Harvest Films for Jack Link's - Messin' With Sasquatch: Thinker - (2010) :15 (USA)

For Harvest director Baker Smith, “Messin’ With Sasquatch” was a dream assignment: evolve a successful and beloved iconic brand campaign with agency Carmichael Lynch and client Jack Link’s Beef Jerky. The opportunity to direct physical and performance-based comedy involving a furry antihero spoke to Baker’s love of the absurd. Plus, there was the implied offering of exceptional Beef Jerky.

“This was the smoothest production I’ve ever worked on,” remarks Brock Davis, Group Creative Director, Carmichael Lynch. “Baker’s experience brought a lot to the table, and his crew was so well choreographed. It was a well-oiled machine.”

In Baker’s interpretation, Sasquatch is a misunderstood and comically tormented antihero. After all, he does have more than 180,000 MySpace friends . . . even if many of them are looking to deliver practical jokes at his expense.

“I love the concept and wanted audiences to relate to both the Sasquatch and the people bold enough to want to mess with him,” says Director Baker Smith. “Everyone on set – from the client to the agency, cast and crew – had a great time during the shoot and I think that comes through in the campaign.”

Davis adds: “Baker offered so much and was able to get the actors to where they needed to be quickly. He’s great at evoking humor. And he has an infectious smile.”

Among the new creative offerings is “Camp Fire,” which showcases a group of young campers, who after snacking on Jack Link’s jerky, choose to Feed Their Wild Side by encouraging the unsuspecting Sasquatch to take a load off -- on a chair planted with a Whoopee Cushion. Not to be outdone, Sasquatch gives the pranksters a literal whiff of flatulence humor, as the spot concludes with an epic camp fire explosion. Additional ads, scheduled to launch later this year, also feature a series of sophomoric, yet well-known, pranks.

In addition to an extensive media buy that includes major cable networks such as Adult Swim, Comedy Central, ESPN and Spike, audiences can Feed Their Wild Side and view all the “Camp Fire” antics by visiting http://www.messinwithsasquatch.com.

AGENCY:
Carmichael Lynch
Chief Executive Officer: Mike Lescarbeau
Chief Creative Officer: Jim Nelson
Group Creative Director: Brock Davis
Senior Writer: Scott Model
Senior Art Director: Anthony DiNicola
Director of Integrated Production: Joe Grundhoefer
Senior Integrated Producer: Freddie Richards
Director of Business Affairs: Vicki Oachs
Director of Account Management: Andrew Dauska
Account Director: Jenna Tietje
Account Leader: Andrew Pautz
Account Manager: Beth Myers
Senior Project Manager: Laurie Holtz

PRODUCTION:
Harvest Films/Santa Monica
Director: Baker Smith
Executive Producer: Bonnie Goldfarb
Executive Producer: Scott Howard
Head of Production: Rob Sexton
Producer: Brad Stevenson
Director of Photography: Bill Pope

Cherokee Films
Milford, Auckland
Producer: Katie Kempe

EDITORIAL:
Spot Welders
Editor: Haines Hall
Assistant Editor: Paul Sabater
Executive Producer: David Glean

VFX/ONLINE:
Public VFX
VFX Supervisor: James Allen
Executive Producer: Kim Nagel
VFX Producer: Rachel Kaminek
Lead Flame Artists: James Allen and Brad Scott
Roto Artist: Julie Jang
Matte Painter: Chris Duncan
3D Animator: Tom Allen

AUDIO MIX
Lime Studios
Mixer: RohanYoung
Executive Producer: Jessica Locke

FILM/TAPE TRANSFER
Company 3
Colorist: Stefan Sonnenfeld