Written by new-contact on Mar 1, 2011. Posted in Production News

Coca-Cola films comedy border spot on location in Morocco

Coca-Cola has ventured into the Moroccan desert for its latest commercial. Border shows two dedicated patrol officers guarding each side of a remote border outpost. They carefully share a bottle of coke as the desert heat takes its toll.

The spot has a vaguely 1920s feel to it due to the costumes, but the production intended a timeless, Tintin-esque tone. Erika Madison, a Producer with Wieden & Kennedy, said: “We considered filming outside Los Angeles in the Palmdale region, but ultimately chose Morocco for its access to international talent, to further enhance the international, unidentifiable and timeless look of the spot.”

Adam Hashemi, the Director, said: “[We filmed] in Morocco near Ouarzazate, a desert/mountain area where a lot of films have been shot, such as Gladiator, Babel and Kingdom of Heaven. We chose the location to find something that didn’t look too much like America. Also, my ulterior motive was to shoot near Europe in order to get the cast that I wanted for the spot.”

Morocco in December is generally dry and sunny, but it rained every day during the shoot. In the afternoon, winds would blow at 30-40 mph. We spent a lot of time in tents waiting out the weather.

Filming took place in December and unseasonal bad weather was an issue throughout the shoot. Madison said: “Morocco in December is generally dry and sunny, but it rained every day during the shoot. In the afternoon, winds would blow at 30-40 mph. We spent a lot of time in tents waiting out the weather.”

Moroccan tiles were bought from a local Marrakech market for the border set and the production built the huts in the desert themselves.

Credits
Client: Coca-Cola
Agency: Wieden & Kennedy
Producer: Erika Madison
Production Company: Furlined
Production Service Company: Dune Films, Morocco
Director: Adam Hashemi

Images courtesy of Eriks Crumins, VP of Furlined