Written by new-contact on Dec 9, 2010. Posted in Production News

Powerade films train-top sprint in Uruguay

Keen joggers might find their normal running route feels a bit dull from time to time. They’ve probably never considered jumping onto the local freight train to inject a bit of spice to their work-out. This is exactly what happens in the new commercial spot from Powerade, entitled Road to Endorphins.

Places like the Czech Republic and Argentina were considered as shoot locations, but the production settled on a stretch of railway in Tacuarembó, northern Uruguay, as it worked out cheaper. It also offered a more suitable tunnel for the spot’s finale. Nick Glendinning, of Blink Productions, said: “We needed to be able to control a decent stretch of railway for a week and we needed a steam engine with various different carriages. The Uruguayan rail network is largely abandoned by the state. This line is used for occasional freight trains but no longer takes passenger trains.”

The spot doesn’t have a specific setting, although the team wanted to create a classic Western feel without alienating the core South American audience by using a location that was too unfamiliar. Preparation was, as ever, the key to success, as the moving train made it difficult to rectify any problems.

Belen Turrin, of Pioneer Productions, said: “The main challenge was shooting on a moving train.

Belen Turrin, of Pioneer Productions, said: "The train had 11 wagons, each 22 metres long, so the set was 242 metres long with all the crew and equipment on the top of the moving train."

"Everything was on the train. It was a very complicated job because the rig structures had to be below a certain height. The train departed Tacuarembó station and it took us an hour to actually reach the tunnel, going through different areas full of wires and thick trees.”

A local businessman supplied the train, which he had bought from the state and was in the process of restoring. Unfortunately he ended up being more of a problem as he turned up six hours late on the first day of filming.

Train delivery problems aside, Glendinning was happy: “The crew were good. We worked with a great Art Director and a very good Grip. In all honesty though, I don’t think Uruguay is quite ready for technically complex shoots – one has to be prepared to bring in certain elements from elsewhere, such as stunts and complex grip equipment.”

Credits
Client: Powerade
Agency: Madre (Buenos Aires)
Production Companies: Blink Productions (London), Pioneer Productions (Buenos Aires)
Executive Producer: Pia Suarez
Producers: Maria Jose Garofalli, Nick Glendinning
Location Manager: Guillermo Mendez
Director of Photography: Lassie Frank
Director: Lynn Fox