Liquid Web: The Fluid Foundation for Unleashing Business Growth


Follow the journey of a determined CEO, navigating the competitive world of technology. Will she emerge victorious, overcoming the shadow of outdated systems?

Breaking Barriers

This tale is more than gripping – it’s a thrilling odyssey blending artistry, strategic marketing, and compelling storytelling with a dash of fun.
As visual artists embracing theatrical realism, we understand the power of storytelling in captivating audiences. This shines in our latest Liquid Web YouTube pre-roll spot. It’s a vibrant blend of humor, lightness, and animated touches, all highlighting our promise of fast, reliable service.
Unraveling our narrative reveals fascinating technical choices. Our camera selection wasn’t random. We chose a larger sensor – not for its size, but for the unique storytelling potential it provided, creating a visually immersive world that mirrors the expansive tech landscape our protagonist navigates.

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Rebuilding from Ground Zero

As Mike Logan, our tech guru, points to a hilariously complex diagram, the gravity of the situation hits – we’re rebuilding from scratch. The room pulses with intensity, a cocktail of dread and excitement.
Team members hang their heads, not in defeat, but in contemplation of the Herculean task ahead. It’s serious, it’s intense, it’s daunting – but hell,

 

it’s also electrifyingly invigorating.

Embracing the Squirrel

On the Right, we glimpse a still moment in time, an image capturing Brenna Sims, our Art Assistant, in her element. Amidst the bustling set, she is poised and focused beside the Dana Dolly and Arri Alexa Mini LF, tools of our trade that will help us create magic.
In just 45 seconds, our aim transcends mere viewing. To captivate an audience with the attention span of a squirrel? That’s our challenge. Yet, we tackle it with a grin, fueled by our passion for spinning tales that leave a lasting impression – and possibly a few chuckles along the way.
To our right, Mike Logan is gearing up for the scene, a picture of concentration. Each frame, each second is meticulously planned, contributing to a story that will unfold in less than a minute, but will hopefully linger in the minds of our audience far longer.
Brenna Sims & Mike Logan Comedian

The lead role for our hero was the perfect choice. The animated accents over the live action footage takes the experience up to another level. Also, I love the deliverables!


Jason Grasshoff - Sr. Director, Marketing

The Look

In crafting our spot, we chose the exceptional BlackWing7 lenses and Arri Alexa Mini LF to bring our vision to life. The BlackWing7 lenses offer a fidelity that harmonizes with our story, allowing controlled artistic distortions and unique flaring characteristics to amplify the emotional impact. The Arri Alexa Mini LF elevates the visual experience with its distinct, cinematic large-format aesthetic, unrivaled dynamic range, and true-to-life color accuracy. These two tools, handpicked for their creative synergy, perfectly complement our storytelling and enhance viewer immersion, forging an unforgettable bond with our brand.
To the right, A vivid behind-the-scenes moment captures Tyler Grimm expertly wielding the BlackWing7 lenses and Arri Alexa Mini LF, skillfully framing up Melissa Rose, our charismatic talent. As the scene unfolds, Grant Floering, our audio mixer, attentively tests the audio levels, ensuring crystal-clear sound to complement the striking visuals.

Why did we shoot
Large Format?

Opting for a bigger sensor was primarily to facilitate the use of extended focus lenses that would offer the equivalent field of view as a camera with a smaller format, like an S35. Employing these long-focus lenses, while maintaining the same subject distance and identical T-stop, leads to a difference in depth of field. Altering your recording format and using a smaller portion of the sensor’s active area can influence your choice of lens for a specific composition and potentially impact your depth of field.
In the realm of visual storytelling, our choice of camera and lens can dramatically influence the narrative. This decision was not random but a deliberate stylistic choice to enhance the storytelling.
The Arri Alexa Mini LF, with its large format sensor – roughly double the size of a Super 35mm sensor, offered us a unique perspective. When shooting with a 40mm lens on the Mini LF, we captured the same field of view that would require an approximately 20mm lens on a Super 35mm sensor. This technical advantage allowed us to create a visually immersive environment, emphasizing the enormity of the tech world our protagonist is pitted against.
This larger format gave us the ability to dive deeper into the nuances of theatrical realism. It amplified the power of our narrative.

The Crew

Nate Robertson

Behind every successful project, there’s an unsung hero. For Liquid Web’s latest commercial spot, that hero is Nate Robertson. As our exceptional 1st AD, Nate was the strategic mastermind behind the scenes. His logistical direction shaped a dynamic, engaging narrative that brilliantly showcased superior web hosting solutions. Always behind the camera but never in the shadows, his dedication was key to our success.

Tyler Grimm

In the lively boardroom scene, Tyler Grimm harnessed natural light to radiate a soft glow around Jazmine, adding authenticity. Transitioning to a private setting with Jazmine and a Liquid Web employee, he masterfully manipulated key light and negative fill to shape her features, crafting intrigue.
The Alexa Mini LF camera, renowned for capturing skin tones, was his tool of choice, enhancing Jazmine’s portrayal.
Tyler’s strategic use of lighting and camera selection showcased the potency of intentional cinematography, vividly bringing Jazmine’s character to life.

Artful Synergy

Isabella Werschky [on the monitor with Mike Logan], leading the charge with her artistic prowess, and her dedicated assistant, Brenna Sims, created an unforgettable experience in Liquid Web’s commercial. Working in tandem, they meticulously crafted each scene.

Brenna supported Isabella’s vision by refining shots, while Isabella ensured the talent dazzled on screen.

Their collaborative effort, like placing a scene-specific picture, enhanced the set’s visual appeal, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.

 

Behind The Scenes Photos

Directors Note

From the Director, Cassidy Bisher:
Cassidy Bisher
This project, well, it was a bit like trying to navigate through a labyrinth blindfolded at first. So many twists, turns, and potential narratives to explore – it was far from a walk in the park. The photo to your right? That’s me, deep in strategic thought, ensuring every scene, every shot, every tick of the clock was perfectly orchestrated for our target duration.
Steering the creative ship for the Liquid Web commercial felt like penning an epic. The tale we spun was one of a software firm teetering on the edge of irrelevance. Our mission was simple, yet ambitious – weave a suspense-laden narrative, peppered with humour and underscored by the relentless march of technology. Our lead? A steadfast female executive, embodying the trials and triumphs of the tech world.
Liquid Web’s VMware Private Cloud service morphed from a mere product into a beacon of hope for our protagonist. We aimed to not just showcase this service, but to also inspire viewers to hop aboard the cloud bandwagon. It was a team effort, with each crew member pouring their unique creativity and collaborative spirit into the mix. Among these talented individuals, Ryan Brady from DropDrop, our Motion Graphic Designer, shone brightly, masterfully merging the vibrant, 90s-inspired aesthetic from a past campaign, infusing our narrative with a new energy.
Directing the Liquid Web spot was akin to dropping a single pebble into a serene lake. Each aspect of the project, from the storyline to the visuals, sent ripples across the surface, each ripple a story in itself, echoing the power of storytelling, teamwork, and cutting-edge technology.To wrap up, a special shout-out to Tamarra Thomas, our Impact Producer on this project. Her invaluable contribution was the secret ingredient in our success recipe – truly, we couldn’t have done it without her.

Work with us!

Ready to elevate your marketing plan with a dynamic video like this? Reach out today to learn how we can help you create engaging content that drives results!