Reviving Mariners Commercials.

Player commercials were an integral part of the Seattle Mariners’ marketing strategy, for decades, until the pandemic. In the past, we always outsourced them to an external agency — until this year. For the first time since 2019, our players starred in scripted shorts, designed for social media.

I had the honor of taking the lead with their production. We scripted three shorts, capitalizing on our star players with the most fan recognition. I assisted with finalizing the scripts and storyboarded each short. While in Arizona for 2024 MLB Spring Training, I shot these shorts with the help of our team. Owning the production helped with the post-production process, and their success on social media led to us also cutting them to 30-second spots for broadcast.

Félix Hernández Mariners Hall of Fame Tribute

Our team wanted to emphasize the nickname, 'King Felix,' and I proposed finding a local blacksmith to create a practical crown, and shoot the process. This became our set, and narrative device to tell the story of his career.

I led this shoot as DP, and lead shooter, creating high-contrast scenes and capturing the intensity of blacksmithing. This lent itself to the edit, and allowed me to build to the climax in both his career, and the creation of the crown, which, spells out his name.

Hero shot of the finished crown -- backlit with haze, the light peaked through the anvil and the crown. Using the window and natural light in the top right to provide more life to the scene and guide the eyes, while letting the frame drop off to the

Hero shot of the finished crown -- backlit with haze, the light peaked through the anvil and the crown. Using the window and natural light in the top right to provide more life to the scene and guide the eyes, while letting the frame drop off to the left.

Our base setup on the anvil -- I lit for the anvil, with a Key and Fill on the front, and a Back light hidden behind the blacksmith. I wanted all focus on the anvil and exposed for the glowing metal, but needed to fill the background, so I splashed b

Our base setup on the anvil -- I lit for the anvil, with a Key and Fill on the front, and a Back light hidden behind the blacksmith. I wanted all focus on the anvil and exposed for the glowing metal, but needed to fill the background, so I splashed blue across the tool rack in the background for color contrast.

Using our back light as part of the frame, this was one of the close-ups of the crown, before the full reveal of the design. Showing off part of the plaques denoting career moments, this shows the date of his MLB debut, which, in the edit, preceded t

Using our back light as part of the frame, this was one of the close-ups of the crown, before the full reveal of the design. Showing off part of the plaques denoting career moments, this shows the date of his MLB debut, which, in the edit, preceded the same sequence.

A wider shot of the starball on the table, helping to establish some of the imagery that would be more prominent later on.

A wider shot of the starball on the table, helping to establish some of the imagery that would be more prominent later on.

A close-up of the starball emblem being attached to the crown. Capturing detail and texture in the metal and blowtorch flame.

A close-up of the starball emblem being attached to the crown. Capturing detail and texture in the metal and blowtorch flame.

One of the opening wide-shots. I wanted a very dramatic opening with a silhouette look, and decided to again incorporate our back light into the frame in order to help guide the eyes.

One of the opening wide-shots. I wanted a very dramatic opening with a silhouette look, and decided to again incorporate our back light into the frame in order to help guide the eyes.

While editing, I blended assets from the blacksmith shoot with highlights whenever possible, here comping in a shot of Félix onto the crown with flames dancing across.

While editing, I blended assets from the blacksmith shoot with highlights whenever possible, here comping in a shot of Félix onto the crown with flames dancing across.

Toward the end of the crown process, we're back to blue in the background, but the flame of the blowtorch and the crown are featured prominently in front. I shot this wide enough to also capture the texture of the torch, and the blacksmith's hands an

Toward the end of the crown process, we're back to blue in the background, but the flame of the blowtorch and the crown are featured prominently in front. I shot this wide enough to also capture the texture of the torch, and the blacksmith's hands and tattoos.

VIDEO OPENS

Our ‘Take the Field’ videos this year, are designed to simultaneously energize the crowd, set the tone for our game experience, and showcase highlights/player personality.

The Sound

We commissioned a custom song from artist Easy McCoy to be our Video Open and Take the Field sound. Featuring bright waveforms that match and frame our team’s energy.

Tridents Up!

Our first video open of 2024, I built the LED boards for the footage of players on set. For the fire trident performer, I acted as DP, lit the scene, and shot him on set, cutting between highlights, players on set, and the performer.