Visual research, location scouting and casting assistance for Farm League
In October of 2014 I worked as prop assistant with Venice-based production company Farm League, acting as an assistant stylist in the production of three 30-second television spots for Cenex. During the month-long project I worked with the art department to source authentic props and wardrobe while also assisting our director, producer, and location scout with visual research and location scouting.
This documentary-style series of commercials was focused on the everyday lives of Americans living across the West, and as a lifetime resident of Minnesota, where one of the three commercials were filmed, I was also asked to assist with using my community network to source real individuals as talent in our film. I’ll never forget the day I was asked to help find a polka band for our Minnesota segment, which was filmed in Belle Plaine and New Prague, MN. Knowing that there was a large population of first, second, and third-generation Czechoslovakian immigrants in the area (hence the name ‘New Prague’) I went down to a local Polish diner at 5am in the morning, knowing I could probably meet some folks who could point me in the right direction. As I was eating a Cherry Danish, I struck up a conversation with a group of elderly men who were chatting together over coffee in a vinyl booth, and to both my luck and surprise one of them was in the most active polka band in town as an accordion player. You can see our polka band in the last video at the bottom of the page.
Cenex - "Home"
Agency: Colle Mc-Voy
Production Company: Farm League
Director: Britt Cailloute
Producer: Scott Ballew
Director of Photographer: Nicholas Restrepo-Sus
Art Director: Coryander Friend
Stylist: Megan Czerwinski
Location Scout: Charlotte Ariss
