Project Name: Flaming Hot University: Culinary Class 101
Client/Production Company: Frito-Lay/1820 Productions
Date: August, 2023
Role: Editor/Content Creator
Project Description:
This project was designed to encapsulate a high-energy, condensed culinary class infused with HBCU pride. The focus was to teach viewers how to cook using Flamin' Hot products. The video is a part of the broader Flamin' Hot University (FHU) campaign and is featured on the Flamin' Hot University website.
This project was designed to encapsulate a high-energy, condensed culinary class infused with HBCU pride. The focus was to teach viewers how to cook using Flamin' Hot products. The video is a part of the broader Flamin' Hot University (FHU) campaign and is featured on the Flamin' Hot University website.
Challenges & Solutions:
For this project, my role extended beyond the traditional post-production responsibilities. I was actively involved on set, handling both DIT (Digital Imaging Technician) duties and the assembly edit on set. For this project I didn't have the luxury of working with an assistant editor. This dual/multi role was challenging yet rewarding, as it allowed me to incorporate spontaneous and lively moments I observed during filming.
The culinary class segment, featuring Meg The Stallion and directed by Korey Miller, was initially fully scripted, complete with an animatic I for guidance. However, as the shoot progressed, the team decided to lean more towards improvisation, using the script and animatic more as a flexible framework. This change required adaptability on my part. Fortunately, the animatic served as a solid foundation, enabling me to seamlessly integrate the improvised footage into the narrative. As a result, the initial assembly cut ran for seven minutes.
The next challenge was to refine this cut to under five minutes, which were the project requirements. I had a week to deliver the first edit to the client. Impressively, this first cut, with minor additions of final graphics, was accepted as the final video.
Selecting the right music was crucial for this piece. The objective was to capture the essence of an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and evoke a university atmosphere. Although finding the perfect track was challenging during pre-production, the director eventually discovered a track that resonated with his vision. I utilized various segments of this song, isolating specific stems to craft a lively and upbeat soundtrack that complemented the recipe creation process.
A significant enhancement I brought to the script, which proved highly effective in the edit, was the inclusion of transitional chapter marks. These markers clearly delineated the different stages of the recipe. Their addition not only maintained the momentum of the video but also provided viewers with a clear indication that we were progressing to the next step. This simple yet impactful change was instrumental in keeping the audience engaged throughout the video.
Techniques & Tools Used:
Adobe Premiere Pro was essential for all stages of the editing process. Initially, it was used to create the animatic, which helped me and Director Korey Miller finalize the script and the flow of the recipe demonstration. This pre-production strategy, from scripting to animatics, was key in ensuring we knew exactly what to shoot, minimizing uncertainty before arriving on set. For color correction, we collaborated with Company3, and the final audio mix was expertly handled by Dallas Audio Post.
Additional Notes:
There was a minor hiccup with the production design team's work, a grammatical error on the sign/menu visible in the opening shots (:24-28) crunchy was spelled Chrunchy, that wasn't noticed until editing began. The challenge was compounded by the camera being handheld and moving into the shot, making it difficult to track for visual cleanup. To address this, I digitally reconstructed the shot and camera movement after correcting the handwritten error.
Both Frito-Lay and our main star, Meg The Stallion, were thrilled with the final product. Meg was particularly excited about the video, so much so that she shared it on her social media pages, an action that went beyond our contract agreement.
