National Geographic “Brain Games” Promo

In this fast paced commercial for the new series “Brain Games” on the National Geographic Channel, the host moves through a gallery- type conceptual set designed by Stan Harris, and interacts with various visual tricks. I was tasked with researching and building some of the trick props. The biggest setup was a DIY looking rig that would allow water to drip at a certain speed past a speaker that was playing a tone at 24 Hertz. When the Camera is running at 24 frames per second, the water looks as if it is frozen in space. When the tone is at 23 Hertz, the water looks as if it is moving backwards up the tube. I also built a table that was at a 15 degree slant that matched the same slant in a piece of art behind it. When the camera is tilted at the same angle, it looks as if the room is not tilted, but then a can magically rolls uphill. Among other visual tricks, I made a scale miniature version of one of the rooms, so that when the camera zooms in on miniature “Brain Games” letters, they look larger, until the hosts hand come in to frame to adjust one of the letters. The whole spot was filmed in one Steady-cam shot that we rehearsed for 1 whole day ahead of time.

Credits:
Client: National Geographic Channel
Production Company: Big Smack Entertainment
Director: Andy Hann
Production Designer: Stanley Harris
Props: Christopher Jones
Props Assist: Mike Cherkowsky

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