Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog weather prognosticator, saw his shadow this past
February, forecasting six more weeks of winter. roughout the country, particularly in the
northern half, folks responded with a collective sigh. Indeed, it had been a rough, long win-
ter already, with plenty of snow and ice. If only the bright, warm touch of spring—or better
yet, summer—would arrive sooner rather than later, to melt away the winter-time blues.
Phil's prediction was correct, and we waited a bit longer for that to happen. But in a com-
mercial for Bud Light Lime that debuted during the Super Bowl, there was no time like the
present for this transformation, thanks to inventive digital eff ects work by Brickyard VFX.
In the 30-second commercial, called "Sphere of Summer," a guy in a lightweight, short-
sleeve shirt exits his apartment building with a six-pack of Bud Light Lime in hand. Outside,
(Above) Thanks to digital effects, summer arrived
in the dead of winter during this Bud Light Lime
commercial. Left, bottom shows the original plate.
Left, top shows the plate with the background
sky replaced.
May 2009 35
Broadcast
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Broadcast
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