Chevrolet: Equinox EV — Commercial

Collaborations with Taproot Pictures are always some of my favorites, and this Chevy job was no exception. However, I did have to wake up at 3 AM, but we’ll get to that. The task was to film both “running footage” and in-studio detail shots of the new Chevy Equinox EV over two non-consecutive days. This vehicle was in the “Code Red” phase meaning no one had seen or could see it before the global reveal. Privacy was no problem for our studio portion of the shoot since we were filming at General Motors HQ in Detroit. Still, when trying to capture beautiful “running footage” of the vehicle on the road, that task becomes much more difficult. The Chevy personnel team that looks after the 1 of 1 spec vehicle is impressive. In addition to handlers, mechanics, and a semi-truck driver for hauling the SUV, GM provides security to ensure the vehicle stays safe from any damages or lookie-loos. In the hope of staying out of the public eye and our Director and DP’s desire to capture the sun as it rose over Grand Traverse Bay, we set our call time for 4:00 AM. When my alarm went off at 2:45 AM, I wondered if I had honestly gotten any sleep.

Around 3:30 AM, our Director Josh Carrasquillo, my Production Coordinator Katie Kranz, and the Taproot Pictures intern Carter Louisell jumped into the Taproot sprinter van and headed north. Upon arrival, the lovely Jeff Sukes and Tyler Hollman, our DP and 1st AC, greeted us. Maybe it’s because I used to hold a camera years ago or because I’m still a nerd at heart; I love being on set surrounded by gear and incredible humans. There is nothing like it, and it feels like home. As Jeff sipped his coffee out of a Mad Cap mug and I munched on a breakfast bagel, our friends at Filmotechnic finished their last few tweaks on the Porsche Cayenne U-Crane Arm Car. We also had a moment to star gaze between getting set up and the client arriving on set. Blue hour set in as we got both vehicles in position for a morning of filming. The frame looked perfect as the blue Equinox stood out against the bright pink and orange sunrise.

I may not be thrilled to wake up at an hour my 18-year-old self used to go to bed. Still, being up in northern Michigan, in nature, while getting to watch the sunrise silhouetted behind a U-Crane arm car, makes me think back to the dreams I had as a teenager and realize I would never want to be anywhere else.