith-Schuster
Steeler Eric Straub
Giant Terrel Alex
Giant Omari Spivey
Giant Will Golberg
Giant Carl Spitale
Kansas City Saadiq Dicks
Kansas City Travohn Wolfe
LA Chargers
Chargers Erin LeBar
Chargers Donna Lupton
Chargers Dylan Bohanan
San Diego Crew
—Production
Coordinator Maggie McLandsborough
1st AD Cody Boesen
2nd AD Mark Jopling
PA - AD Tessa Germaine
PA - Set Josh Allard
PA - Set Marissa Roxas
PA - Set Shannon Rupe
PA - Set Cam Doherty
PA - Set Amber Beels
PA - Truck Jonathan Rodriguez
—Camera Campaign
1st AC Isaac Guy
2nd AC Anthony Goodman
Phantom Op Cam Riley
2nd Unit 1st AC Austin Pedroni
Phantom Tech Jamie Alac
DIT Zach Lyall
BTS Chris Clark
—Grip
Key Grip Jason Rupe
BBG Greg Flores
Grip Cam Thorburn
Grip Victor Cruz
Grip Brad Elsey
Grip Chase Rupe
—Electric
Gaffer Ryan Oppedisano
BBE Adam Schaffer
Electric Gregory Loebell
Electric Joshua Levy
Electric Joshua Palmer
Electric Driver Genevieve Evans
—Art Department
Art Assistant Jack Letchinger
Art Assistant Alex Gorham
Art Assistant Will Houlihan
—Sports Coordinating
Sports Coordinator Ben Koesterer
Equipment Manager Gus Noguera
Equipment Manager Pat
—Vanities
Stylist Lisa Gardner
Stylist Assist Stacey Anne Quintiliano
Stylist Assist Stephanie Castro
HMU Brielle McKenna
—Production Support
Set Medic Scott Friske
Catering and Crafty
POST PRODUCTION
Editor Alex Morrison & Pat Hall
Music Producer Music Producer
Managing Partner David Glean
Creative Director and VFX Supervisor Jerry Spivack
Creative Director and Flame Artist Casey Price
CG Artist Stephen Grimm
CG Artist Eric Kim
Compositor Johannes Gamble
Compositor Marco Campobasso
Compositor Chris Howard
Producer Dustin LaForce
Executive Producer (VFX Lead) Scott Friske
Post Production Producer Connor Scofield
Post Production Coordinator Joaquin Villalobos
CGI Shipping And Handling
Sound Design and Mix Eric Crepeau
Colorist Bryan Smaller @ Company 3
Finishing Editor Nicole Johal
Original Song Louis Armstrong - Wonderful World
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