Filmmaker and accomplished VFX artist, Sergio Mishchenko continues to leave a positive mark on the film world wherever he goes. His dedication, years of hard work and drive have earned him accolades from his peers and a ton of continuous work opportunities. In March one of his latest projects ‘Spare One’, was screened at the world famous TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and also won a highly respected Clio Award -the world’s most recognizable advertising award. Some of the other awards ‘Spare One’ received include ‘Best Visual Effects’ and ‘Best Commercial’.
We recently asked Sergio Mishchenko some questions about his idea and concept behind ‘Spare One’ and what went into making it. Here is what he had to say:
AB: Congratulations on your recent Clio Award! Ridley Scott’s commercial also won a Clio this year, how does that feel?
SM: Thank you! It’s a great honor to be recognized by Clio. And of course ‘Spare One’ being in the same show with the work of Sir Ridley Scott makes it even more special!
AB: Sergio, since you directed, filmed ‘Spare One’, and did all of the visual effects on it, what was the key element to make this spot?
SM: I would say preparation and a lot of homework. In Fine Arts there’s an unwritten rule of knowing art history. In this case it was studying other films, specifically how they did the cinematography and visual effects. The next step was adapting it to my workflow. And of course it is paramount to do everything right during production. If something goes South on the day, you have a Plan B. That ensures that everything goes smooth further down the pipeline.
AB: How did you come up with the concept for ‘Spare One’?
SM: Ideas come randomly all the time, you let some of them go, while others stick. This one worked apparently! Many people get a laugh from the gag, others like the visuals and mention how relatable it is. And nothing beats seeing a good reaction from the audience!
AB: Well congratulations on the success you are receiving for your work and thank you for taking the time out to talk to us.
SM: My pleasure.