All of One Accord

[Michelle]

This is something my DH sent me from work today. Apparently, no computer generation--all done by hand, taking 5 years and completing one perfect shot on take number 604. My boys LOVE it.

M

Honda video

[Guest]

Michelle...not sure how old you are but this is relevant...

http://www.rube-goldberg.com/

[Nan]

This ad, or something very like it, for Honda has been on TV here for a while, but I was not aware of the story behind it. Thanks for that, Michelle.

[Michelle]

JB--I thought this was called a rube goldberg invention, but I didn't know why. THanks for the link. It's amusing to me that they have to have AT LEAST 20 steps.

A friend of my sent me a link to the story behind the commercial, but I can't get into my Hotmail right now--I'll try to post it later. I think he said it's a British commercial.

M

[Michelle]

Well, our original source was off by a time measurement--it took 5 MONTHS, not 5 YEARS, and there is apparently one bit of computer animation, but other than that, it is still cool. Also explains the bit about the tires, which my DH was trying to figure out.

Following is this article from the Daily Record

Quote:

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TAKE 606 Apr 14 2003

Now that's a real motion picture

Michael Christie

TV VIEWERS have been left stunned by Honda's astonishing new advert.

Shot in real time, it shows a transmission ball bearing setting 84 other pieces of equipment in motion across a floor.

It's a mechanical domino effect - or a hi-tech version of the old board game Mousetrap.

And the £750,000 two minute ad - called Cog - took eight men nearly five months to prepare.

At one point, three tyres roll uphill because inside they have been weighted with bolts and screws

Later, a set of windscreen wiper blade helicopter through the air, suspended from a line of metal twine.

It all ends with the electronic door locks activated as a complete Honda rolls off the stand.

The advert was shown for the first time last week and has already become a firm favourite with viewers.

It was filmed on an industrial estate outside Paris.

The final shoot lasted four days and nights and ran to an incredible 606 takes until the makers were satisfied that everything was perfect.

Even if one item was just a sixteenth of an inch off, a take would be ruined.

Film assistants had to tiptoe round the set so as not to disturb the feather- sensitive superstructure of the arranged metalwork.

The slightest tremor could have undone hours of work.

The full advert is divided in two - because the studio couldn't fit in all the kit at once.

Just one second of computer generation is used to link the two halves - when an exhaust pipe rolls across the floor.

A Honda spokesman said: "Filming it was a real pain. But we believe the results are outstanding and something very different.

"We're really pleased with it."

The ads will initially run for 10 days and then be replaced by one 60- second ad and five 30-second ads which will be shown for six weeks.

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