91原创 twins, who created a well-remembered flying pig Doritos commercial for SuperBowl 2015, are back in the limelight for their latest cinematography.
The pair, Graham and Nelson Talbot, are literally making last-minute edits, cuts, and tweaks this week to a film called CC, which they鈥檙e helping produce in conjunction with another set of twin (Bowen Island directors and writers Kailey and Sam Spear) for Vancouver鈥檚 #Crazy8sFilms18.
The Talbots, 28-year-old fraternal twins, have been active in film much of their lives. After graduation from 91原创 Fine Arts 鈥搘here they concentrated on visual arts 鈥 the boys both went on to study film production at Simon Fraser University before launching their own company, Fortitude, about six years back.
While they鈥檝e produced music videos, commercials, short and feature-length films 鈥 including a number of Hallmark movies shot in and around their hometown of 91原创 鈥 there are a few bigger pieces that they boast about in their portfolio.
On the commercial front, the 鈥渂iggest success鈥 came when the boys entered the Doritos competition with their Frito-Lay ad featuring a flying pig. The commercial aired during the SuperBowl, one of the world鈥檚 biggest stages for advertising with millions watching the game.
In terms of feature films 鈥 which Nelson said he enjoys the most of all the work they undertaken so far 鈥 the twins have credits on last year鈥檚 movie, Drone, starring actor Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, Golden Eye, and Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring).
They also worked on the 2013 movie Lawrence & Holloman starring Ben Cotton and Daniel Arnold.
And, there鈥檚 a feature film expected to hit the festival circuit later this year that they worked on with Walt Disney鈥檚 great nephew Tim Disney 鈥 known for his work on Where the Wild Things Are (2009), Predestination (2014) and Ghost Rider (2007).
In this current production of CC, they鈥檝e taken on the role of directors of photography.
As Nelson explained it, they鈥檙e responsible for everything involving cameras, lighting, and actual shooting, while the Spear twins directed 鈥 meaning they were took charge of all the actors.
CC is a story about a nanny who assaults her employer and the investigative team that must determine what caused the attack.
This film, shot in North Vancouver and Surrey, features actress Jewel Staite of Stargate Atlantis and The Killing.
Out of the 228 original Crazy8s applicants, this short film is one of only six chosen to be produced and featured during the gala screening Saturday, Feb. 24.
Competitors have eight 鈥渃razy鈥 days to make it happen. That translates to three days of shooting and five days in post production.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very quick,鈥 Nelson said.
This is the fourth time in six years that the Talbot brothers have participated in the Vancouver鈥檚 #Crazy8sFilms, and Nelson said he loves the camaraderie and support that exists during this process between area filmmakers.
It鈥檚 not something normally seen within a very competitive industry.
鈥淸Crazy8s] is usually an enjoyable experience,鈥 Nelson told the 91原创 Advance.
鈥淏ut it鈥檚 stressful,鈥 he noted.
The tight timeline and small budget ($1,000 cash and a lot of industry favours) make these project challenging.
Pressures aside, Nelson insists their team will have the film turned in by Friday鈥檚 deadline, and he鈥檚 confident it will be a worthy contender.
鈥業 think it鈥檚 a great script which is the fundamental to any great story and ultimately any great film,鈥 Nelson said, noting that鈥檚 the case whether you have eight days or half a year to shoot a film.
鈥淚f you don鈥檛 have a great script, there鈥檚 really no use in making the movie,鈥 he added. 鈥淭his script is very strong.鈥
The competitive component of Crazy8s is actually already over, with the large number of entries previously whittled down from 228 original applicants, to 201 teams who pitched with four-minute videos, to the 42 semi-finalists selected, to 12 polished scripts submitted.
After lengthy review and 鈥渉eated debate,鈥 the jury selected the winners in early January and sent the six teams off to make their Crazy8s short film of the year.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e actually a winner by getting to make the film鈥 and being given a chance to show it at the upcoming screening gala, Nelson said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 meant to be kind of a diverse selection of what we鈥檙e capable of in Vancouver.鈥
The gala is happening Saturday evening, Feb. 24, at The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts (777 Homer St.) at 6 p.m., with an official after party to follow at Science World.
Last year, there were more than 1,750 people who attended the gala.
鈥淭o me, this is more of a celebration of Vancouver film, the film industry and the film talent we have here, and these six films are supposed to exemplify that,鈥 Nelson concluded. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to it.鈥
The Talbot鈥檚 Doritos commercial: