The Yummy Factor: Behind the Scenes of Food Commercials Xander Bartole

🎙 Meet executive producer and now head of production, Benjamin Horstkotte 🎬, who for many years and until very recently worked at the legendary tabletop studio, The Marmalade 🍯, where he produced some of the world’s most stunning food 🍲 and cosmetic 💄 commercials.  Today Ben is head of production at Hafengold Film.

https://www.hafengoldfilm.de/#team

We talked about how essential it is to test your shots 📸 before a project and the dangers of going into a shoot 🎥 not being well prepared ⚠️.






Get in touch:
@directedbyxander

🎙️ Meet Kosma Tyszkiewicz, a producer with a unique upbringing. 🍴Raised by an award-winning, food-loving dad 🏆 and surrounded by creative gear 📸, she's developed a keen instinct for food and tabletop projects.
We talked about the thrill of seeing the world in frames per second 🎞️ and the special set of skills 🛠️ a tabletop producer needs to bring to the table.





Get in touch:
@directedbyxander

🎙 Meet Marcus Scigliano,  a New York based 1st AD who's worked in the industry for over two decades having assisted on all types of commercial shoots you can imagine.
http://marcus-scigliano.com

Marcus finally explains what an assistant director really does and how his particular style of running a film set is based on love for the craft and respect to every single person involved in bringing a commercial to life. 🎥 🎬

Find Marcus on IG: @the_set_whisperer
Get in touch:
@directedbyxander

🎙 Meet  the super-talented director, Catherine Millais, who’s beautiful table top work has featured some of the biggest brands on the planet. 
https://catherinemillais.com/
Catherine shared her journey from the early beginnings, navigating the geeky boys' world, to stamping her unique mark on tabletop directing. 🎥 🎬

Find Catherine on IG: @cleesmillais
Get in touch:
@directedbyxander

🎙Meet the Head of Special Effects, Rigging and Food Stunts at The Garage. Matt Huber has created some of the coolest gizmos and contraptions to make food and beverages break the laws of physics in super slow motion!
https://www.the-garage.tv/directors/steve-giralt/bts


We talked about some memorable rigs he has built, his approach as a “Mechanical Solutions Specialist” and his passion of solving these complex visual puzzles in the most elegant ways.


Find Matt on IG: @rigging.department


Get in touch:
@directedbyxander

🎙Meet director Niels La Croix, who’s created some of the most breathtaking food and tabletop commercials in recent years.

https://www.nielslacroix.com/

We got into a visceral discussion about the creative battles 🥊 directors face on every project, and the common obstacles involved in making complex and innovative imagery come to life.

Find Niels on IG: @nielslacroix_director





Get in touch:
@directedbyxander