Yankees 2009 Campaign
In early 2009 we were asked by the YES Network to create an image spot for the launch of the Yankees 2009 season and a GFX toolkit for them to use throughout the season. The goal for this campaign was to have it feel very grand, polished and modern, without focusing on past traditions and the long list of World Series Championships. The spot had to showcase all of their great players and new acquisitions (Sabathia, Burnett, Teixeira), and it also had to show off the new stadium. The challenges came when we found out that the stadium was only 90% complete and we didn’t have any art work or access to the building for a shoot. Also, we didn’t have any highlight footage for any of the newly acquired players in Yankees pinstripes.
The only references we had for the stadium were photographs provided by Yes which included the exterior of the building, as well as, the many interior areas (entrance, hall of legends, scoreboard, seating areas, and freize that wraps the top of the stadium). We used these photos as a guide to recreate the stadium in 3d using Maya. Since the stadium was not fully complete, our 3d renders are not completely accurate, so don’t be surprised if the scoreboard throws you for a loop.
In order to showcase all the new and old players, and have all of them in pinstripes, we used a mix of highlight footage and green screen footage of the new players posing for pr and media shots. We wanted the mix of highlight and pr shots to blend seamlessly, so we encased all the footage in 3d environments. We roto’ed a lot of the highlight footage so we can match them with green screen shots… and just to break up the spot and not go roto crazy, we used highlight footage in video windows.
In the end we are very proud of this spot and gfx package. Some YES network producers feel that this look and feel is responsible for their success this year. We’ll take that credit.
***THIS PROJECT IS THE WINNER OF A 53RD ANNUAL NEW YORK EMMY AWARDS FOR SPORTS PROMO.
The only references we had for the stadium were photographs provided by Yes which included the exterior of the building, as well as, the many interior areas (entrance, hall of legends, scoreboard, seating areas, and freize that wraps the top of the stadium). We used these photos as a guide to recreate the stadium in 3d using Maya. Since the stadium was not fully complete, our 3d renders are not completely accurate, so don’t be surprised if the scoreboard throws you for a loop.
In order to showcase all the new and old players, and have all of them in pinstripes, we used a mix of highlight footage and green screen footage of the new players posing for pr and media shots. We wanted the mix of highlight and pr shots to blend seamlessly, so we encased all the footage in 3d environments. We roto’ed a lot of the highlight footage so we can match them with green screen shots… and just to break up the spot and not go roto crazy, we used highlight footage in video windows.
In the end we are very proud of this spot and gfx package. Some YES network producers feel that this look and feel is responsible for their success this year. We’ll take that credit.
***THIS PROJECT IS THE WINNER OF A 53RD ANNUAL NEW YORK EMMY AWARDS FOR SPORTS PROMO.
Versions
Credits
- Clients:
Creative Director: John Brueckner
Suprv Producer: Daniel Guernsey
Exec Prod: John J. Filippelli
Exec Prod: Tracy Dolgin
- Blue Room:
Creative Director: Brian Aumueller
Exec. Producer: Chris Gargani
Art Director: Paul Waszak
Editor: Shaun Sindelman
Assoc Producer: Grace Kim
Lead Animator: Paul Waszak
2d/3d Animator: Chieh Yen
2d/3d Animator: Jorge Pesciera
Maya Artist: Adam Pearlman
Roto: Anna Hieronymus
- Adobe Photoshop CS4, After Effects CS4, Maya, Cinema 4d and SynthEyes for rotoscoping and tracking