“Are you Real”
The genre, which has developed recently; being Video Game commercials, is displayed in true form in “Swallowed”. A gritty, highly stylized approach will dominate the overall look and approach to the spot. A damp, fluorescent-lit corridor is meandered down slowly approaching a doorway. As we move down the hallway, a stream of water running along the floor starts to creep into view under the cameras lens. The water crawls slowly, pacing with the camera. The stream turns to a steady flow and then larger, gaining momentum and volume. We reveal the water from in front, at this point rushing down the corridor with speed and energy. Ref. It begins to run along the walls and ceiling defying reality. The camera turns into the room in1st person revealing a man. Reality is tested again as the man floats in midair, dangling helplessly in the dead-center of the room. His arms and legs draping beneath him, he appears to be awake but doesn’t fight his predicament. His fear and helplessness is apparent on his face and in his slight struggle to free himself. He is lit by two single lamps hanging directly above his body. He is beamed with a light surrounding his being and falling off into the corners of the square room. The water waves towards him through the door and begins to slowly fill the room. Coming from the walls and floor it begins to leave the surfaces, making its way towards the man in thin air. Floating drops and thin streams of water commence their way through the air, forming a rectangular pool of water beneath him. The water floats beneath him awaiting his fall. His fingers touch the surface of the pool slightly rendering him aware of its presence. The edges of the water stay rigid as if the were against a wall yet float independent of their surroundings. The man falls in and out of his so-called reality. Quick flashes of horror and fear appear beneath him, substituting for the water. In quick, one or two second flashes, a single large fire burst then chained and enraged dogs, followed quickly with a shot of the dogs lifeless on the ground laying in pools of black. Along with these images will be other flashes including streaming blood like substance in the same vein as the water, and finally a shot of the man falling into nothingness will appear while he waits for his fate.
Directed by Chris Sargent and Steve Mottershed
Shot by Chris Sargent and Marc Bachli
Produced by Jessie Wallace
Visual Effects: Steve Mottershed
Playstation 3
Sunday, August 1, 2004
