Each piece illustrated how Zenith’s principles of vision, integrity, and progress were interwoven within each ambassador’s story. The cinematography and editing were motivated by Zenith’s passion for artistry and precision. And by filming all around the world, from the bustling streets of Tokyo, to a football field in Wisconsin, to tennis courts in France, this series brought viewers into the worlds of each ambassador.
Filmed over the course of the pandemic, in 2020 and 2021, safety was a number one priority. We kept crew sizes extremely small, stayed nimble, and came up with creative solutions to give the series a high-end, cinematic look & feel. By staying light and flexible, and by shooting on RED cameras with Zeiss Otus lenses, we were able to film various beautiful setups in different locations, all within a single day for each video.
For the Aaron Rodgers film, our team packed up our gear and took a road trip from Maryland to a high school football field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This film took an elevated approach to Aaron’s routines of meticulous game prep, fitness, and practice. This was done through stylized scenes such as Aaron taking notes in a room lit only by a projector or of him running drills at sunset on the field.
Patrick Mouratoglou, the acclaimed coach of Serena Williams, was filmed at his tennis academy in France. And the two Japanese ambassadors, Airi Hatakeyama and Ryoma Takeuchi were filmed in Tokyo. Our creative team and editors worked remotely with local French and Japanese crews to create a consistent look that aligned with the rest of the series. Through detailed shot lists and production logistics provided by our team, the directors of photography successfully captured an artful look at the excellence of Patrick’s coaching, the beauty of Airi’s gymnastics, and the dedication of Ryoma’s craft.
Creative Director MICHAEL RING Director ANDREW PETRILLA
Executive Producer KAYLEE KING-BALENTINE Producers AUDREY TODD
Director of Photography DANIEL ST. OURS (USA), DANIEL LAZOFF (JAPAN),
ALEXANDER VIOLLET (FRANCE) Editor ANDREW PETRILLA, DANIEL ST. OURS
Graphics SCOTT RINEBOLD Audio Mix CLEAN CUTS