Written by new-contact on Feb 22, 2010. Posted in Production News

Canadian Molson beer ad films on frozen Spray Lake

A commercial for Canadian beer brand Molson has filmed scenes on a frozen lake near Calgary as part of the campaign’s aim to highlight the ruggedness of the country and its people.

Made From Canada was filmed by Circle Productions across the country, but the company chose Spray Lake - about an hour’s drive from Calgary - to film scenes from a frenetic ice hockey game.

Michel Korchinsky, a producer for Circle, said: “We had an engineer confirm that the lake was safe (the ice was three feet thick) and we walked to the lake from the side of the road using sleds to pull the equipment.”

He added that a small crew worked on the lake shoot and that the sleds were also used as makeshift dollies to get smooth camera shots on the ice. In addition to the sleds, the crew employed a skate rig that comprises a walker on skates fitted with a camera rig, a piece of equipment he says is widely used.

The producer concluded: “You do require a filming permit but no other safety permit was required - just an engineer’s okay on the ice safety.”

Credits
Client: Molson
Agency: zig, Toronto
Agency Producer: Dave Medlock
Production House: Circle Productions, Toronto
Executive Producer: Michel Korchinsky

Line Producer: Mike Gill
Creative Director: Aaron Starkman
Director: Bruce Dowad