Wheelhouse Media’s previous collaboration with NASCAR driver Paul Menard for his sponsor Valvoline led to his father, Menard’s founder and CEO John Menard, to contact us to create, “The best commercial we’ve ever made.”
The Menard's team is heavily involved in motorsports and challenged us to leverage their team drivers, their racing relationships, and a wild card…The Jack Link’s Sasquatch, to deliver a national television spot for heavy broadcast during multiple national racing events that encouraged everyone to “Build Your Dream”.
Wheelhouse shot the commercial across multiple days in both Charlotte, NC and Chicago, IL. In addition to heavy national rotation, the content was developed into multiple pieces that were deployed across a strong digital campaign.
Written, created, and produced by Wheelhouse Media, “Build Your Dreams” became the most successful spot in the history of the Menard’s brand.
Pre-Production and Content Strategy
Process
● Creative
● Scripting
● Storyboards
● Location scouting and procurement
● Logistics and planning
● Equipment procurement
● Crewing
● Featured and background extras casting (including auditions review and selection)
● Two days of filming on location
○ Concord Raceway
○ Menards in Skokie, IL
● Director/Director of Photography/Producer
● Approx. 35pp crew/clients
● Camera department
○ One camera operator
○ 1st and 2nd Assistant Camera
● Camera package
○ C700 and C300 cinema cameras
○ Xeen Prime lenses
● Process Truck
● Dana Dolly
● Video Village
○ Playback
○ Wireless transmission
● Lighting department
○ Gaff/Grip/Electric
○ 20x20 Flyswatter
● Audio
○ Lav (wireless)
○ Boom
● Art Department/Props
○ “Squatchmobile” design and build (Big Bad Props)
○ Stock cars
● Talent
○ Stunt drivers
● Travel and accommodations
● Hair/Makeup
○ Liaise with management (Legacy FX)
● Wardrobe
● Production Medic
Client
Menards
Creative
Wheelhouse Media
Director
John Hensley
Executive Producer
John Allred
1st AD
Chad Schwartzkopf
2nd AD/Continuity
Chris Waltman
Director of Photography
Jack Miller
Camera Operator
Brooks Quinn
1st AC
Sean Yaple
2nd AC
Eugene Hopson
DIT
Christopher Shearer
BTS Photographer
Eric Schlenker
Key Grip
Jeffrey Sterner
Grip
Rodney Hoffman
Chris McFeely
Rigging Grip
Jerry Vogt
G&E Swing
Frank Balthasar
Gaffer
Stephen Lang
Best Boy Electric
Frank McGuff
Wardrobe
Kristin Stepinski
Hair and Make-Up
Catie Starr
Make-Up Assistant
Linda Ballard
Special Effects Hair and Make-up
Kenneth Calhoun
Jamie Grove
Prop Master
Jeff Hamrick, Big Bad Props
Asst. Prop Master
Jordan Kent
Editor
Eric Schlenker
Color
Chris Waltman
Sound
Hot Sake
Post-Production Supervisor
Chris Waltman
Stunt Coordinator
Tami Parsnow EEG
Audio
Michael McQueen
Production Assistant
Ernie Pierce
Ethan Clay
Steph Moll
Andrew Clanton