Kawasaki Rides Again With Gun For Hire

15 October 1999

Kawasaki Rides Again With Gun For Hire; Finished Sales Film Brings ``Overwhelming'' Reaction From U.S. Dealers

    SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Oct. 14, 1999--Gun For Hire Film & Tape, taking another spin with Kawasaki Motor Corp., U.S.A., and agency FCB Worldwide, has completed production on the new model year 2000 Ninja(R) motorcycle sales film and running footage package.
    Gun For Hire produced the project for FCB's Costa Mesa office at the Seattle International Raceway in Kent, Wash. John LeBlanc was enlisted to direct the project for Gun For Hire by executive producer Alan Stamm. "John is a wonderful director who has worked for us on a variety of projects over the last seven years," said Stamm. "His knowledge of racing and sensational history of shooting metal made him ideal."
    Gun For Hire's Bob Kronovet produced the project for LeBlanc, bringing an array of film and video cameras to give the project a unique look. "The body cams and lipstick cams in particular allowed us to get some pretty amazing shots," said Kronovet. "Kawasaki brought in some championship riders to show off the new products, including Rickey Gadson and Doug Chandler, making our production run very smooth."
    The finished product is an 11-minute sales film along with running footage featuring Kawasaki's new Ninja(R) ZX-12R Sportbike. FCB brought in freelance producer John Brooks, who has covered several of the Kawasaki projects including two with Gun For Hire. Creative editorial was handled by Steve Swersky Editorial at the Gun For Hire compound, with transfer, color correction, effects and online by Digital Magic.
    The film was exhibited to the Kawasaki dealers in Kansas City on October 3. Their reaction was "overwhelming" said FCB account supervisor Julie Collins. Offered Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. marketing manager Mark Homchick, "Gun For Hire promised no rain. What they delivered was sunshine and breathtaking film." The video is scheduled for release in November to more than 1,000 dealers nationwide.
    Gun For Hire Film & Tape is a television commercial production company based in Santa Monica. The company was founded by Bob Kronovet and Alan Stamm with the intent of bringing Hollywood's most talented directors to the world of commercial production. The company has produced campaigns and spots for such major advertisers as Pepsi, Nike, Jeep, Nissan, Mattel, Nestle, Sears, Disney, Universal, CBS, AAA, Del Taco, Shoney's and Pacific Bell.


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TEAM MEMBERS:

FCB Worldwide
Producer:                             John Brooks
Partner/Broadcast Production:         Bob Belton
Account Supervisor:                   Julie Collins
Account Executive:                    Nguyen Duong
Group Account Director/Sr. Partner:   Bruce Barta


Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
Marketing Manager:                    Mark Homchick
Advertising Assistant:                Jason Davis


Gun For Hire Film & Tape
Director:                             John LeBlanc
Producer:                             Bob Kronovet
Executive Producer:                   Alan Stamm
Production Manager:                   Danny Zavala


Steve Swersky Editorial
Editor:                               Steve Swersky


Digital Magic
Colorist:                             Steve Behar
Henry Artist:                         Tina Eastlake


Pacific Ocean Post (POP)
Sound Engineer:                       Peter Rincon