The Common One: In Print

Last week I was hired to be in a print/packaging campaign for new products coming from Keurig Kold.

Keurig, the single cup coffee maker, is slowly expanding into the cold drinks market. I haven't been paying attention, but apparently there is a single cup system they've developed for sodas, iced teas, etc., that is similar to their coffee maker.

They are still developing a product for mixed cocktails, with the plan to release them sometime in the fall. The theme for the packaging of these mixed cocktails are going to have a prohibition theme.

I did an open submission a few weeks ago, and gratefully, my headshot caught their attention. I won a part.

I showed up for a morning call time at Sweet Ashley's studios on a transitioning block from Industrial to more residential.

The crew was already there prepping and building sets. The Model T was parked out front. I checked in met the people from corporate, the photographer and the crew. Looked around and eventually went outside to find the owner of the Model T.

After growing up surrounded by car aficionados, and going to car shows, drive-ins, etc., I've grown comfortable talking to the owners of classic cars. I can ask just enough questions to get them talking and nod my head in the appropriate places to signal that I know what they're talking about.

While outside, they asked me to head into wardrobe and start the process of getting fitted for my various outfits. There I realized that instead of just one pic, which is what I originally thought, they wanted me in three of the four pictures they were preparing for their packages! As I was told, I was their Al Capone for the day!

The first shot we did was outside with the Model T, with the henchman off the side and me upfront, looking like an old school gangster with a fat cigar and large over coat. The day was overcast, and there was construction crews in the background. However, the graphic designers had a make shift digital studio set up to double check that the pics were useable and they were unconcerned with the background.

The cigar was lit at 10 in the morning and the smoke cause my eyes to water, my lungs to cough and to have me spit constantly. But, the crew, the photographer and the corporate team seemed very happy with the results. The makeup department, crew, costuming and other departments all came out to have their pics taken with us.

The next shot was done on a stage inside that was recreated to be a an old bootlegging warehouse. The recreated shot was of me inspecting bottles of bootlegged whiskey with two other gangsters.

After lunch, there was a shoot with two female models dressed up as flapper girls in a bar.

The sets were rearranged and reconstructed, yet again for the final shoot of the day, a casino type shot where 4 of us were done up and I was in tails. All of the suits, and especially the tux fit perfectly. I could get used to that style.

The entire day was really great. The crew was fun and easy. The other actors had great camaraderie and extremely easy and pleasant to work with. As usual, most of my time and quick friendships were made with wardrobe and makeup.

We finished up around 5.30 and they released me back into the wilds of Planet Brooklyn. I had no idea that the day would be that full. However, I had a great time and I'm excited to see the finished product.

I'm not really supposed to push anything on social media until the product launches in the fall, so these pics are just my personal snaps and our secret!

I'll post more once the final pics are sent to me and they say I can promote their product.