2010 Formula Drift Round 3 – Falken Tire Team video
We just wrapped up this piece for the Falken Tire Drift Team. I think you can smell the Rubber…
Ken Block goes to FORD!
Ken Block goes to FORD!
Introducing the Monster World Rally Team—Ken Block goes global in a Ford.
January 6, 2010—Brooklyn, NY—Ken Block is off to race in the FIA 2010 World Rally Championship as part of the newly formed Monster World Rally Team. Block will continue to compete in the Rally America national series, as well as in X-Games XVI. And he’s doing it all in a Ford!
Block’s entry into the WRC is history in the making. He will be the first American to campaign the world stages as part of a multi-year program. In 2010, Block will compete in select rounds of the championship with an emphasis on developing his ability for a successful future in the WRC. “Racing in the World Rally Championship has always been a dream of mine but I’d still be dreaming if I promised podiums in the near future,” says Block. “I will be going head-to head with the greatest drivers on the planet. And sure, I will be giving it my all but my main objective for 2010 is to develop into a competitive driver for 2011 and beyond.”
The Monster World Rally Team developed as a result of Ken Block’s relationship with the energy drink company. “A radically extreme form of motorsport with supremely talented drivers who compete on gravel, asphalt, snow and ice really mirrors everything we are about,” says Monster Energy President Mark Hall. “For that reason Monster Energy is pleased to join Ken Block in the formation of the Monster Energy World Rally Team. Not only is Ken a cult hero to our consumers through his gymkhana videos and other stunts, the fact that he will be the first American racer to compete in the 38-year history of the World Rally Championship is truly impressive. Factoring in that Ken will be chasing the 2010 Rally America Championship Series, a Gold Medal at X Games XVI while continuing to scheme-up new videos and mind-altering stunts, Monster couldn’t have a finer ambassador in our new venture into rally.”
In a partnership with Monster Energy, the team is also bolstered by Ford—a brand Block feels at home in. “I am stoked to be rallying in a Ford,” says Block. “They are an impressive force in the sport. From the days of the 1970s Escorts to the Group B RS200, to the modern-day Focus and now the Fiesta, Ford has an excellent history within rally. I couldn’t be happier to be part of this amazing heritage. Not to mention my dad would be proud. He was a true Ford guy.”
For the WRC, Block will be racing in a Focus RS prepared by M-Sport, the company responsible for handling all of Ford’s World Rally efforts. M-Sport’s Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson, who played a large role in ushering Block into the WRC, had this to say: “It is great news that Ken will be joining the WRC and even better that it will be with Ford! Ken has been instrumental in elevating the public awareness of rallying throughout the world with his multimedia exploits, particularly in the U.S. which is a key global market and an area where WRC has yet to reach its full potential. Ken’s appearance in the WRC and his desire to compete toe-to-toe at the highest level is indicative of the determination and drive that he has exhibited in all areas of his life to date—be it in business or personal targets. Ken is a colorful character with a huge international fan base and his decision to appear in the WRC is warmly welcomed.”
In the United States, Ken will be racing both the Rally America Championship and X Games in the all-new Ford Fiesta, prepared by Olsbergs MSE. “We are excited to partner with Ken as we launch the Ford Fiesta in the United States in 2010 and showcase the Fiesta’s performance and fun-to-drive capabilities,” says Jamie Allison, Director of Ford North America Motorsports. “Rally racing has always played a key role in the global motorsports strategy for Ford Motor Company.”
In addition, the skateboard footwear company Block co-founded, DC Shoes, will also support the team, along with the popular video game title, Dirt2, in which Block had a starring role. Castrol Edge is providing support for the team as well.
More news about the team and a detailed schedule of races and events will be available soon at monsterworldrallyteam.com. For now, head on over to the site for an interactive version of this press release and the premiere of the Monster World Rally Team Launch commercial.
About Ken Block:
Ken Block’s rally career began in 2005. His skill and car control became quickly apparent and Block aptly nabbed Rookie of the Year in the Rally America Championship. Since then, Block has continued to race in the series, boasting a healthy number of podium appearances, as well as X Games medals. In addition to his performance in the car, Block has been a driving force in shedding light on the sport within the United States. Block co-founded DC Shoes, a worldwide leader in performance skateboarding shoes and a renowned action sports brand. His keen branding and marketing acumen not only elevated DC to their current eminent status, but has allowed Block to achieve global fame as a national rally driver through his wildly successful viral video campaigns. Ad Age named his “Gymkhana TWO” the No. 4 Viral Video of 2009.
About Monster World Rally Team:
Created and assembled by Ken Block, the object of the Monster World Rally Team is to redefine the race-team archetype. The team is driven not only to win, but to also market motorsport through innovative, creative and interactive ways. The goal: To become the best known team in the WRC and bring rally to the masses along the way.
Ken Block and BJ Baldwin at Baja 300 Powerdays!
Timelapses
Mike has been busy working on some spectacular timelapse shots for Bajaflo 4.
Check it out!
Summer 2009 Time Lapses from Mike Flores on Vimeo.
Mad Media Joins the RED Revolution – Purchases RED ONE #6783
Mad Media has just joined the ranks of the nearly seven thousand cinematographers, producers, directors, rental houses, and camera junkies that have embraced the RED ONE by Red.com, INC. Heralded as a groundbreaking acquisition format since it first shipped, the RED camera has redefined the playing field for filmmakers who want the same tools that working Hollywood professionals use, without the extremely expensive point of entry.
Mad Media’s directing and producing team, The Martelli Brothers, are no strangers to the RED and it’s ability to deliver next-level results. “We began experimenting with the cameras as soon as they became available and were blown away by the results from the get go.” commented Creative Director Matt Martelli. “But we also realized, that like every camera, the RED has strengths and weaknesses. It’s not a very lightweight set-up, and at the time it was released there were some initial issues with the firmware. We waited patiently for the right film to really put the RED through its paces, and that happened this summer with the Gymkhana Two project.”
Mad Media produced the most successful automotive viral film ever this year, with the help of some astounding driving by Ken Block, the use of two RED cameras, and a compliment of traditional HD gear.
“It definitely pushed us to a whole new level of production.” said Joshua Martelli, Director of TV / Film Production and Director of the Gymkhana Two film. “We needed to shoot between eight and ten set-ups a day to stay on track with the shoot, including major FX shots as well as product shots for DC Shoes. So we had to make very quick decisions about position, light, focus, framing, the orientation of the car, when to dump footage, etc… But in the end it went very smoothly and we were able to review proxies in the RV with Ken and the other folks involved almost immediately after each shot. That was incredible. In fact it fired everyone up as we progressed through the shoot because we knew we were getting great stuff.”
Mad Media’s purchase of the RED camera is recognition that many of their current and emerging clients not only understand the benefits of RED 4K (or more) acquisition, but are requesting it for key projects. “We have several commercial projects in production, and some ridiculous viral films in pre-production at the moment. So it just made sense to bring one in house. And believe me as soon as the Epic becomes available that will be in our hands too. If you consider that cinematography is really just painting with light, than cameras are our paintbrushes. The RED allows for some spectacularly broad strokes when shooting.” commented Joshua. “Not all of our shoots are appropriate for RED. But with seven different acquisition formats in-house, including multiple Panasonic P2 cameras, a Canon 5D Mark II, and a barrage of Sony HD POV systems, we can cover just about any situation thrown at us. And that level of coverage is one way we can guarantee our clients the results they demand.”
Gymkhana 2 is The Number One Viral Video in the Country!
The Number One Viral Video in the Country! Need we say more!
Media Provides HD Cinematography for Harley Davidson H-D INK Clothing Spot
Media Provides HD Cinematography for Harley Davidson’s H-D INK Clothing Spot
Earlier this summer Mad Media cinematographers provided principal photography for a Harley Davidson commercial highlighting their new clothing line, dubbed “H-D INK”. Shot on location in Los Angeles, the Mad Media crew worked directly with Harley’s advertising agency Carmichael Lynch to develop and document the viral ad that showcases Harley’s new brand of apparel. The H-D INK clothing line features art inked by tattoo master from around the world, and is designed to appeal to both young and old.
“We’ve worked with Carmichael Lynch on a number of campaigns, including the Subaru WRX spots we shot this year, so it was great to get the call to assist with photography on the new Harley H-D Ink campaign. This particular product line, as well as the new Harley bikes that are tailored for the younger 18-35 demographic, fit our style of creative production work particularly well.” commented Joshua Martelli, Director of TV/Film Production at Mad Media. “Our job was to produce a good collection of authentic night-life images that could be tied together in post, as well as capture some of the scenic settings that LA affords.”
Mad Media opted for the portability, ease of use, and off-speed shooting capabilities of the Panasonic HPX500 cameras for the shoot. “It was important for us to be able to move quickly through each set-up and work both hand-held and on sticks, because we had a tight schedule and needed both interior and exterior shots.” said Milan Spasic, Mad Media’s DP for the shoot. “We used a lot of radical focus pulls, whip pans, and quick pushes/pulls so that the kinetic energy of the night-life scene would be accurately portrayed. It was basically a more seasoned and professional ‘shakey cam’ feeling combined with attention to the product, and Carmichael did a great job of following through on the post side to execute the final creative look.”
The new H-D Ink video went live on Harley’s site mid-summer, and is integrated into a beautifully crafted Flash based website that also features a photo gallery of the new product line and links to shop for H-D Ink products.
Mad Media Produces “GK2.1″ with MTV’s Fantasy Factory and Rob Dyrdek / Ken Block
NEW VIDEO: Mad Media Produces “GK2.1” with MTV’s Fantasy Factory and Rob Dyrdek / Ken Block
The Gymkhana project has become the most successful automotive viral film campaign in history. So where do you go from there? Some would think bigger, but DC Co-Founder and Rally Team Member Ken Block teamed up with Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory and Mad Media, and went…smaller! Gymkhana 2.1 is a funny new video segment that was shot, directed, co-produced, and co-edited by Mad Media for MTV’s Fantasy Factory show and DC Shoes. It features longtime buddies Block and Dyrdek charging around a Gymkhana course side-by-side—Block in his Crawford Performance built Subaru Impreza WRX STI, Dyrdek in his mini shifter kart version of Blocks machine.
Gymkhana 2.1 showcases the same high-end cinematography that has become the hallmark of Mad Media film production, and was used in previous installments of Block’s Gymkhana videos. Dyrdek and Block brought the Mad Media film crew to El Toro Airfield to produce the piece, while the MTV crew documented the “reality” angle as it unfolded.
“Ken and Rob decided to get the kart built and film the clip when Rob made an appearance in the Gymkhana TWO video earlier this year.” said GK 2.1 director and Mad Media co-owner Joshua Martelli. “We were stoked to get a call from Rob and the crew at MTV to come out and use the same techniques and camera gear to create something totally hilarious, but equally cool to watch. We fleshed out the stunts onsite and created the main story edit. It was a blast to work with two super talented guys and come up with stunts that were scary but funny to watch.”
The complete version of Gymkhana 2.1 features more than what’s seen on Dyrdek’s hit MTV show, including near run-overs, drifting, racing and shenanigans that occur when two unique individuals like Dyrdek and Block hit the tarmac in polar-opposite-sized whips.To date, the clip has received over a million views on YouTube.
Watch the video here:
Check out the behind the scenes photo gallery here:
Mad Media goes to X Games 15
We made the trip to X Games 15 this weekend to catch some of rally’s premier racers battle for gold including Subaru Rally Team U.S.A.’s Ken Block, Travis Pastrana and Dave Mirra. Kenny Brack, former IRL and Indy 500 champion, took the gold after a rough day for Team Subaru. Travis Pastrana battled with Brack in the final race, but on the final lap, Travis crashed into the wall, leaving him with a silver medal. Ken Block was disqualified after a mechanical issue forced him to skip the jump and cross FMXer Brian Deegan’s track in the quarterfinal. Dave Mirra was also defeated in the quarterfinal by gold-winner and underdog Kenny Brack. Though it was a disappointing day for our favorite, Team Subaru, it was still a great day of racing at X Games 15 and we can’t wait to get back next year!
Mad Media geht nach Deutschland! (Mad Media goes to Germany!)
We traveled across the sea to film the first annual Baja 300 Powerdays. The event was an invitation-only exhibition race in the Lausitz region of Germany, just outside of Berlin. The SCORE International sanctioned event organized by SCORE racer and former WRC driver Armin Schwarz featured world-class drivers from off-road racing, rally, enduro motocross and freestyle motocross all on one track together.
Baja 300 Powerdays marked the first time Trophy Trucks and Class 1 cars have ever been on European soil. The event was also the first time in history that off-road and rally cars competed in the same venue.
Off-road Competitors included BJ Baldwin, Jesse James, Gustavo Vildósola, and Danny Sullivan in the Trophy Truck class and Armin Schwarz, Armin Kremer, Martin Christensen and Andreas Aigner in the Class 1 buggies. The rally class consisted of rally legends Petter Solberg, Gigi Galli, Ken Block and Nasser Al-Attiyah. Motocross featured Dakar champion Cyril Despres along with numerous other enduro racers and freestyle motocross riders.
The track was composed of separate lines for each class within the same course. At three separate points, the trophy trucks jumped over the rally cars, including a mega-jump where freestyle bikes jumped over trophy trucks, while jumping over rally cars, stacking the vehicles three tall in the air.
We are in charge of the US television coverage and got some killer footage that we can’t wait to share!
The event was a massive success with nearly 20,000 spectators as well as an unprecedented amount of media coverage including RKL, Europe’s largest TV network. The event will return even larger next year as a full-fledged race.
Mad Media Wraps Second Maxxis Tire Shoot
Mad Media Wraps Second Maxxis Tire Shoot
Mad Media just finished our second shoot for Maxxis Tires’ new ad campaign. The first shoot took place on Sunrise Highway, just outside the small town of Julian, California. The ad features Maxxis Tires’ new MA-Z4s all-weather tires on a beautiful, modified Infiniti G37s gripping the pavement on a treacherous mountain road.
The second shoot features Maxxis’ new AT-771 all-terrain tires on the Maxxis Tires modified Toyota FJ cruiser. We put the new tires to the test with massive jumps and power slides. Lead by Mad Media CEO/Creative Director Matt Martelli and Director of Photography Vincent Knakal, the photo shoots launch the new Maxxis ad campaign with arresting imagery combined with cultural relevant messaging. The ads will drop in upcoming issues of Dirtsports, Import Tuner, Off-Road, etc.
Gymkhana Two:The Infomercial. Behind The Scenes with Mad Media.
Here is a look behind the scenes of the Gymkhana Two:The Infomercial with Mad Media
Mad Media and Ken Block receive
Honoree Award from 13th Annual Webby’s
Mad Media and Ken Block have been selected as official Honorees in the sports category, for the 13th annual Webby Awards for the viral film project, titled “Ken Block: Gymkhana Practice”. The Gymkhana film has enjoyed over Twenty Million views across You Tube, kenblockracing.com, and other automotive related websites since it’s launch in late 2008.
To contact Mad Media Director of TV / Film Production, Joshua Martelli, e-mail: josh@madmedia.com
For more information on Mad Media visit: www.madmedia.com
For more information about Ken Block visit: www.kenblockracing.com
For more information on the Webby Awards visit: www.webbyawards.com
