Fackrell Brothers

There is soooo much incredible behind the scenes material for our latest PSA “ONE STEP FORWARD”, but what we want to share won’t fit here, so we’re splitting this into three posts! The time, talent and artistry the entire production and post production teams put into creating this PSA for is so inspiring! We cannot thank every single one of the crew enough for taking part of one the most incredible film shoots we’ve ever had. THANK YOU!! And thank you to our actor/veteran Hugh McCrae and our veterans s***e Arielle Alessi. We tried to post this in time for , so we’ll keep this first post short so we can fit in as many credits as possible. We still need to tag everyone add in a few more members of the crew :) It is such an honor to create work that supports our Veterans and anyone going through a difficult time ❤️

“ONE STEP FORWARD”
Veteran:
Veteran S***e: Arielle Alessi
Production Company: FACKRELL BROTHERS 
Client: U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Agency: Reingold
Directors/Exec. Producers: Matthew and Nathan Fackrell 
Creative Director/Writer: Neil Bruce
Producer: Valerie Thomas
Head of Production: Michelle Taylor
Cinematographer: Larry Fong, ASC. 
Production Designer: Damon Fortier
1st AD: Jeff Erwin
VFX Supervisor: Joel Fox 
Location Manager: Roger Barth
Veteran Advisor: David Daitch 
Costumer: Susie Carlson
Script Supervisor: Brooke Bird
Production Sound: Dan Kelly
Hair/Makeup: Oasis Nguyen
DIT: Robert Howie
Set Photographer: Mike Moriatis
BTS Photographer: Tommy Ottley
Medic: Mark Maunder
Post Supervisor: Anabelle LeMieux
Editor: Matthew Fackrell
VFX: Tarik Saran
VFX (additional): Brent Johnson
Color: FOTOKEM 
Colorist: Claire Iannelli 
Color Producer: Jose Parra
Sound Design: Brian Emrich 
Music:
Filmed on ARRI cameras
Casting: Laurie Records Casting

MINIATURE TEAM
Decorator: Elizabeth Nakane
Set Dresser: Joseph Brunelle
Set Dresser: Gabriel Aguilar
Set Dresser: Jordan Stakland
Leadman: Kyle Baker
Production Designer: Damon Fortier

IN LOVING MEMORY OF KeAli’i Johnson

There is soooo much incredible behind the scenes material we want to share that won’t fit here, so we’re splitting this into three posts! The time, talent and artistry the entire production and post production crews put into creating this PSA for is so inspiring! We cannot thank every single one of the crew enough for taking part of one the most incredible film shoots we’ve ever had. THANK YOU!! And thank you to our actor/veteran Hugh McCrae and our veterans s***e Arielle Alessi. We tried to post this in time for , so we’ll keep this first post short so we can fit in as many credits as possible. We still need to tag everyone add in a few more members of the crew :)

“ONE “STEP FORWARD
Veteran:
Veteran S***e: Arielle Alessi
Production Company: FACKRELL BROTHERS 
Client: U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Agency: Reingold
Directors/Exec. Producers: Matthew and Nathan Fackrell 
Creative Director/Writer: Neil Bruce
Producer: Valerie Thomas
Head of Production: Michelle Taylor
Cinematographer: Larry Fong, ASC. 
Production Designer: Damon Fortier
1st AD: Jeff Erwin
VFX Supervisor: Joel Fox 
Location Manager: Roger Barth
Veteran Advisor: David Daitch 
Costumer: Susie Carlson
Script Supervisor: Brooke Bird
Production Sound: Dan Kelly
Hair/Makeup: Oasis Nguyen
DIT: Robert Howie
Set Photographer: Mike Moriatis
BTS Photographer: Tommy Ottley
Medic: Mark Maunder
Post Supervisor: Anabelle LeMieux
Editor: Matthew Fackrell
VFX: Tarik Saran
VFX (additional): Brent Johnson
Color: FOTOKEM 
Colorist: Claire Iannelli 
Color Producer: Jose Parra
Sound Design: Brian Emrich 
Music:
Filmed on ARRI cameras
Casting: Laurie Records Casting

MINIATURE TEAM
Decorator: Elizabeth Nakane
Set Dresser: Joseph Brunelle
Set Dresser: Gabriel Aguilar
Set Dresser: Jordan Stakland
Leadman: Kyle Baker
Production Designer: Damon Fortier

IN LOVING MEMORY OF KeAli’i Johnson

Our team recently finished two new commercial PSA’s for our client, The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. We’re so excited to share “LISTENING” for now as it was recently released, but we cannot wait to share our other PSA, “ONE STEP FORWARD” (we’ve included a preview at the end of the selected images above). These are two of our favorite works we’ve had the opportunity to create over the past decade working with the VA and our always incredible team. We are beyond grateful for the VA’s dynamic duo reps, who we owe so much to, and the team at Reingold. We are especially grateful for our veterans who brought so much passion and heart to their performances, as well as the craft and artistry everyone on the team brought to the production and post-production process. It was special to work again with the magician of light himself, cinematographer Larry Fong, ASC and the always incredible production designer and artist, Damon Fortier. A huge thank you to FOTOKEM!

As always our goal overall is to inspire veterans and others through this work. We’re always reminded just how much creating this work inspires us. It is always a special and extraordinary experience. CREDITS BELOW….!

CREDITS (see the PSA’s on our last post). ——————————————————————
Client: THE DEPARTMENT
OF VETERAN AFFAIRS

Agency:
REINGOLD 

Production Company:
FACKRELL BROTHERS 

CO-DIRECTORS / EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Matthew and
Nathan Fackrell 
CREATIVE DIRECTOR / WRITER:
Neil Bruce
PRODUCER:
HEAD OF PRODUCTION: taylor8
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR:
Matt Wilson
CASTING: Laurie Records Casting.

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY:
Robert Yeoman, ASC. 
PRODUCTION DESIGNER:
Damon Fortier

1ST AD: Eric White
SOUND: Dan Kelly
WARDROBE: Susie Carlson
HAIR/MAKEUP: Oasis Nguyen
VTR: Rich Millard
SET PHOTOGRAPHER: Mike Moriatis
BTS PHOTOGRAPHER: Tommy Otley
BTS PHOTOGRAPHER: Caris Yeoman
LOCATION MANAGER: Roger Barth
VETERAN ADVISOR: Edwin Modlin 
VETERANS/ACTORS: Paige Blackcloud, Eric Maragoto, Devon Ehrhorn, Joshua Reyes, Jordan Bell

EDITORS:
“Not Even Know It” - Sam Perkins
“Tightrope” - Jason DeVilliers & Matt Fackrell
“Reflections” - Jason DeVilliers
“Rails” - Matt Fackrell

POST- SUPERVISOR: Craig Windes
VFX SUPERVISOR / MATTE PAINTER: Rocco Gioffre  
VFX: Darren and Adam Fanton 

COLOR -
COLORIST: Matt Osbourne 
SOUND DESIGN: Brian Emrich 
SOUND MIX: Nathan Hoffman 

SCORE: Phil Klein “Tightrope”
& “Reflections”
MUSIC: “Leverage” by Andrii Yefymov (Gothic Storm Music)

We’re happy to finally share the four most recent commercial PSAs we directed for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that are currently airing nationwide. Each spot addresses the critical issues surrounding substance use disorder, highlighting the serious risks of fentanyl and the ways the VA can support the health and safety of our nation’s veterans and anyone else either on the road to recovery or in need of support. The VA is very courageous and wanted to do breakthrough work for this important issue and we took that creative challenge to heart. It was an incredibly ambitious and complex undertaking, especially with only five days to film all four spots, but It’s the kind of work we dream of as directors – purpose-driven with multi-layered creative, bold visuals and thoughtful storytelling that connect to audiences with respect and originality. As with every VA campaign, each PSA stars actors, who are also veterans. They not only add the authenticity of experience and a deep connection to the work, but they also gave phenomenal performances. It was such an honor working with each of them and an absolute blast working with a talented creative crew led by Oscar-nominated cinematographer Bob Yeoman (a true artist) and production designer, Damion Fortier, who artfully tailored the set design with magical, razor-sharp precision. For over 10 years now we (Fackrell Brothers) have directed dozens of awareness PPSAs for the VA. It has been a very challenging, but exciting and deeply fulfilling experience that we truly hope can make a positive impact for the veteran community, and helped save lives.
Lastly, there are those of you reading this who may have family or close friends who are Veterans struggling and desperately need help. For you to share these films with them could mean everything, and encourage others to do the same. It’s very possible that lives can be saved with just a thought and a text or email.

FACKRELL BROTHERS are currently in post production finishing 6 upcoming commercial awareness campaigns that we were honored to direct. Fackrell Brothers have such an amazing team that we’re very thankful for, along with the wonderful cast and crew members we’ve worked with!

4 of the commercials were shot back to back in a five day period, it was a challenge but very rewarding .

The man behind the camera on the 4 spots was the astounding Director of Photography, Robert Yeoman, ASC.

It was such a pleasure working with Bob Yeoman, and everyone on the crew, and in the cast. They all went above and beyond, it was amazing to see and experience.

We are extremely thankful to all who were involved.

Two of the other campaigns were shot earlier by the always wonderful DP, Megan Stacy. - again back to back shoots, and she and the cast and crew were amazing. These two commercials are about to be released. Keep an eye out.

Post production has been intense. But overall, everything is coming together wonderfully.

The sixth commercial was shot all on greenscreen and is undergoing a vfx overhaul. No frames to show as of yet. And seeing Bob Yeoman work his magic operating the camera techno crane = 🎥✨

We’re really looking forward to sharing the very campaign’s that each have very important messages, we sincerely hope will inspire all those who watch.

Update:

We Just finished a wonderful remote color session with the NYC division of

This is for FACKRELL BROTHERS next commercial spots.

In tandem , we’ve also been deep in the pre-production, prepping four( back to back) commercial campaigns. Shoot days are coming up in just over a week. It’s gonna be an exciting adventure.

Looking forward to working with an amazing and talented cast and crew, to create something very special. More updates and imagery soon to come.

FACKRELL BROTHERS UPDATE: Nathan had major (ALIF) spinal surgery this past Wednesday and will be back home today where he’ll spend the next three weeks recovering in bed and four more months on top of that re-learning how to tap dance for the ‘World Cup Clogging Is Better Than Tap’ competition! Drop him a kind note here or 🙏 Wishing him a speedy recovery!

I want to take a minute to acknowledge the other Brother in Fackrell Brothers…my twin brother, Nathan. For the past month he’s been in Tokyo prepping his short horror film, THE MAXIM and the three day shoot began today. The story is based on the Japanese manga and Nathan is filming it entirely in Japanese. The endless amount of work it has taken him to prep this shoot in Tokyo has probably turned most of his hair gray. He’s also powering through the extreme pain of back surgery he’s still recovering from. I’m so @%$ # proud of him and his determination make this film. To write, produce and direct it in Japanese!