Ransom Riggs
Shameless plug: film by a flosser
by Ransom Riggs - November 3, 2006 - 4:06 PM

It’s casual Friday here at the _floss, so along with my usual interesting-fact-related posts, I’m throwin’ in a shameless plug! I was recently hired by Nissan to make a film for their website. They asked me to make a short, fun piece abstractly interpreting the term “living room” (a slogan-of-sorts for their new minivan) — without showing or mentioning cars in any way. If anyone cares to take a look at it, I’d love to get some responses: is it clear (or clear as mud) how this spot is, metaphorically at least, transportation-related?

Click here for the Nissan website, then click on “next generation artists” on the bottom-right of the screen. Mine is the first film featured.

Thanks, all!
nissan_kid.jpg

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Comments (11)

  1. 1st let me say that I’ve never known (not that I know you) anyone named Ransom before. Very cool name.
    2nd I’ll be the first (one of the first) strangers to compliment you on your imagination and sense of whimsey. Love the snowman in the living room!

    Oops! forgot the ‘spoiler alert’

    posted by punkinsmom on 11-3-2006 at 4:18 pm

  2. Wow… very cool and definitely not your usual ad. Love the music, it goes nicely and I like the song to boot (who is it?). I definitely get the transportation-related, and it doesn’t hit you over the head. I’d love to see more of your stuff on tv and less of the usual junk!!!

    posted by Shane on 11-3-2006 at 5:13 pm

  3. Very cool ad and not that abstract. It brings the same kind of creativity that you see in movies like Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind or The Science of Sleep and all in about 2 minutes. Job well done!

    posted by Nico on 11-4-2006 at 12:42 am

  4. Very cool video, within the context of an auto maker’s website I think the concept comes across pretty well.

    I enjoyed it.

    posted by Caleb on 11-4-2006 at 6:22 pm

  5. Impressive. Great color correction. What camera did you use? Oh, and who is the musician? It’s very Mindy Smith, but I don’t recognize it. Great choice.

    posted by Eakin on 11-4-2006 at 6:32 pm

  6. 1st let me say that I’ve never known (not that I know you) anyone named Ransom before. Very cool name.

    There’s the founder of Oldsmobile, Ransom E. Olds. He’d probably be shocked that a namesake was doing commercials for a Japanese car.

    posted by Jill on 11-5-2006 at 12:13 am

  7. Wow! I got chills, so it obviously touched me on a gut level. I loved the imagery.

    posted by Deb on 11-5-2006 at 7:42 pm

  8. Hey guys —

    Thanks for the kind words!

    Eakin, we shot with the Sony f900 HD camera with a 35mm lens package. The song is by Garrison Starr (who, interestingly, is on Mindy Smith’s label, Vanguard).

    I didn’t know the Oldsmobile founder’s name was Ransom. Cool!

    posted by Ransom on 11-6-2006 at 2:35 am

  9. The music here totally gets my vote too. It did a great job for setting the tone of the film.

    Oh, and the kitty sweater was priceless.

    posted by Barb on 11-6-2006 at 9:58 am

  10. I really enjoyed that short. And yes, I did get the transportation theme; it was cleverly integrated.

    You also get kudos for the ‘Psycho’ article in the current issue. Very well done.

    I have yet to be disappointed by mental_floss on any level. (well maybe that it is not a monthly)

    posted by n2y2 on 11-6-2006 at 2:31 pm

  11. Way to go!! what a great video!

    posted by Donovan on 11-6-2006 at 10:50 pm

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