BEYOND THE ONIROS FILM AWARDS®
VIP Interview with Alexander McKee, director of the commercial ‘PitaMan Olympus’
by Alice Lussiana Parente
I had the pleasure of interviewing Alexander McKee, an Up-And-Coming talented director. We talked about the inspiration behind his commercial PitaMan “Olympus”, the casting process, his future projects, and even his favorite Greek food! In fact, I gladly discovered that behind this delightful commercial lies a lot of passion, a dedicated team, and a spoon full of Baklava!
1. Hi Alexander! How did your career as a filmmaker began?
I wanted to be a director since I was four-years-old after my father took me to see the re-release of “Star Wars” in 1997. Since then, I knew this was the path in life I had to take. I started making movies when I was 12 – I was finally able to rally enough friends to help me! After high school, I was able to start working on professional sets, but my first true break was in 2016. I wrote and directed a short film called “Here Be Monsters” which has since been a part of nearly 20 film festivals. It’s still an honor to this day to have been a part of those, especially because that’s what allowed me to direct full time.
2. The Covid-19 crisis has disrupted the global film industry. Which do you think are the positive aspect that we gained from this crisis and what are the challenges we are still facing in the industry?
I believe we just recently saw one of the upsides in an entertainment industry grappling with a pandemic with the IATSE strike. So many of us had jobs cancelled indefinitely – and for many of us, it was the first time we weren’t working 12 hours a day (at the absolute least). The incredibly talented crews in our industry shouldn’t be working dangerous hours and missing out on important milestones with their families. It is still an ongoing issue, but the IATSE strike brought such an important issue to light that I’m not sure could have been in any other time.
3. I’m always inspired by how creative some commercials (including yours) can be in such a short amount of time. What inspired you when writing the concept?
Even though this is the story of how PitaMan came to Earth, it’s the second one that we shot! Our first commercial was definitely a more “traditional” humorous ad in how it presents a family in need of speedy delivery! I knew we had to do the exact opposite for this one — I wanted to capture the grandeur of Greek Mythology to reflect the quality of this food. In addition, I have always loved the myth of Prometheus and how he stole fire from the Gods to give to man. What better source to draw for how PitaMan got to Earth? It allowed for a fun story with lots of big personalities, and at the end of the day, all I want to do is make a memorable piece.
4. The costumes are very effective. How did you work with the costume designer? Where did you find the period pieces you were looking for?
I so appreciate that compliment! I have to be totally honest – these costumes were neither found nor made in collaboration with a costume designer! With a smaller budget ad like this one, I handmade most of the costumes myself! I knew we couldn’t use Halloween costumes that would cheapen our overall commercial. To deliver that level of authenticity, I did a variety of sketches for each Olympian before getting a bunch of high-quality fabrics, Greek key ribbons, and a hot glue gun! Long work? Absolutely, but completely satisfying in how it read on camera. I don’t regret a minute of it!
Alexander McKee director of the commercial ‘PitaMan Olympus’ – dawnchasermedia.com
5. What is your favorite movie and who is the director that inspired you the most?
My all time favorite film is “Return of the Jedi.” Director who has inspired me most? As with most directors, it’s probably innumerable! However, the director I always go back to is David Fincher. His precision as a filmmaker is unmatched in my opinion. He so perfectly creates a balance between the breathless and contemplative – I firmly believe great pacing, regardless of length, is a massive factor that brings us back to our favorite movies time and time again.
6. What is your favorite Greek divinity and favorite Greek dish?
What a great question! When it comes to food, I will never pass up on homemade baklava! As for deities, that’s a lot tougher! Most of the Olympians in Greek Mythology are pretty terrible people! I’ve always been a fan of the more “human” heroes in mythology. I love the tales of Theseus, Perseus, and Odysseus far more than anything related to the actual Greek Pantheon.
7. What would you say have been some of the biggest surprises or challenges in this process? Do you have any funny anecdotes from the production to share?
The greatest challenge was creating a whole new world for our cast to live in. I wanted Olympus to feel real, like it could easily be resting above anywhere on Earth for PitaMan to fall to. I had a large vision, but a tremendously talented team that brought it to life. Our AD Ben Hollander worked tirelessly to help get the set created and dressed – he oversaw it all and added the finishing details himself. And I also need to give a massive thank you and shoutout to our DP Grant Bell. I told him I wanted a haughty and grossly “perfumey” vibe and he nailed it in every frame – and best of all, it allowed for little in camera tricks to help mask some of our background, which is always smart when taking the production design risks that we did. As for funny anecdotes, Mia Mormino and Lukas Silva (who played the Girlfriend and Boyfriend in the driveway, respectively) did an excellent job of acting cold and chilly on an August morning in Southern California – so basically, it was already starting to get hot even at 7 AM! Thanks to the power of color grading, we were able to make it look like a stormy afternoon to match their fabulous performances.
8. If you got the opportunity to remake a classic, which one you go for?
I probably wouldn’t choose a classic film! We see that far too often in Hollywood and mainstream media today. Why are studios remaking classics? There are THOUSANDS of wonderful B-movies that have flown under the radar for decades that can be mined to give it new life.
9. Do you think there’s a difference in the casting process for commercials? What was the aspect and skills you are looking for when choosing your actors?
I absolutely think there is a difference in the casting process of commercials! I always strive for ads to be quick and effective – the cast needs to be able to deliver the same. When I’m working on a film, I am typically looking for someone who can take their time and be more contemplative. In the world of commercials, I’m always looking for who can hit the emotional beats in the blink of an eye! Casting is one of my favorite parts of the process and I have been so fortunate to work with the fabulous cast of “Olympus.”
10. Many famous directors also directed very successful commercials. Among them Spike Lee, Wes Anderson, David Lynch, just to mention some of them. Did any of these directors inspire you particularly while producing your commercial?
That’s a fact I’m always very aware of! When it comes to my work in advertising, it’s always been Ridley Scott that I’ve looked to for inspiration! He got his start directing commercials, going so far as to describe them as his “film school.” In viewing his commercial work several years ago, I really saw how he made each and every ad a micro film – that’s all I have tried to achieve as well! I think the best commercials tell an engaging story while selling a product or service to the audience.
11. What kind of films would you like to make in future? Do you have a dream project you’d like to work on one day?
If I had to describe a dream project, I always imagine a large-scale epic like David Lean used to make. “Lawrence of Arabia” is one of my favorite films and that type of grandeur has been missing from Hollywood for a while. Perhaps the closest one most recently was “Return of the King” (another personal favorite!). A space-opera like “Star Wars” is of course on my dream project list!
12. What are you working on right now?
Currently, I am starting the preparations for a third PitaMan commercial! And like many directors, I’m always writing something. I cycle through a few different scripts over any month-long period just to get them all moving forward. And no matter what, that’s all I care about – moving forward. To be stagnant is the opposite of everything I believe in. To be able to take one line of dialogue or one picture-perfect frame and move it forward into becoming a film is just the greatest joy imaginable.
