“Make it Home for Christmas” dir. Mad Ruffian from The AA Charitable Trust & FIA Foundation

Title/Project – Make it Home for Christmas

Creative Director: Matt Collier & Wayne Robinson
Agency: M&C Saatchi

Production Company: Mad Ruffian
Director: Christopher Watson-Wood & Amanda Jones for MAD RUFFIAN
Producer: Amanda Jones
VFX Supervisor: Christopher Watson-Wood

Post Production: Ruffian Post
Head of VFX: Christopher Watson-Wood
Post Production Producer: Amanda Jones
Lead CG Artist (Houdini): Toby Williams-Ellis
CG Artist: Stephen Elphick
Editor: Christopher Watson-Wood
Compositor: Harry Davidson
Roto/Clean-up: Mark Warui
Sound: 750 MPH
Sound Engineer: Sam Robson

Cast:
Daughter: Darcey Brown
Father: Rob Mitchell-James

Casting: Plaster Cast London

Shoot:
Directors’ Advisor: Jack Tew
Director of Photography: James Medcraft
Focus Puller: Danny Deighton
2nd AC: Tobias Rothwell
1st AD: Dom Asbridge
Gaffer: Dom Aronin
Electrician (Desk Operator): Ed Riley
Electrician: David Palmieri
Motion Control Company: Mark Roberts Motion Control
Motion Control Operator: Ian Menzies
Motion Control Operator: Nigel Permane
DIT: Quentin Brown
Art Director: Kate Purdy
Wardrobe: Ramaneeka Attapatto
Hair & Make-up: Cate Hall
Rigger: Jason @ Blitz
Behind the Scenes: David Lieb
Runner: Sam Adams

Music Clearance: Gillian Miller @ Music Business Affairs
PR: Zoe Brooks @ Boo PR

Music:
Song: I’ll be Home for Christmas
Artist: Bing Crosby

Matters of the heart (emoji.)

When award-winning creatives, Matt Collier and Wayne Robinson came to us with a script for a film about the perils of texting while driving, we were thrilled to get a chance to work with them to bring their vision to life. We quickly realised that this wasn’t going to be about just making another film; the subject matter was too important and no matter how much VFX we used or the world where we placed the film. Every step of the way, we attempted to be true to the heart (and pain / sorrow / loss / love) that comes with tragedy of a driving accident. We were desperate to show the connection in time between the dad and the daughter as they innocently texted back and forth… a simple “heart emoji” being the final, haunting unanswered message.

We decided to do the entire film in CGI and shot only the actors in front of a green screen (and they would be the only “real” element.) Not only that, but we decided to put the actors (including the 12 yr old!) on to an elevated, rotating platform and use a motion control rig to seamlessly film them going from scene to scene. Amanda directed our actors, Rob Mitchell-James and Darcey Brown who she’d chosen among many many talented actors she auditioned for the roles, and and the chemistry and care for the acting on set was palpable. Under Director Christopher’s (Watson-Wood) charge, James’ (Medcraft) expertise coupled with our favorite 1st AD, Dominic Asbridge, cracking the whip meant we had a small chance in hell to get it done. We finally wrapped at about midnight in great spirits. It was the most rewarding shoot we’ve ever had the privilege of producing.

The fun didn’t end after the shoot. In fact, that’s where most of our hard work began. Our in-house post production company, Ruffian Post, led by Christopher and Toby Williams-Ellis, had months of work to do. Because we had very little time between paid jobs, every spare moment was spent on this film. Using Houdini for all the CG elements and Octane to render, we created Darcey’s bedroom, Rob’s car (with the trees zooming by in the background and the rain hitting the window), her glow in the dark night sky, the pavement and flashing lights, and the forest (with every individual tree, rock and snowflake.) After we were finally happy with the CGI environments, we had the large task of compositing the actors into the CGI backgrounds. The finishing touches came in elements like snowflakes and the passing car lights illuminating the picture frame and flowers descanso (roadside memorial.)

During the post process, we had the revelation to make this film take place on Christmas Eve and, as if by fate, I’ll Be Home for Christmas worked in the edit perfectly. The film was already sad, but this was the kicker for us. We solicited the help of Gillian Miller from Music Business Affairs who used her magic to actually get us the track – we never dreamed we’d be given permission to use one of the most famous Christmas songs of all time made timeless by Bing Crosby.

It’s been months in the making, and we are very pleased. Texting and driving is a real problem and many of us are guilty of it. Drivers using their phones, whether handheld or hands-free, are four times more likely to crash, potentially injuring or killing themselves or other people. And so, if even one person thinks about this film while reaching for his/her phone to respond to a loved one – and then doesn’t – then we have put our abilities (and hearts) to good use and possibly made the one difference that truly counts.

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