MECHANISM PIMPS 'CASH CAB'
The show is based around a NYC taxi that picks up passengers and awards them cash prizes for answering trivia questions correctly. Three wrong answers, however, and passengers get kicked to the curb.
Director of photography Jonathan Furmanski used a Canon 5D Mark II camera to capture high-resolution stills and HD footage of the displaced New York City cab in the shimmering signage of Las Vegas. During the overnight shoot, Furmanski and crew mounted cameras to both the taxi door and its hood using a pair of Manfrotto 3D heads attached to Wood’s Powr-Grips, allowing them to capture the fast paced motion and in-your-face action of the party city’s new game vehicle.
Furmanski kept in close contact with Mechanism producers, capturing exactly what the designers required and enabling the team to transition seamlessly into post back at the Chelsea studio. There, creative director Nate Mulliken designed and composited elements that tie footage together in choreographed graphic panels and subtle visual effects. Using Adobe After Effects CS4, Mulliken combined Vegas-inspired iconic imagery with the glitzy photography to produce a wild and fast show open that highlights the thrill of casino gambling and the excitement of the show itself.
The most challenging part of the job was maintaining the Cash Cab brand while adding a new and unique flare. Mechanism used the original open as a starting point and customized the graphics and VFX to match the new location.