If you read this blog regularly, you'll know that over the last six months or so, Spectrecom's creative team has been busy documenting the construction of Cunard's newest cruise ship, Queen Elizabeth.
Cunard is gradually unveiling details of the ship’s unique design and last week we were asked to cover the unveiling of a stunning art deco feature, which shows the port bow of the original Queen Elizabeth ploughing through the Atlantic waves.

Created by the Queen’s nephew, Lord Linley, the feature will be the centrepiece of the ship’s Grand Lobby and work is currently under way. Once complete, the piece will be shipped during the summer to the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, where it will be installed over four days.

Watch the video above to see the artist's impression unveiled at David Linley’s Gallery in London’s West End. Spectrecom filmed this event on Wednesday evening and edited the material over night for a quick turnaround - the film was online at 11:00 am the following day.

 

Spectrecom moved to new premises at Waterloo in January and we've been very busy transforming the building, originally a news distribution warehouse, into a fully integrated 4 studio complex.

Given that the premises was still essentially a building site and that the hospitality areas were rudimentary to say the least, we refrained from publicising the studios beyond the pages on this website. However, there's been a steady stream of clients using the new facilities - despite the limitations - and the good news is that we're almost there. Studio 2 became operational in mid-February and Studios 3 & 4 soon followed. The kitchens are finished and the 3 green rooms comfortably furnished. 

 

We're now making good headway with Studio 1. At 2,000 sq ft, this is the largest studio and we've had to put in a new concrete base to level off the sloping floor (the image of a camera crew riding on a track & dolly, and hurtling down-hill into the cyc wall, just didn't bear thinking about!). So, like the other studios, we're building a 'U' shaped cyc wall, sound-proofing the walls and ceiling, and installing a lighting grid. This studio though, will also have a viewing gallery, and finally, with vehicle access through a shutter door, it'll need two giant steel-framed doors to be specially constructed. The first shoot for Studio 1, running for 5 days, is set for 7th June and we're comfortably on schedule.

To those clients who have already hired one of our studios, thank you for your patience and tolerance as we've continued to build (quietly, I hope) around your shoots. And if you haven't yet visited us, we're ready to welcome you and give you the guided tour.

And no, you won't need to bring your hard hat!

Ever wondered what a cupcake fired out of cannon at 120psi straight into people's faces would look like? Well ... your wait is finally over!

Here's a fantastic viral video created by Kamp Grizzly - a marketing studio in Portland, Oregon - for Johnny Cupcakes. Having built their own bespoke cupcake cannon (you can't get them in the shops), the team from Kamp Grizzly blasted cupcakes directly into volunteers faces and filmed the ensuing carnage at 700fps using the Phantom HD Gold. Enjoy!

This week saw the release of two fantastic - but very different - viral marketing videos from computer technology giants Google and Microsoft.

Microsoft went back to basics and produced a video featuring a hidden camera prank. OK ... so there's nothing particularly original there, but it's actually pretty entertaining and certainly a far cry from some of Microsoft's other much-lamented efforts. It has absolutely nothing to do with the product that it's trying to promote, Microsoft Office Ultimate software since you ask, but it's engaging, funny and surprisingly watchable. No wonder it's doing so well.

Google has taken a different approach entirely to show us exactly how fast their new-web browser Chrome is. Their new video is slick, clever, beautiful and unique. There's even a bit of humour thrown in too. It features original, intriging and completely unexpected ways to show viewers just how quick the browser is, including comparing it against lightning and even a potato gun! A massive amount of work (and money) has clearly gone into producing this video, but the result is perfect! Something that you could watch again, again and again. No wonder it's had 1.5million views already

Here's the sixth in the series of video blogs produced by Spectrecom for Cunard, documenting the construction of their newest ship, Queen Elizabeth.

Filmed on location at Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard in Italy, the video is presented by Alastair Greener, Entertainment Director for Cunard Line; and features the first half of ship's "Float-Out" ceremony

For CUNARD and the dedicated construction team involved, this freezing cold day in January was a truly momentous occasion.

Click on the image above to watch the film and to find out more about Spectrecom's work with CUNARD, please click here.