HTC’s latest advertising creative is a sophisticated and adrenaline filled skydiving fashion shoot. The HTC Free Fall Fashion shoot, developed by global ad agency Mother, is the first in the world to be captured using a mobile handset while skydiving.
Directed by Sara Dunlop, the creative has been designed to put the advanced camera and power capabilities of the newly launched HTC One series to the test. A collection of sleek and superfast smartphones, HTC call them ‘the hero handsets of HTC One X and HTC One S both introduce a new level of iconic style and design along with amazing camera capabilities and an authentic sound and music experience.’ We’ll be putting then to the test, too.
The advertising film will focus on the extraordinary feat of capturing high production fashion imagery whilst falling at 120 mph – pushing the boundaries of performance for both the team but also of a mobile handset and its camera.
We were lucky enough to be at the shoot in Arizona and have the inside scoop on the shoot, make-up, styling and, of course, skydiving.
Here are the profiles of the people involved:
Roberta Mancino is one of the top skydivers in the world and a model who has completed 7000 jumps in her 11 year career. She regularly participates in world-record events and global productions in various skydiving disciplines including free-flying, freestyle, wing suit, base jump.
Sara Dunlop After director Sara Dunlop graduated in film from the University of Westminster she was soon named one of the Top 25 Directors To Watch by Creativity Magazine. Demonstrating particular affinity with graphic cinematic and filmic creative, Sarah has chalked up an impressive array of brands and projects on her showreel and brings an effortless quality to her films and shows a real flair for big ideas.
The stunt direction is led by Norman Kent who is widely respected as the world’s best skydiving cinematographer. Included in his work are feature films, world-record attempts, world-class level competitions, base-jumping and other special skydiving events around the world. He is also the lead cameraman for the shoot.
Wardrobe stylist Hayley Atkin works with the LA Times Magazine as their fashion editor and has styled strong leading ladies such as Milla Kunis, Mila Jovovich, Kerry Washington, Emily Blunt and Christina Hendricks.
The costume stylist is Kristine Karnaky – better known as Miss KK -who is famed for creating editorial, theatrical and film costumes for clients including Vanity Fair and Elle, as well as bespoke outfits for celebrities including Madonna, Rihanna and Nikki Minaj, to name a few.
Hair and make-up stylist Adam Brechaud has carefully created a hair and make-up treatment for the shoot that has been designed to withstand windspeed of 120 mph. He is also fast becoming one of Hollywood’s most indispensable beauty experts with a rosta of celebrity clients including Vera Farmiga. Adam has given us an interview where talks about creating the futuristic look that stands up to 120 mile per hour winds.
Photographer 1 is Tony Mac who is currently studying commercial photography at the Brooks Institute and hopes to become a professional lifestyle or advertising photographer in the future.
Photographer 2 Nick Jojola is in the second year at The Art Institute of California where he studying digital photography. He is due to graduate in December 2012.
HTC One advertising campaign airs globally from 2 April 2012.