YOUR BRAND + THEIR BRAND + OUR BRAIN = SUCCESS

We understand how to work with brands and networks worldwide to create memorable integrated spots.

We're a full service production company that specializes in VFX and Design & Animation with the experience needed to navigate the most challenging multi-stakeholder projects.

A&E / GEICO (ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM)

Look at all that junk in his trunk.  Sounds like an HR nightmare unless you're shooting with an elephant that's not even there.

This branded content spot for A&E + GEICO features a giant talking elephant as part of GEICO's "Surprising!" campaign.  Director Steve Petersen worked with the actors to believably interact with a fully CG elephant.

Featuring realistic creature animation and comedy, this spot is a heavy contender.

BIG MACHINE produced this spot as part of a trio of projects shot back-to-back for A+E Networks.

BEHIND THE SCENES

credits

Client: History / GEICO     Director: Steve Petersen      Creative Director:  Ken Carlson

Executive Producer: Sean Owolo      Live Action Producer: Chad Engel     Post Producer: Crystal Deones

VFX Partner:  FuseFX     BIG MACHINE Senior VFX Artist: Dennis Shen     VFX Artist:  Ana Lossada

Interns:  Ha Eun Chang & Harut Harutyunyan    Studio Manager:  Emma Eckhoff

LIFETIME / GEICO (CATWALK)

It's the cat's meow.  In this parody of Project Runway the designers are getting into more than just catfights... they're designing cat couture.

 This branded content spot for Lifetime + GEICO features a parade of fashionable felines as part of GEICO's "Surprising!" campaign.  Director Steve Petersen pounced on the opportunity to combine cuteness and comedy to create the purrfect spot.

BIG MACHINE produced this spot as part of a trio of projects shot back-to-back for A+E Networks.

credits

Client: History / GEICO     Director: Steve Petersen      Creative Director:  Ken Carlson

Executive Producer: Sean Owolo      Live Action Producer: Chad Engel     Post Producer: Crystal Deones

VFX Intern:  Harut Harutyunyan    Studio Manager:  Emma Eckhoff

HISTORY / GEICO (MOONWALK)

It cost about $25 Billion to put a man on the moon in 1969.  BIG MACHINE just did it for a lot less.

 This branded content spot for History & GEICO features astronauts on the moon as part of GEICO's "Surprising!" campaign.  Director Steve Petersen staged the moon landing in a Hollywood soundstage, just like another famous director!

Featuring heavy VFX and a comedic turn, this spot is out of this world.

BIG MACHINE produced this spot as part of a trio of projects shot back-to-back for A+E Networks.

BEHIND THE SCENES

credits

Client: History / GEICO     Director: Steve Petersen      Creative Director:  Ken Carlson

Executive Producer: Sean Owolo      Live Action Producer: Chad Engel     Post Producer: Crystal Deones

Art Director:  KA Batcha      Senior VFX Artist: Dennis Shen     VFX Artist:  Ana Lossada

Interns:  Ha Eun Chang & Harut Harutyunyan    Studio Manager:  Emma Eckhoff

HISTORY / CARMAX / KNIGHTFALL

Through the desert, snow, enchanted forests and rain, these knights brave the elements to complete their mission.  But there must be an easier way!  And there is:  Carmax!

BIG MACHINE produced, shot and edited this custom co-branded spot for History and Carmax on location at a Carmax in Burbank, CA and on a green screen stage.

BEHIND THE SCENES

credits

Client: History / CARMAX     Director: Steve Petersen      Creative Director:  Ken Carlson

Executive Producer: Sean Owolo      Live Action Producer: Chad Engel     Post Producer: Crystal Deones

VFX Lead / Senior Designer:  Dennis Shen

HISTORY / GEICO / KNIGHTFALL

These knights are on a mission to find a treasure they must reclaim.  The journey is treacherous, but they get some help from a surprising ally.

BIG MACHINE director Steve Petersen has created a convincing period piece that takes a clever turn in this integrated spot for History and GIECO produced, shot and edited entirely by BIG MACHINE.

credits

Client: History / GEICO     Director: Steve Petersen      Creative Director:  Ken Carlson

Executive Producer: Sean Owolo      Live Action Producer: Chad Engel     Post Producer: Crystal Deones

VFX Lead / Senior Designer:  Dennis Shen

HISTORY / CAR WEEK / GEICO

Remember that feeling you got when you drove your first car?  BIG MACHINE captured that pride of ownership in this humorous spot featuring a high school student and his new set of wheels as he cruises around town showing off just how cool he is.

BIG MACHINE produced, shot and edited this custom co-branded spot for History's Car Week, a new week of car themed programming.

BEHIND THE SCENES

credits

Client: History / GEICO     Director: Earl Gray      Creative Directors:  Ken Carlson / Steve Petersen

Executive Producer: Sean Owolo      Live Action Producer: Shannon Bowen     Post Producer: Crystal Deones

GOLD RUSH / SUPERCUTS "SETUP"

Discovery strikes gold with this series of spots produced by BIG MACHINE.  Featuring Gold Rush talent Mitch Blaschke, this partnership spot with Supercuts features the mechanic/miner getting ready to leave the Klondike to visit his wife at home.  There's only one problem:  Living on the claim has left him looking a little too rough for life back in the lower 50.  Mitch uses the Supercuts app to schedule some tidying up.

BIG MACHINE director Steve Petersen shot this spot in the Portland area after one of the largest snowstorms in recent history.

The 2nd spot in this series reveals what happens when Mitch gets back home from being in Alaska.

GOLD RUSH / SUPERCUTS "REVEAL"

credits

Client: Discovery Networks      Director: Steve Petersen      Art Director: Gaspard Lacroix      Executive Producer: Sean Owolo

Post Producer: Crystal Deones    Design/Animation Assistant:  Moses Park

Fearless, adventurous and powerful.  Vikings?  No, BIG MACHINE.

It takes a certain kind of grit to produce a quick turnaround project that blends milkshakes with ocean-bound warriors.  History once again selected BIG MACHINE to direct a spot merging its highly successful Vikings series with a mainstream American brand.

In this case,  BIG MACHINE director Steve Petersen tells the story of a treacherous journey that takes a tasty turn when a Viking crew is treated to Sonic shakes from a maiden on wheels.

BIG MACHINE built a Viking ship on a soundstage in Los Angeles and used our expertise in post production to add stormy clouds and rain to create a dreary environment that would provide the perfect contrast to a Sonic-driven sunny day ending.

Previous Vikings projects include 2 other spots for GEICO, one of which is nominated for a 2016 Promax Award.

CREDITS

Client: History / Sonic  Director: Steve Petersen      Executive Producer: Sean Owolo

Live Action Producer: Stephen Ruiz  Senior Producer: Crystal Deones      VFX Supervisor: Ken Carlson      Art Director: KA Batcha

HISTORY / CAR WEEK / SONIC

Take two hilarious improv actors and throw in an unbelievable collection of classic American muscle cars and you've got the winning ingredients for this History Car Week / Sonic Drive In integrated spot.

BIG MACHINE produced, shot and edited this custom series of spots for History's Car Week, a new week of car themed programming.

credits

Client: History / Sonic  Director: Ken Carlson      Executive Producer: Sean Owolo      Live Action Producer: Michael Greggs

Post Producer: Crystal Deones      Senior Designer:  Dennis Shen

National Geographic and Farmers Insurance weren't playing brain games with BIG MACHINE when they asked for a sequel to several successful spots that we created for them a year earlier.

This time around Nat Geo wanted to feature "Brain Games" and "Great Human Race" in these integrated spots with Farmers.  Building upon the mini-macro world we created for the original spots we evolved the creative to feature more story-based animation.

BIG MACHINE developed the concept of a mechanical word game for "Brain Games" and a natural history diorama hall for "Great Human Race."

CREDITS

Client:  National Geographic – Farmers Insurance  Creative Director:  Ken Carlson      Art Director:  KA Batcha

Executive Producer:  Sean Owolo     Producer:  Crystal Deones

History Channel’s new show POWER & ICE is about the linemen who keep the power on in one of the most extreme climates on the planet – Alaska. Working hundreds of feet in the air in the middle of winter storms and brushing against thousands of volts of lethal electricity – these tough linemen risk their lives on a daily basis.. So it made sense for Dodge to team one of their toughest trucks up with this rugged show.

The original creative had the hero Dodge truck driving through extreme winter weather, plowing through snow and helping the linemen complete their perilous missions. Only problem – after we flew the whole crew out to Alaska, the snow was gone, the locals were in shorts and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky! Because of the record heat the Alaskan locals even had to reschedule the famous Iditarod Dog Race for the first time ever.

So BIG MACHINE looked to it’s visual effects team to bring the magic! We shot beautiful live action plates and brought the footage back to HQ to bring the story to life.

CREDITS

Client: History / RAM  Director: Steve Petersen      Executive Producer: Sean Owolo

Creative Directors: Steve Petersen / Ken Carlson      Producer: Andy Novak

BIG MACHINE working with GEICO, The Martin Agency and History Channel has produced a series of spots cross promoting GEICO with the new History series “Vikings”.

In the spot GEICO’s popular gecko character is seen traversing the long table of  a viking feast as he points out the difficulties of mobile phone communication in the 9th Century.

BIG MACHINE Creative Director Steve Petersen directed this spot with a full cast of larger than life actors and a viking banquet hall that BIG MACHINE built on a soundstage in Los Angeles.

CREDITS

Client: History / GEICO    Director: Steve Petersen      Producer: Matt LeBoeuf

Art Director: Ming-Shian Wang    

History and Capital One selected BIG MACHINE to work some branded content magic for the anticipated miniseries “Houdini” staring Adrien Brody.

BIG MACHINE director Steve Petersen had a real life magician hang upside down and perform a daring escape from chains wrapped around his body. Before OSHA gets called, don’t worry, it was done safely. BIG MACHINE worked with a stunt coordinator to plan and execute the illusion.

Big kudos to our escape artist Seth Backus for delivering lines upside down!

BIG MACHINE has also worked its magic, creating branded content for Discovery, National Geographic Channel, Bravo, A&E and Animal Planet.

CREDITS

Client: History/Capital One    Director/Creative Director: Steve Petersen      Producer: Andy Novak

Art Director: Ming-Shian Wang

BIG MACHINE serves up a tasty treat by teaming up with National Geographic Channel and Sonic Drive-In to create a branded content spot debuting Sonic’s new Summer Pretzel Dog.

Blending character animation and motion design we were able to create a spot that is fun, informative and mouth watering. A quick time travel through the history of the pretzel and the hot dog help bridge the old with the new in this cross promotion of the 125-year-old National Geographic brand with the popular national restaurant chain.

BIG MACHINE has also created branded content for other networks and companies including:  GEICO, Hershey’s, Wendy’s, NIKE, AMC, History and A&E.

CREDITS

Client: National Geographic / Sonic    Creative Director: Ken Carlson      Senior Producer: Matt LeBoeuf

Producer: Elizabeth Gideon    Art Director: Elizabeth Steinberg