Recently, Java Post Production produced a commercial for lmno and SaskTel featuring Saskatchewan Roughriders' head coach Corey Mace and offensive coordinator Marc Mueller. 

Directed by Stephen Hall, the commercial also features some video flashback appearances by a young Gene Makowsky and a young Jeremy O'Day, the Roughriders' current Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager.

In the final shot, not only is there a cameo appearance by our sound mixer/boom operator, Kyle Parkinson, but also Gainer the Gopher makes a special digital-only guest appearance.

Here are some behind-the-scenes photos.

The shooting day started very early, to capture sunrise shots of Coach Mace and Coach Mueller driving to Mosaic Stadium. As a major sponsor of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Capital Automotive Group generously provided us with a brand-new Cadillac Escalade EV for these driving shots. Much to Capital's relief (and even more to the relief of our producer, Randy Shumay) this wasn't the kind of commercial filled with car chases and explosions. 

While director Stephen Hall (left) watches his monitor and director of photography (DOP) Mike Maekelburger kneels to get the shot, we capture Coaches Mace and Mueller as they walk towards the stadium.

Coach Mace walks down the dressing room hallway, straight towards (left to right) director Stephen Hall, 1st camera assistant Graydon Eskowich, DOP Mike Maekelburger, and gaffer Ruben Rojas. 

The coaches are looking very sporty as they toss their jackets over their shoulders. 

Inside the Riders' main team meeting room, the crew gets the lighting and camera set for the shot. As you can see here, what appears like a simple shot in the finished commercial usually means a lot of complicated work behind the camera. 

Before he calls "action," director Stephen Hall explains the shot to Coach Mace and Coach Mueller.

In this image from the finished commercial, the two coaches look back over their shoulder towards the camera. The wide shot reveals our sound mixer/boom operator, Kyle Parkinson, standing off to the left of the shot.

Thanks to the talents of Java Post Production's visual effects (VFX) artist, Tomás Ibar, we were able to composite a digital Gainer into the scene.

At the end of a long and productive shooting day, producer Randy Shumay poses with offensive coordinator Marc Mueller (left) and head coach Corey Mace (right). 

Client: SaskTel

Agency: lmno

Producer: Randy Shumay

Director: Stephen Hall

Director of Photography: Mike Maekelburger

Line Producer/Assistant Director: Allan Roeher

Production Assistant: Giovanna Nabarrete

1st Assistant Camera: Graydon Eskowich

2nd Assistant Camera: Amy Hameluck

Sound Mixer/Boom Operator: Kyle Parkinson

Gaffer: Ruben Rojas

Key Grip: Shawn Stratychuk

Costume Designer: Joanna Vollhoffer

Hair/Makeup: Sarah Hegglin

Art Director: Jay Robertson

Stills Photographer: Adam Reiland

Stills Photographer Assistant: Raina Reiland

Editor: Stephen Hall

Colour Grading: Jack Tunnicliffe

Visual Effects: Tomás Ibar