WilliamShatner.com :: BEHIND THE SCENES WITH BILL AND THE SUPERCOMPUTER

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH BILL AND THE SUPERCOMPUTER
Posted by: Admin on Tuesday, October 29, 2002 - 03:49 PM

	The latest batch of Priceline television ads began airing last month, but were actually filmed late this summer in Van Nuys, Calfornia. Join us as we go behind the scenes and visit the SuperComputer set.
<p align="right"><font size="2" color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">October 29, 2002</font> <p align="center"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF"></font> <p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Mention Priceline.com and most people automatically think of William Shatner…his name has become synonymous with the "Name Your Own Price" travel service. So, it is no surprise that Bill is at the helm of a new series of Priceline ads which began airing on September 16, 2002 featuring a SuperComputer.</font> <p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">We had the privilege of visiting the set during the filming of the latest commercials on a hot summer day back in mid-August. Shooting took place at a small production facility in Van Nuys, California called Hayvenhurst Studios. The massive SuperComputer took up a great deal of the set. It had the look of a futuristic command center with transporter-like pillars as the backdrop. A circular control panel took center stage, with a large mass of twisted, tangled, industrial tubing dangling directly above representing the brain of the computer. The only thing missing was the Captain's chair! The panels along the perimeter of the set, which are filled with flashing images in the commercials, were all blank during filming. The images were added later in post production.</font> <p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">We arrived just after lunch and the crew was relighting one of the scenes. Within moments, Bill re-entered the stage and after conversing briefly with the directors, they resumed shooting. At first, it was difficult to identify the director as both a man and a woman seemed equally involved in the task. We later learned that these commercials were being directed by the husband-wife team of Jonathan Dayton and Valeri Faris. It was interesting watching the way they complemented each other. </font> <p align="center"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF"> </font> <p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Although there are some outakes from the commercials on the Priceline.com website (click above to view some), we didn't see any during our visit. Bill performed each take flawlessly, to the delight of the directors. In the scenes that we saw, Bill was primarily talking directly to the camera, a daunting task. The camera was inches from his face, yet he delivered his lines as if conversing with a real person. As Bill completed one take, we heard the directors exclaim "excellent" and "bravo." The next one was met with "great" and "wonderful!" So, Bill's talents were very much appreciated. </font> <p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">During one of the breaks between takes, Bill came over and greeted us. In person, it was obvious that he was fighting a cold. You could hear it in his voice. He had been traveling quite a bit just prior to the filming, and it had caught up with him. The true professional that he is, he tried hard not to let his condition come through in the commercials. </font> <p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Bill remarked how strange it was to be the only actor on the set. It was an unusual circumstance, even for him. There were two extras on stage, but they were in the background and did not have any lines.</font> <p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Creative director Ernest Lupinacci introduced himself after Bill went back to the set and told us how much he enjoyed working with Bill. Ernest was responsible for the earlier Priceline campaign, too, and he couldn't say enough nice things about working with Bill. He marveled at Bill's talent and his timing. He recalled one take during the earlier Priceline ad campaign that timed out to 31 seconds. He needed it to be 27 seconds. He said he mentioned it to Bill, and to his amazement Bill completed the next take in exactly 27 seconds! Ernest was in the middle of another story when Bill had a short break in filming and re-joined us. </font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Ernest didn't miss a beat as he reflected upon how talented Bill was and how easy he made it for all the crew. Bill smiled somewhat shyly at the praise.</font> <p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">We only stayed an hour or so, and in that short time Bill completed several scenes...and even managed to fit in an interview!</font> <p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF"></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Priceline's last major TV ad campaign featuring Bill debuted in early 2000 with </font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF"> Bill performing renditions of traditional songs such as "Age of Aquarius," "Convoy," and "Two Tickets to Paradise." Bill was one of the very first, if not the first, entertainer to jump on the dot com advertising bandwagon. </font> <p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Priceline is proud to have Bill back again. Their website exclaims: </font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">"Priceline's passionate pitchman William Shatner is back in a brand-new round of television commercials. And this time he's traded his backing band for a little help from above - a hanging, hulking, tangled mass of 900 feet of industrial tubing and lights otherwise known as the Priceline.com 'SuperComputer.' "</font> <p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">In conjunction with their current marketing campaign, Priceline is offering a special promotion through the end of October, a Shatner bobblehead doll with purchase of an "accepted vacation request." If you visit their website, you can read all about it...and even view the commercials and some outtakes.</font> <p align="left"><font size="2" color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Check back later in the week as we hope to be able to add some behind the scenes photos.</font> <p align="left">  <p align="right"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Contributed by Jane Singer and Sandy Moruzzi</font> <p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">P.S. I</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">f you missed one of our past web columns, you can view them in the SFI Archive. Our next column will appear on November 19, 2002. </font> <hr /> <p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="" size="2"><font color="#FFFFFF">Shatner & Friends International is William Shatner's official fan club. We are a community of friends drawn together by an appreciation of William Shatner, the actor and the man. </font></font> <p align="left"><font color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">O</font><font color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">ur first newsletter, The Best of Times, is posted online. Each issue features the latest news about Bill and his activities, exclusive interviews, articles, lots of candid photos, charity updates and much more. The next one will be published in late September.</font> <p align="left"><font color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> We will post time sensitive information concerning Bill's appearance schedule within Bill's online calendar. It's updated regularly, so keep checking back. </font> <p align="left"><font color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><font size="-1">If you're interested in joining the Club, annual membership includes a beautiful autographed 8x10 photograph of William Shatner as Captain Kirk, a copy of Bill's credits, a short biography, a subscription to The Best of Times and the opportunity to participate in our annual Shatner Weekend. Membership also grants access to the Captain's Club, an exclusive members-only part of WilliamShatner.com which includes a bulletin board and Club merchandise. Click here to join.</font></font> <p align="left"><font color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">We are excited to be part of WilliamShatner.com and we will be making regular updates to the website. </font>