Merge@Crossroads Heats Up American Airlines Arena

Merge@Crossroads Director Gil Green, with Southern Brand Collective, is invading South Florida with an impressive intro video for the NBA's Miami Heat. The :55 clip, featuring all 15 players on the Heat's lineup, will play on the video scoreboard at American Airlines Arena prior to every home game throughout the 2009-10 season.

I Got a Feeling features a montage of Heat players, from superstar Dwyane Wade to backup forward Shavlik Randolph, looking all business in their finest threads. The video, with live-action footage set over a funky, soulful beat, positions the Heat roster on curtained stages, in front of pianos and drums, or at a desk with a big-city panorama unfolding behind, drawing implicit comparisons between the players and the finest stage entertainers. A smoky hallway, featuring a dancing quartet of singing women, acts as a runway for the players strutting toward their nightly stage - center court at American Airlines Arena. Green worked closely with Editor Fro Rojas to cut the footage various ways, so that the intro is an ever-shifting sequence of action shots, still profiles of a single player, and split screens featuring multiple ballers.

"Gil did a great job of capturing the essence of the Blue Note vibe," noted Merge@Crossroads EP Joseph Uliano. "What really stands out is the juxtaposition of jazz vs. basketball, both great American inventions, that Gil seamlessly captured."

Credits:

Client: Southern Brand Collective
Spot Title: Miami Heat Promo: "I Got A Feeling"
Air Date: December 2009

Prod Co: Merge @ Crossroads Films
Director: Gil Green
DP: Joe Labisi
EP: Joseph Uliano

Editor: Fro Rojas (of New Art Miami)

About Crossroads:

A multimedia and content creation firm, Crossroads offers a clear vision, innovative leadership, and unparalleled reach into the entertainment talent pool. With headquarters in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, and an affiliate office in Toronto, Crossroads has five divisions: Film, Commercials, Music Videos, New Media, and Creative Services. All offer exclusive talent featuring some of the world's top directors, show creators, writers, and producers.

Founded in 1989, Crossroads has been a consistent leader in the development and production of feature films and television programming, as well as producing award-winning commercial and music video content for top-tier brands, agencies and performing artists.