The over-talented Lindsey Cohen is editing this project as we blog. I consider myself fortunate to have her, and look forward to seeing her work her post-production magic here.
-Vineet
Monday, February 15, 2010
Midnight Radio soundtrack to be used in Lola ad
The acoustic version of Future Troubles will be used as the music in this project. Cesar Arvizo's cheery guitar work coupled with Thenmozhi Soundarajan's timbreness will make you hit the replay button more often than you'd like to admit.
Stay tuned,
-Vineet
Stay tuned,
-Vineet
Friday, December 25, 2009
Lola Stills: 2 of 2
Art direction and set design by Sara Ruttinger
Location courtesy Thenmozhi
Location courtesy Stacy and Fred Cohen
Location courtesy Thenmozhi
Location courtesy Stacy and Fred Cohen
Lola Stills: 1 of 2
Here's set 1 of 2: stills from the shoot... Here's a very puzzled Annet trying to find her precious perfume bottle...
http://annetmahendru.com/
And introducing, Tank, the Tortoise!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Saturday Shoot Success! Thanks friends!
Hello friends,
The shoot today was a success! We got all the shots we wanted (save one... ={ ... ) and plenty of inserts to play with.
I couldn't have done it without my crew and talent.
Audrey, those storyboards were crisp and timely. Thanks for making sense of my stick figures. With your day job and the holiday season you made time for this project. I can't begin to express my gratitude... except in curry.
Hats off to Eli, my talented cinematographer, who made the best of whatever a finicky winter sunlight threw at us. It was a great first collaboration with you. Good call on the doorway dolly and the kinos.
Sarah pretty much crafted a new apartment out of the set! The one-woman art department is a powerhouse to reckon with. She brought with her a stamina and energy that only a seasoned set dresser could. That bottle vase was a cute last minute buy.
Lindsey, Cesar and Jacob: while the three of you were tired, ill, or both, you managed to volunteer on a holiday weekend. Every little bit counts - thanks for coming on set.
Thenmozhi and Daddy Dr-ji, I hope you like what I've done with the place. Kidding: thanks for being so accommodating and patient. We need to have dinner again soon.
Mudit Mudit - I've never had this much fun driving a Jeep, without which the equipment would've never reached the set. Casting with you was fun and memorable. Wish you could have come to Wooden Nickel with me. Come to think of it, I'm typing this on your laptop, while you sit in front of me. Hello.
Mr. and Mrs. Cohen - you're house is as lovely as you two, and now all the ad agencies/fashion houses in town will know! Thanks for letting me shoot in your lovely porch. I'll bring the vases back Sunday night.
Genieve - those roomy cushions made the sofa shot. Adds a splash of much needed color. And once again your music video looks stellar.
Blake! Our encounters and resultant conversations over the years have been as varied and eclectic as... you... Thanks for the last minute show up. The whole time you were there I thought of Sor Juana... and you. We still on for Tuesday?
Though Lola is not the most maneuverable puppet, Rachel Appelbaum made that bottle dance. More commendable is the fact that she came on set during a terribly tedious week. Kudos to you, fellow curly.
Annet. I'm glad you came through - flying in from Arizona, driving up from San Diego, and being so cool with our crazy set. As the star of the show, you made the shots. You'll see what I mean when we cut it...
Tank and his mistress, Aparna, for letting me use the cutest tortoise east of La Brea in the video. I think Tank slept through it. Can anyone confirm?
And Rachel DeYoung. I don't think any of this could have happened without you. From keeping things real on set and us on time, and all the way back when you introduced me to Eli and Sarah - I don't think I could have done any of this without your love and support. Period. Thanks for saving the pizza. And the dishes. Yes, I noticed. I'm glad your Belize poster got the necessary attention.
Thank you all so very much.
Happy Holidays.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Thank you for coming!
Hello all,
Thank you for auditioning these past few days! Callbacks will be this week. If we want you for this ad, you'll hear from me.
I have your audition tapes on file. I'll be passing this up to some friends of mine, and for other projects we're doing this winter.
Happy holidays,
Vineet
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Lola Spec Ad FINAL AUDITION (tomorrow) this Sunday, Dec 13th, 4-8pm, USC's Taper Hall
Hello Talent! Happy Weekend!
***SCROLL DOWN TO OLDER POST FOR MAP OR CLICK HERE***
As the heading above says, the FINAL AUDITION for the Lola spec ad is tomorrow, Sunday, Dec 13th, 4pm-8pm at USC's Taper Hall.
The casting director will be there. I'll be in and out.
If you came last Sunday (Dec 6th) or this past Wednesday (Dec 9th), then DO NOT COME TOMORROW! This is the third and final audition round, NOT CALLBACKS! Please come if you haven't already. And pretty please check the blog before you come, ton of new stuff on it, including the map (scroll down to an older posting to see it).
WILL HAVE LATEST UPDATES. I've posted acting details on what I'm looking for, and exactly what you will be doing. MUST READ THEM! I will judge... Some of you work on Sunday. If you want to come and the timing doesn't suit you, email back so we can figure something out, perhaps earlier or later on Sunday.
Thanks,
Vineet
818-641-9117
p.s. free street parking on Sunday on Jefferson.
***SCROLL DOWN TO OLDER POST FOR MAP OR CLICK HERE***
As the heading above says, the FINAL AUDITION for the Lola spec ad is tomorrow, Sunday, Dec 13th, 4pm-8pm at USC's Taper Hall.
The casting director will be there. I'll be in and out.
If you came last Sunday (Dec 6th) or this past Wednesday (Dec 9th), then DO NOT COME TOMORROW! This is the third and final audition round, NOT CALLBACKS! Please come if you haven't already. And pretty please check the blog before you come, ton of new stuff on it, including the map (scroll down to an older posting to see it).
WILL HAVE LATEST UPDATES. I've posted acting details on what I'm looking for, and exactly what you will be doing. MUST READ THEM! I will judge... Some of you work on Sunday. If you want to come and the timing doesn't suit you, email back so we can figure something out, perhaps earlier or later on Sunday.
Thanks,
Vineet
818-641-9117
p.s. free street parking on Sunday on Jefferson.
Quick notes on Lola from the people who made it
No, not Marc Jacobs. He's a fashion designer, not a perfumer. The perfumers Calice and Yann are the creators of Lola. Pulled from their website:
+++
IN 1985, CALICE BEGAN HER TRAINING TO BECOME A PERFUMER AT ROURE, BASED IN THE HEART OF PERFUMERY: GRASSE, FRANCE. THERE, SHE DEVELOPED HER SENSE OF SMELL, HER KNOWLEDGE OF THE HUNDREDS OF INGREDIENTS USED AND THE TRUE ARTISTRY BEHIND CREATING A PERFUME.
CALICE INTERTWINES ALL OF HER EMOTIONS AND EXPLORES THE MAGIC THAT EMERGES WHEN THEY ALL BLEND TOGETHER, INSTEAD OF CRAFTING A CLASSIC CONSTRUCTION AS ONE WOULD NORMALLY DO IN PERFUME-MAKING.
LOLA IS WHAT 'SEXY' MEANS TO THE MARC JACOBS' WOMAN. SHE IS CONFIDENT, EFFORTLESSLY CHIC AND MODERN BUT WITH A VINTAGE TWIST. FROM THAT, I WAS INSPIRED TO CREATE A FEELING TO REFLECT THE COLOR VIOLET, A VERY SATURATED, RICH, WARM COLOR WHICH SYMBOLIZES THE ULTIMATE COLOR OF FEMININITY.I WANTED THE PERFUME TO CONVEY THE SAME INTENSITY AND VIBRANCY OF THIS JEWEL-LIKE VIOLET, WHICH IS FUN, SEXY YET STILL ELEGANT, JUST LIKE LOLA."
+++
BORN IN BRITTANY, FRANCE, YANN TRAINED AS A PERFUMER AT ISIPCA, THE PRESTIGIOUS VERSAILLES SCHOOL OF PERFUMERY WHERE HE GRADUATED VALEDICTORIAN IN 1999. IN 2001, YANN WAS THE RECIPIENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL YOUNG PERFUMER AWARD.
YANN DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM FASHION, ART, TRAVEL, NIGHTLIFE, ELECTRONIC MUSIC, POP CULTURE AND CONTEMPORARY DESIGN.
"I WANTED TO ADD A SPARKLING WINK TO THE HEART OF THE PERFUME BECAUSE LOLA IS THAT MARC JACOBS' GIRL AT THE PARTY--EVERYONE WANTS TO BE AROUND HER AND WANTS TO MAKE HER LAUGH. SHE'S CUTE, FUN AND DEFINITELY A FLIRT SO ADDING THE PLAYFUL POLISH TO THE PERFUME WAS IMPORTANT. ALONG WITH A LITTLE BIT OF THE PARTY!"
+++
And now you know.
-V
+++
IN 1985, CALICE BEGAN HER TRAINING TO BECOME A PERFUMER AT ROURE, BASED IN THE HEART OF PERFUMERY: GRASSE, FRANCE. THERE, SHE DEVELOPED HER SENSE OF SMELL, HER KNOWLEDGE OF THE HUNDREDS OF INGREDIENTS USED AND THE TRUE ARTISTRY BEHIND CREATING A PERFUME.
CALICE INTERTWINES ALL OF HER EMOTIONS AND EXPLORES THE MAGIC THAT EMERGES WHEN THEY ALL BLEND TOGETHER, INSTEAD OF CRAFTING A CLASSIC CONSTRUCTION AS ONE WOULD NORMALLY DO IN PERFUME-MAKING.
LOLA IS WHAT 'SEXY' MEANS TO THE MARC JACOBS' WOMAN. SHE IS CONFIDENT, EFFORTLESSLY CHIC AND MODERN BUT WITH A VINTAGE TWIST. FROM THAT, I WAS INSPIRED TO CREATE A FEELING TO REFLECT THE COLOR VIOLET, A VERY SATURATED, RICH, WARM COLOR WHICH SYMBOLIZES THE ULTIMATE COLOR OF FEMININITY.I WANTED THE PERFUME TO CONVEY THE SAME INTENSITY AND VIBRANCY OF THIS JEWEL-LIKE VIOLET, WHICH IS FUN, SEXY YET STILL ELEGANT, JUST LIKE LOLA."
+++
BORN IN BRITTANY, FRANCE, YANN TRAINED AS A PERFUMER AT ISIPCA, THE PRESTIGIOUS VERSAILLES SCHOOL OF PERFUMERY WHERE HE GRADUATED VALEDICTORIAN IN 1999. IN 2001, YANN WAS THE RECIPIENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL YOUNG PERFUMER AWARD.
YANN DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM FASHION, ART, TRAVEL, NIGHTLIFE, ELECTRONIC MUSIC, POP CULTURE AND CONTEMPORARY DESIGN.
"I WANTED TO ADD A SPARKLING WINK TO THE HEART OF THE PERFUME BECAUSE LOLA IS THAT MARC JACOBS' GIRL AT THE PARTY--EVERYONE WANTS TO BE AROUND HER AND WANTS TO MAKE HER LAUGH. SHE'S CUTE, FUN AND DEFINITELY A FLIRT SO ADDING THE PLAYFUL POLISH TO THE PERFUME WAS IMPORTANT. ALONG WITH A LITTLE BIT OF THE PARTY!"
+++
And now you know.
-V
Acting tips: MUST READ
For those of you who are yet to audition...
I am looking for some very specific facial expressions. And though it is a 30 second ad, there is an emotional arc. Since there is no dialogue, your facial expressions, body language and gesticulations will do all the acting.
Here we go:
The ad starts off in her bedroom. She is looking for Lola, and she can't find it. She gingerly goes through her clothes, getting impatient with every look, a little frustrated. And her face shows it. Her body shows it less, but her hands are working overtime. Three different speeds on the same person. Her body is bent over the bed delicately. Not obscenely as if she's resting her weight on the bed, and her butt is sticking out only a little to accommodate her posture. CHARACTER NOTE: In her mid-twenties, her brief maturing and independence has brought about a sense of reserve, calm and gentility which most women in her class would experience years later.
She looks up and stares blankly at the wall in front of her, wondering where her bottle went ("Hmm... Where did that bottle go?"). A tap on the window breaks her trance-like concentration and she gently cocks her head and turns her eyes towards the direction of the sound, very subtly. The camera zooms in on the bottle of Lola outside the window. She turns around and is pleasantly surprised ("What are you doing there? How did you get outside?")
She rushes out to find and confront her bottle. She opens the door, looks left and right quickly, runs/sprints for about 10 feet before she stops short and looks around, wondering where that bottle went and whether it's playing a trick on her. SIMILAR to someone who is holed up in a wooden cabin in the snow hearing a sound at the front door, and thinking it is their partner out there rushes out to greet them, only to find nothing, and bears a face of instant confusion.
She hears a sound at the door behind her, and turns to see - Lola! At the doorway, it has been discovered by her mistress! At this point the dynamic is set: Lola is the small pet, the favored accessory, the teacup puppy that runs around and has to be caught. Our actress is its mistress.
Her body and face turn around. Her body does a 135-degree turn, so that she is standing diagonal to the door. This is so that we can shoot her shoulder falling on her hair. Her head turns a full 180-degree, facing the door flatly at no angle. She then makes a face that is a mix of condescending scorn ("You troublemaker... Making me worry") and playful approval ("Now I found you! You mischief-maker..."). Her head rocks a alittle back during the second part of this action.
Cut to Lola scooting back into the house.
Cut to actress: She lunges at the bottle, past the camera, and is now on her hands and knees. She goes through the doorway. In the cut after, she is seen on her hands and knees, looking around ("Where did you go? I JUST saw you? You couldn't be far... Where did you go???") When she hears the pitter-patter of tiny movement across to her left. She can't see the bottle but she can hear its confirming presence. She glances up and fixes her stare at the source of the sound. A small snicker of a smile forms in place of the hectic searching ("Now I've found you...muahaha").
scene: She is going through a bookshelf, trying to find Lola, which she's sure is hiding behind the books. She thinks she just saw it's shadow, but when she removes the books and looks back there she sees nothing. She is confused. Is she chasing a ghost? This can't be that hard...
The order in the storyboard I emailed is d,c,b. Have a look.
Come prepared!
Best,
Vineet
I am looking for some very specific facial expressions. And though it is a 30 second ad, there is an emotional arc. Since there is no dialogue, your facial expressions, body language and gesticulations will do all the acting.
Here we go:
The ad starts off in her bedroom. She is looking for Lola, and she can't find it. She gingerly goes through her clothes, getting impatient with every look, a little frustrated. And her face shows it. Her body shows it less, but her hands are working overtime. Three different speeds on the same person. Her body is bent over the bed delicately. Not obscenely as if she's resting her weight on the bed, and her butt is sticking out only a little to accommodate her posture. CHARACTER NOTE: In her mid-twenties, her brief maturing and independence has brought about a sense of reserve, calm and gentility which most women in her class would experience years later.
She looks up and stares blankly at the wall in front of her, wondering where her bottle went ("Hmm... Where did that bottle go?"). A tap on the window breaks her trance-like concentration and she gently cocks her head and turns her eyes towards the direction of the sound, very subtly. The camera zooms in on the bottle of Lola outside the window. She turns around and is pleasantly surprised ("What are you doing there? How did you get outside?")
She rushes out to find and confront her bottle. She opens the door, looks left and right quickly, runs/sprints for about 10 feet before she stops short and looks around, wondering where that bottle went and whether it's playing a trick on her. SIMILAR to someone who is holed up in a wooden cabin in the snow hearing a sound at the front door, and thinking it is their partner out there rushes out to greet them, only to find nothing, and bears a face of instant confusion.
She hears a sound at the door behind her, and turns to see - Lola! At the doorway, it has been discovered by her mistress! At this point the dynamic is set: Lola is the small pet, the favored accessory, the teacup puppy that runs around and has to be caught. Our actress is its mistress.
Her body and face turn around. Her body does a 135-degree turn, so that she is standing diagonal to the door. This is so that we can shoot her shoulder falling on her hair. Her head turns a full 180-degree, facing the door flatly at no angle. She then makes a face that is a mix of condescending scorn ("You troublemaker... Making me worry") and playful approval ("Now I found you! You mischief-maker..."). Her head rocks a alittle back during the second part of this action.
Cut to Lola scooting back into the house.
Cut to actress: She lunges at the bottle, past the camera, and is now on her hands and knees. She goes through the doorway. In the cut after, she is seen on her hands and knees, looking around ("Where did you go? I JUST saw you? You couldn't be far... Where did you go???") When she hears the pitter-patter of tiny movement across to her left. She can't see the bottle but she can hear its confirming presence. She glances up and fixes her stare at the source of the sound. A small snicker of a smile forms in place of the hectic searching ("Now I've found you...muahaha").
scene: She is going through a bookshelf, trying to find Lola, which she's sure is hiding behind the books. She thinks she just saw it's shadow, but when she removes the books and looks back there she sees nothing. She is confused. Is she chasing a ghost? This can't be that hard...
The order in the storyboard I emailed is d,c,b. Have a look.
Come prepared!
Best,
Vineet
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Auditions Round 2: Wednesday from 6pm-10pm, Taper Hall, USC
Hello Talent!
The second round of auditions will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, December 9th, from 6pm - 10pm at the same location, USC's Taper Hall. Room number 121. See link below and map above (Taper Hall in red circle).
Again, dress to impress - preferably in the Lola color palette - with a little hair and makeup. Look your best!
I strongly encourage everyone interested to try to make it out tomorrow. Taper Hall closes at 10 so that's the latest we will be there for (myself and the casting director).
Again, check the blog for updates before you head over.
Here are those links again:
http://christinehahnphoto.com/ (general look/feel of the ad... the photographer is a friend of mine)
http://lolamarcjacobs.com/ official website for the fragrance.
(Please don't show up not knowing what this is! Yes, it's happened with someone.)
Call if you need directions, can't find the room (it's the southern-most room in the hall, 1st floor), have styling questions, etc.
My number is 818-641-9117
Good luck, and thank you for your interest and enthusiasm!
Stay warm,
Vineet
Rough Storyboards for your viewing: Emailed
Talent and crew,
I have emailed the rough storyboards for the spec ad to you. The talented Audrey P. is furnishing professional ones as I type this, which I will post in a few days. For the meantime, have a look. if you didn't get it, let me know and I will email it again.
-Vineet
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Valentino screening before audition on Sunday
The cinema school is screening the new documentary on Valentino, aptly titled Valentino, The Last Emperor. A Q&A session with the director, who is a Vanity Fair Editor, will follow.
Screening starts at 1pm. I will be attending, of course. This is a free and open screening, and all of you are welcome. There is a RSVP, though, that accepts until the last minute. I do advise RSVPing:
Click on the links for more about the film and where the Ray Stark Theatre is, and how to get there (it is in the New Cinema School).
This is the reason why auditions start at 4pm this Sunday.
So come early, enjoy a great film, meet the director (who is a personality in his own right, not to mention a Vanity Fair writer), and audition for the role.
See you Sunday,
Vineet
Friday, December 4, 2009
USC Audition Map: Location Taper Hall; Parking
Hi folks,
So the audition will be located in USC's Taper Hall, which is highlighted here in a big pink circle. You can click on the map and print it, too.
Room numbers to be determined. Check back Sunday morning.
I'm sure we're all tech savvy here and can map our way to USC.
Here's a link of USC map, embedded in Google Maps. Rather Handy:
Parking: Being a Sunday, street parking should not be a problem. There should be plenty of parking around. If not, there's parking at USC for $8, which is extremely convenient and pricey. There's parking in the residential area north of USC, a five-ten minute walk from Taper Hall.
Email sent to talent
Hello Talent,
Good evening! I'm Vineet Sinha, the director of the Lola perfume spec ad.
Firstly, thank you for applying. Those on this mailing list have been spooled from a submission pool of over 400, an overwhelming response, and it took me a while to narrow it down to about 35. Congratulations!
AUDITION DETAILS:
Sunday, Dec 13th, 2009, from 4-9pm
Taper Hall, USC, Los Angeles, CA, 90089
Here what happens next:
1. If you are no longer interested, thank you for our time and I will take you off the mailing list. If you cannot make it on Sunday, please let me know. I will accommodate accordingly. Again, I really want all of you to audition: you're a handpicked bunch.
2. If you can make it, PLEASE CONFIRM! Send an email back with 'your name' followed by 'CONFIRMED SUNDAY 4pm' in the subject heading. So the email reads something like: "Jaine Fischer CONFIRMED SUNDAY 4pm". That's all. That way I can schedule you in. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!
3. How to look: Your best! This is a high fashion perfume ad. So look as stunning as you can, without being overdone. Please arrive in a solid, dignified, not too revealing dress. Something that works with Lola's color scheme. Acceptable colors are black, white, purple, deep blue, green, dark pink, magenta, etc. I'm guessing most here are fans of the perfume, and Marc Jacobs in general. If not have a look here:
4. Model/Actress: Some of you have extensive modelling experience. Others not so much. I would suggest looking at the website of my friend for a general feel of the product, mood, and look I'm going for:
5. Very Useful Link: I have started a blog that details what's going on with the ad:
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LINK HERE!!! I will post later tonight all relevant information here, including the USC map which details where we will be hosting audition on Sunday.
SUPER IMPORTANT: Do check it before you leave for USC on Sunday for last minute updates, if something comes up, I cannot call all of you!
Thanks all. I look forward to this audition.
Good luck,
Vineet
Project Details
Project: Spec ad for perfume.
Duration: 30 second; 15 second
Story: Girl is looking for her bottle of perfume, which is playing hide and seek with her. It is hiding and leading her to seek it behind bookcases, outdoors, in her bedroom, etc. She can't find it!
Casting: Actress: Brunette/Dark haired female 16 to look older. Any ethnicity Model-type. Auditions and callbacks in progress.
Storyboard: Storyboarding, sequencing and rough sketches done. Final draft to be provided by Audrey Posl Wednesday.
Shooting dates: December 12, 13 (Saturday, Sunday). Daylight exterior and interior.
Location(s): Thenmozhi's house (Wilshire area, Los Angeles).
VO/ADR/Dialogue/Music: Only music, Latin Jazz similar to Henry Belafonte, etc... no foley... Something springy and spritzy.
Color temperature: Lower, warmer color temperature.
Crew (Tentative):
AD(s): Lindsey Cohen
Camera Op: Shane Gill
KeyGrip: Rachel DeYoung
Director: Vineet Sinha
Storyboard: Audrey Posl
Gaffer: Amy ThurlowCinematographer: Elias Goldstein http://www.goldenagecinema.com/
Props & Production: List being populated.
Hello everyone! Thaks for being a part of this project
This is the blog/temporary webpresence of the spec ad, Lola by Marc Jacobs.
Make sure to check this blog before you call me, head out to audition/set, and so on. If this site cannot answer your question, shoot me an email and I will respond super fast. Texting is also good. Call me only in emergencies or if you're completely lost. Thanks!
Make sure you check out the posting tab.
Thanks all,
Looking forward to seeing this through,
Vineet Sinha
818-641-9117
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