Your Shot: Palace Skateboards’ Beautifully ‘90s Telesales Style Spot with Jonah Hill

MPC Creative has teamed up with Jonah Hill and British skateboard brand Palace to launch the best worst film we’ve seen in some time. Directed by Palace founder Lev Tanju and fellow skate scene personalities Stuart Bentley and Stuart Hammond, the film, which marks an upcoming collaboration for the brand with Reebok Classics, is a throwback to dodgy ‘90s telesales films, complete with sparkles, awful presenting from Jonah and outright failure at using a green screen. MPC Creative’s Head of Creative Development, Richard Skinner, revealed all to LBB’s Addison Capper.

LBB> Palace owner and founder Lev Tanju actually directed the spot - how did you collaborate with him, considering he was also the client?

RS> Lev was actually one third of a Co-Directing team alongside skate scene luminaries, DoP Stuart Bentley and writer Stuart Hammond. 

LBB> How was it working with a client that was also the director? 

RS> It wasn’t a problem at all for MPC Creative as many of our projects are non-traditionally structured and we’re used to these situations. In this instance we found the collaboration to be genuinely collaborative and above all, a lot of fun!

LBB> Who devised the creative concept?

RS> Jonah is a big fan of Palace and through their connection, the meeting of creative minds and kindred spirits birthed the concept and script, which was then written by Lev and Stuart Hammond. 

LBB> What inspired that kind of ‘faux’ creative? We’re big fans of Tim & Eric at LBB, and it’s definitely got a vibe of their stuff… 

RS> The look and feel of both Palace and Skate films is born from a love of 90’s VHS. So a lo-fi approach was always the right fit, and humour is also a big part of their vibe.

LBB> How was it for you, as a world leading VFX company, to almost ‘forget’ the basics? Was it painful? A lot of fun? 

RS> As MPC Creative, it was the perfect project and the type of exciting, engaging and shareable films we like to make - involving top to bottom process from great idea, live action, offline, visual effects, sound and grade for two great brands. 

LBB> The script is pretty loose - how much of it was ad-lib on Jonah’s behalf? 

RS> The script was actually pretty tight with just the right amount of ad-libbing to elevate certain moment and to keep the rough edges. 

LBB> What was he like to work with? Did he actually come to the store? 

RS> By the look of the finished film, it’s hard to believe he wasn’t there, right. But no, in fact, Lev & Stuart Hammond along with DoP Albert Salas shot Jonah in NYC against green screen. 

LBB> Why was he the right guy to star in the film? 

RS> Can you imagine anyone else in the role?! Jonah is a huge fan of the brand, and Palace is a brand that prides itself on authenticity and genuinely great collaborations.