Written by new-contact on Oct 14, 2011. Posted in Production News

VW gets airborne filming new Flyboy spot on location in Bangalore

Bangalore is the setting for vehicle manufacturer VW’s new commercial, Flyboy. In the spot a boy born with angel wings grows up to become a celebrity as a young adult. Facing a constant practicality issue with the huge wings, he finally cuts them off so he can fit into the new VW.

The production filmed in Bangalore to avoid the chaos of Mumbai and also for the city’s range of architecture, which gave some more eye-catching urban backdrops to the story as it unfolds over the boy’s life.

The Director wanted it to be based in India and for the texture and authenticity of locations and casting to come through. Bangalore is considerably more film-friendly than Mumbai.

Sam Long, Goodoil Films

Sam Long produced for Goodoil Films: “The Director wanted it to be based in India and for the texture and authenticity of locations and casting to come through. Bangalore is considerably more film-friendly than Mumbai (not that I've shot Mumbai, but I believe it after visiting both cities) and we could cover off more than one location a day.”

Filming in Bangalore also helped minimise the risk of being affected by India’s late summer monsoon season. Fitting rain days into the schedule would have been more of a headache.

Amitabh Bhattacharya executive produced the spot for Nomad Films India: “Bangalore had the right kind of architecture, as well as a school road that offered a good, wide-open space. Filming permissions were hard to get in time and movement around the city between shoot locations remained a challenge.”

A 75-foot crane was used to film a scene where the boy scores a goal in a local football match by flying above the pitch and volleying a cross. A stunt-man was rigged in a cable harness and hauled into the air to perform the kick. The wings were added in post-production.

Credits
Client: VW
Agency: DDB Mudra, Mumbai
Agency Producer: Michael Remedios
Production Companies: Goodoil Films, Sydney and Nomad Films, Mumbai
Producers: Sam Long, Amitabh Bhattacharya
Director of Photography: Crighton Bone
Director: Hamish Rothwell