Northern California Angora Guild

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Brighton Stars in a Commercial - Background Story




In mid February I received five messages asking whether I'd be available to take my English Angora to Los Angeles for a filming of a commercial.  After a process of a background check, negotiations and signing a whole lot of papers, I drove with Jada and Brighton to Los Angeles for the filming on February 22, 2018.



This is "my bunny room" that displays photos of Brighton and Jada.   The room is inside a 6000+ square feet house that has 5 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms, built in 1929.   According to the internet estimate the market value of the house is in the range of 4 to 6 million dollars.  The production rented two of these houses that are across the street from each other.  Why so much space needed? There is a crew of 75 plus caterers for breakfast, lunch and snacks.   Even with so many bathrooms in the house, there are porta potties lining up on the street.  The entire street is closed for traffic.   In the crew, there are two animal person: animal handler Mark Jackson and animal monitor Tricia Casper.   It's a union rule to have two of them on site even though Brighton is to be handled by me only.  



Before filming, both Brighton and I need to be presentable.   I'm the make up and hair person for Brighton but there is a team of three working on me.  Shelly on the left is the make up person, Rebecca and Jesus in the middle are the costume persons.



Brighton is an instant hit, here is the "Key Costumer" Rebecca holding Brighton.   Rebecca brought in close to 100 sets of leisure pant suits for me to try on; I tried about 20 sets and she took photos of each for the director to decide which set for me to be filmed.



Holding Brighton is the "Key Make-Up" Shelly Willis.   She puts make up on me and does my hair. 




After about 20 changes of the "costume", with make up and hair done, Brighton and I are ready to be filmed.


A red tape is marked on the ground, that is where I am standing.   Any deviation from that mark, I'd hear the director's voice to send me back to the spot.   The director of photography is Sebastian Pfaffenbichler.   He resembles and has the similar mannerism as Jack McCoy (play by Sam Waterston) on Law and Order.  



In the commercial, Brighton appears from his back then the his face is shown.   There is a guy sitting on the ground turning the table.   The filming of Brighton on the table being turned around and around lasts over an hour an half!   Brighton is such a good boy, he did not poop, he did not pee, he did not try to escape.   He sat there for the entire hour and half.  



People got a kick when I use a hair dryer instead of my blower on Brighton in the commercial.  I had my blower with me and was filmed with my blower.  Then the prop person handed me a pink hair dryer, see the hair dryer on the floor next to the stand.   Then more filming was done with the hair dryer.   In the final cut, the hair dryer won over the blower.     The filming of me with Brighton took about 2 hours.   With a lunch break in between, Brighton sat on that pink pillow for a total of 3-1/2 hours!



After the filming is done, director Matthew Swanson has a picture taken with me and Brighton.  He is happy with our work. 



Matthew says, "you and the rabbit both took direction well."




Here are the three script writers for the commercial, they are from the ad agency.


Brighton is definitely a favorite.



Here is the team from Quilted Northern who are also enchanted by Brighton. 



The work day lasted 6 hours plus an half hour of lunch break, 2 hours in preparation and 4 hours in filming.   As we know the final cut of the commercial is 16 seconds with 10 seconds on Brighton and me.   It takes a very long time to make a very short film.    Want to spend 16 seconds to watching it again?  Here it is:

Quilted Northern is Not an Angora Show Bunny - YouTube






Friday, March 23, 2018

Brighton Stars in a Commercial





What's Brighton doing in front of all these people?    He is in a commercial shoot!   What product is related to an Angora rabbit?   Watch the following:  

It has been an interesting experience.  Will share more photos and the background information tomorrow, stay tuned.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Show C Angora Judging at Stockton







Show C judge is Ted from Oregon, Betty clerks during the judging of the white English Angora.



Judge Ted checks on a black English Angora, Casey clerks when the colored English Angora are being judged.  Betty switches to taking photos.





Judge Ted checks the underside of an English Angora.

Carol and Carolyn visit with judge Ted.

Judge Ted is now judging the French Angora, Carol takes over the clerking.  Both are judges, they have a great time chatting.



The three French Angora brothers debut in this show, they are 10 weeks old but already weigh 5 pounds. 



Judge Ted likes the French Angora junior buck.



The French Angora big girls are waiting in the coops.

 
A shiny Satin Angora in the coop.


At the end of the Angora judging are the two Giant Angora junior does.


For a list of complete Angora results, go to:


http://angorashowresults.blogspot.com/2018/03/march-17-2018-angora-showing-at-stockton.html












Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Show B Angora Judging at Stockton

 
 
 
 
 
 
Judges list in show B. 
 
Judge Kendal starts the Angora judging with English Angora.
 


A black English Angora buck is being evaluated.





A long coated English Angora is on judge Kendal's table.
 

The BOV white and colored are being compared for BOB.

 

Judge Kendal is posing the French Angora colored junior bucks.

 

Judge Kendal works on the French Angora colored senior buck, Carol clerks.

 

Two Satin Angora white junior bucks are being judged.  



For a list of complete Angora results, go to:


http://angorashowresults.blogspot.com/2018/03/march-17-2018-angora-showing-at-stockton.html






 

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Show A Angora Judging at Stockton

 
 
 
 
California Rabbit and Cavy Shows sponsor the youth benefit show at Stockton on Saturday, March 17,  2018.
 
 
 
Judge Linda starts the Angora judging with English Angora.

 

There are quite a few English Angora on the table.

 


Casey clerks for judge Linda.

 


On the table is the handsome French Angora senior buck.

 

With the handsome senior buck, there are four cute French Angora junior bucks.

 

On the table are the French Angora senior and junior does.

 

Judge Linda comments on the broken chestnut French Angora doe.

 

The chocolate agouti French Angora doe is judge Linda's choice for Best of Breed,

 

There are two Giant Angora junior does in the show.

 

And three junior Satin Angora, one doe and two bucks.

 

This is the shiny Satin Angora junior doe.


For a complete list of Angora results, go to:

http://angorashowresults.blogspot.com/2018/03/march-17-2018-angora-showing-at-stockton.html





 

Monday, March 19, 2018

Open Top Winners at Stockton

 
 
 
 
California Rabbit and Cavy Shows hold a benefit show for youth contestants to go to the ARBA convention in MA.   The triple shows are held on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Stockton, CA.
 
 
 
 
In show A, judge Linda awards the Best In Show to the New Zealand shown by Randy (not in the picture) and Jonathan, and the Reserve In Show winner is the English Spot shown by Louis.
 

In show B, a different New Zealand wins the Reserve In Show from judge Cathy and the same English Spot gets the Best In Show.

 

In show C, judge Ray picks the New Zealand Best In Show and the English Spot Reserve In Show.  The New Zealand is the same one that won Best In Show in show A.




 

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Keeping Babies Warm

 
 
 
There are only two bunnies in the litter, it's easier to keep them warm by putting them in a smaller container than the regular nestbox.    A cookie can is a good choice.   

Babies snuggles to each other.

 

In addition to mama's wool, a knitted Angora blankie keeps the babies very warm.  

When it's time for the mom to nurse, take the babies out of the cookie can and back to the nestbox then take the nestbox to the mom.