For the current Lincoln music promotion and integrated ad campaign via Team Detroit, Wild Plum Director Shane Drake teamed with visual effects company Ntropic to create a visually striking commercial and music video for electronica/indie rock rising stars Shiny Toy Guns.

In each, the Shiny Toy Guns glittery performance of Peter Schilling's hit Major Tom comes alive against a backdrop of screens showcasing the Lincoln MKZ. Ntropic designed the media projected on giant LED screen walls, which were then filmed with the live performance at the Orpheum theater for both the commercial and music video. Ntropic also provided graphics treatments, color correction and final composite.

For the backgrounds projected behind the band, Ntropic created a series of distinct environments designed to complement the galactic, ethereal quality of the song, while staying consistent with the intercut Lincoln MKZ commercials.   These worlds were created by combining practically shot light elements with fully dimensional CG sets built in Maya, After Effects and Inferno.

In keeping with the live in-the-moment feeling of the performance it was decided to use super-bright LED screens behind the band rather than taking a more conventional green-screen approach.


"It was great to be given the creative freedom to explore multiple directions and ultimately collaborate with Team Detroit to create an exciting visual piece for the shoot," says Ntropic Creative Director Simon Mowbray. "We then had the opportunity to enhance these visuals after the conform prior to its Grammys debut."

To view the commercial, music video and making of, please visit: www.lincoln.com/music

Agency: Team Detroit
Mike Stark, VP, Executive Producer
John Godsey, Copywriter
Beth Hambly, Art Director

Production Company: Wild Plum
Director: Shane Drake
Executive Producer: Shelby Sexton
Head of Production: Sandy Haddad
Line Producer: Ted Robbins
Director of Photography:  Maz Makhani
Production Designer:  Charles Infante
Editor:  Walter May

Visual Effects: Ntropic
Creative Director: Nathan Robinson
Creative Director/Inferno artist: Simon Mowbray
Inferno artist: Alaina Goetz
CG artist: James McCarthy
Assistant Editor/Asst. Inferno Artist: Jesse Boots
Lustre Colorist: Marshall Plante
Executive Producer: Dana Townsend
Producer: Melissa Warhaftig