audioEngine Gives Voice to History for Gillette

Sweat. Avoid it if you must, but it has been the common denominator in all man's grandest achievements, from the Great Pyramids to the first moonwalk. This gallery of effort-based milestones is on grand display in a history-spanning Gillette deodorant spot mixed by audioEngine's Rex Recker.

Homage succinctly travels from ancient Egypt to the birth of aviation and beyond. Working with footage by Anonymous Content Director Markus Walter via BBDO, Recker blends a narrator's soliloquy to sweat with the grunts of the pyramid-building masses, thunder rolling over the storm-rumpled waters of New World-bound ships, the piano riffs of classical composers in their prime, the clickity-clack of the first engine taking flight, and the beeping medley of instruments that guided the first men to the moon. Recker sews a purposeful, determined drumbeat behind the entire montage.

"We wanted to evoke history, exertion, achievement and reward through sound," noted Recker. "With the awesome footage Markus provided, it wasn't too difficult to come up with appropriate sound. The result is a spot that is as much a catalogue of human achievement as it is a really great ad for Gillette."

"The human spirit's determination is incredible," stated audioEngine EP Sharon DiTullio-Tepper. "When you watch a spot that shows man's accomplishments the sound has to be as uplifting as the visuals and music, Rex's sound design is always on point."

Downloads:

Credits:

Client: Procter & Gamble Gillette
Spots Title: Homage
Air Date: August 2011

Agency: BBDO
Executive Creative Director: Toygar Bazarkaya
Creative Director: Paul Vinod
Art Director: Ale Frusella
Copywriter: Daniel Aykurt
Executive Producer: Tom Sann

Prod Company: Anonymous Content
Director: Markus Walter
EP(s): Jeff Baron

Editorial: Cut+Run
Editor: Jay Nelson
EP: Rana Martin

Telecine: The Mill
Colorist: Fergus McCall

Post/Effects: The Mill
VFX Supervisors: Des Anwar and Danny Morris
Producer: Rachel Stone

Audio Post: audioEngine
Mixer: Rex Recker
Executive Producer: Sharon DiTullio-Tepper

Music: Stylophon
Composer: Malta Hagemeister

Sound Design: henryboy
Sound Designer: Bill Chesley

Shoot Location: Prague, Czech Republic

About audioEngine:

Since opening its flagship facility in New York City in 2001, followed by audioEngine West in Phoenix in 2004, audioEngine has earned its reputation as a leader in the audio postproduction market. The magic formula for this success - the ability to deliver a full range of superlative creative services to the advertising, broadcast, and film industries. Featuring eight show place mixing rooms, and an all-star roster of award-winning mixers, sound designers, and composers, audioEngine prides itself on delivering topnotch creative audio in a relaxed and efficient client-centric atmosphere. The flagship facility at 817 Broadway in New York City spans two floors totaling a generous 12,000 square feet of studio space and six studios. Capabilities include mixing for all Dolby formats, complete radio production, custom music, and sound design. audioEngine is led by partners Bob Giammarco, Tom Goldblatt, Rex Recker, and Brian Wick. The roster of mixer/sound designers features Rob DiFondi, Kelly Harnett, Carl Mandelbaum, Brian Beatrice, and composer Jason Camiolo.

audioEngine contact: Sharon DiTullio-Tepper - sharond@audioengine.net