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Each movement-related shot has an additional element of movement, with eight subtly different camera perspectives coming together to create one unified angle. The spot then cuts to a car traveling through a tunnel, incorporating the same unique camera perspective. The voiceover explains: “Extraordinary Movement: it takes commitment to create it but that’s what separates Shell from ordinary fuel.”
Several of the shots were filmed using eight closely clustered Super 16mm cameras, each giving slightly different perspective on the action and capturing more motion blur than would otherwise be possible. Absolute worked closely with Thwaites, investigating different ways of achieving “extraordinary movement.” After three weeks of experimenting with various in-camera and post techniques, the team opted for the eight-camera solution, along with other types of footage — ultra hi-speed video and intervalometer-controlled exposures to emphasize motion blur.
To maximize the schedule, eight different versions of the rushes were intercut by Absolute’s Ben Robards using Autodesk Flame. This was a significant amount of work in that there was nearly two hours worth of footage. Once the edit was completed, the Flame team had to restore the edges of certain shots where the cameras had accidentally slipped. Flame was also used for re-grading and clean-up work, as well as for increasing the motion blur.