Written by David Lewis on Jul 29, 2009. Posted in Production News

Wrigleys choose South Africa

USA based production house MJZ, director Craig Gillespie, and BBDO Chicago have just finished shooting two commercials in South Africa with Ola! Films. The campaign is the latest quirky offering from Wrigley’s Orbit Gum.

Although not traditionally positioned as a service company, Ola! Films won the pitch on the Orbit commercials thanks to Executive Producer Olivia Leitch who lived in the USA for 10 years and knows the international market well. Leitch said: “Working on a project of this scale with a globally acclaimed production house was a great scoop for Ola! Films, plus its just fun to work with some decent budgets that allow for big set designs, SFX, animatronics, live penguins and some beautiful aerials along our coastline."

The script was pitched out across three continents; South America, Europe and Africa; with Ola! Films bagging the job for Cape Town thanks to some ingenious location and prop scouting, including the discovery of the ideal boat, which had to represent a floating Naval laboratory from the 70’s.

Leitch continues: “There were some bedraggled seamen casually hanging around or having to deliver their lines as the walls started cracking up or the pipes sprung leaks around them! We definitely caused a bit of drama and created quite a stir - despite a big budget Hollywood Clint Eastwood film being shot simultaneously in the same city!”