FootJoy Blog

Cameras were rolling on Tuesday as the 2009 FootJoy TV campaign began to take shape. With just one day to capture everything we needed with the “secret” player on site, we couldn’t really afford many delays…which, of course, are inevitable during a TV shoot.

(** Scroll to the end to see the slideshow **)

The first minor delay was the fog which hung around most of the morning. It was more of a nuisance than a problem for a crew that was prepared for anything. We started out on the very back of the TPI range with the strategy that we would follow the sunrays until they dipped behind the hills around 4:30. Since there was no actual sun, the crew rigged the lights to all you’ll see in the ads is the beautiful southern California sunshine!

The other delays were not really delays as much as trying to ensure we got the perfect shots. For example, for one shot, we needed a ball to fly in over the crew, stop on the green and back up to the camera where someone would stop it with their SYNR-G shoe. Sounds reasonable, right? Well, in order for it to look authentic, it has to be done authentically….meaning someone has to hit the ball over the crew (30+ people), land it directly inline with the camera, and back it up inside the frame. We first tried a shot from about 50 yards. Lot of close calls but couldn’t get all the spin we needed. We then tried from a bunker where the Tour player demonstrated a trick shot that would produce the spin and trajectory required. Line two balls up end-to-end in line with your target. As you hit down on the ball at the back, one should fly straight into a net we had set up and the other would shoot up in the air and spin back. Makes sense, right? After about 30 tries, we abandoned that idea. Final option was to back the player up and give him a full wedge into the green. Did I mention he has to fly it over a full crew of people, land it just over a VERY expensive camera and spin it back to an area about 4 feet around? Well, the kid did it. With direction from the Tour player on the green, this kid, who plays on the Challenge Tour, nailed it on about his sixth try. Nice work Foxy! With only about four hours of daylight left at this point, albeit with a very satisfied director and crew, it was time to move on.

The rest of the day went off without a hitch or much of a delay. The only minor interruptions were for maintenance carts off in the distance who, upon hearing shouts from the entire crew, realized they might be better off taking a different route across the grounds. The very last shot of the day, another trick shot that you’ll see in January on the blog, was completed with the very last ray of sunshine before the director called it a wrap!

It’s amazing to see all that goes on behind the camera. This was a first class operation at a first class facility. There are probably 50 people on site, all with a very specific functions. From the director on down, everyone has to execute at the correct time or things fall apart. You need the camera guys, the light guys, the sound guys, the wardrobe folks, the playback engineer, the food people and, my favorite, the guy who rakes the grass and fluffs the ball up in the grass (see slideshow).

Then it all depends on the talent. You need actors that are professional, that understand the shot that’s required, that are patient and that can take direction well and often. You also need people like Foxy who will do whatever’s necessary to help out, even if they had no idea they’d be called upon! Lastly, you need a set that is perfect, which is why many locations are shutdown completely. Well Jack, Yvette, Greg, Dave, our “stunt double” Charlie and the whole crew at TPI ensured we could get what we needed while also ensuring the golfers who came to the facility for their exclusive, first class experience received just that. In the end, it worked out spectacularly for everyone and we’ll have the TV spots to prove it!

Next location is Naples which features six Tour pros and a helicopter. Check in next week for an update! in the meantime, enjoy the slideshow from Day 2 at TPI.

Click here to begin the slideshow.:

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