Visa Black Helicopter Commercial- Way Cool!

I am not sure why this commercial is only now coming to my attention; perhaps I have been under a rock for the past year or maybe it was the combination of night shift and three different writing projects.  Either way, I only recently caught my first glimpse of the Visa Black Card commercial that seems to have commanded everyone’s attention of late.  Everyone who has an affinity for helicopters, fast motorcycles, million dollars homes, luxury yachts, iconic rock and roll pieces, and oh yes exotic looking drop dead gorgeous models in bikinis, that is.   

It normally only takes just one of these subjects to get most guys to turn their head or at the very least a prolonged look out of the corner of the eye.  But put them all together in a brilliant digital package and even the most modest of men will be sneaking off to get a second or third look at the tantalizing production on Youtube.   

Right away I felt a connection.  Ok, so it was slightly more than “that’s a cool commercial” or “she’s hot.”  With 1500 hours flying MD 500 helicopters, the shiny all black MD 500E with its spinning rotors and familiar silhouette seemed to be calling my name.  

From the Police Helicopter Pilot picture gallery, Savannah 09 set #2.

In fact I photographed an identical all black factory new MD 500E at ALEA Savannah in 09 and posted them here on this site.  But there was also something about the incredible ocean front home that looked familiar as well. 

A second looked confirmed that it indeed was the same $25 million dollar bluff top home known as The Razor, which I had photographed for another project I had.  As it turns out all of the commercial was filmed right here in San Diego County off the coast of La Jolla, except for the one part that took the film crew and actress all the way to Monte Carlo.

The opportunity and challenge to create such an epic (yes I used that word) commercial for Visa was given to a guy named Curt Morgan, President and CEO of Brain Farm.  On their website Brain Farm describes itself as “a turn-key boutique production house specializing in aerial cinematography and all facets of capturing and producing the highest end HD digital cinema for film, TV, web and commercial outlets.”  Based out of Jackson Wyoming, Brain Farm has done work for Red Bull, Quicksilver, Subaru and many others.  In the “behind the scenes” video Curt Morgan explains how the Visa Black commercial was shot all live, with no studio shooting and using all digital media, no film.

After filming in San Diego wrapped up it was off to Monte Carlo for one special reason.  It was the location of the only black yacht in the world that fit the “Back in Black” (AC/DC) theme Visa wanted. 

The commercial begins with a young female adventurer, all-media modeling powerhouse Donna Feldman, painting her toe nails in the seaside living room of her glass and concrete mansion, dressed only in her robe.  As the all black MD 500E helicopter does a slow fly-by at window level, our adventurer dons a black leather riding suit and throws her leg over an all-black Ducati 1100 motorcycle in her underground garage.  A few moments later after navigating a curvy seaside mountain road she is stepping into the back seat of the helicopter on a nearby bluff.   A short over water flight to rendezvous with the black 88’ Pershing yacht, and our subject is stepping onto the right skid of the helicopter wearing only a black Bikini, of course.  Performing her own stunt, Feldman steps off the skid and plunges straight down into the ocean waters.  The commercial concludes with Feldman emerging from the water and stepping onto the aft deck of the luxury yacht.  Transformation complete!

What is my favorite part of the commercial you ask?  It has to be the moment Feldman steps off the helicopter skid, just as the video is slowed for effect.  The slower video provides an excellent opportunity to check the helicopter’s main rotor blades for proper tracking.  Absolutely genius on the part of the film crew!

Watch the Commercial: