King Arthur “Baking up Memories” [spec]

Director

Jun 11

The Idea

As a kid, I remember waking up to the smell of pancakes filling the whole house. Pancakes were (and still are) the gateway to my heart, and not just because I could drown them in butter and maple syrup and call it breakfast. When the aroma of breakfast served as my alarm clock, I’d get out of bed and find a stack of pancakes waiting for me wrapped in tinfoil with a note from my dad saying he loves me and to have a beautiful day at school.

Growing up, my dad worked as a truck dispatcher at a large newspaper company. His work schedule changed every six months, so it wasn’t uncommon to go a few days without ever seeing each other because of his long hours and early mornings. But, he always found ways to remind me he was still present, even if he couldn’t physically be there. One of the ways we stayed connected was him baking little goodies for me – whether it was a stack of pancakes staying warm in some foil or packing my lunch with a homemade cookie before I ever woke up.

Father-daughter relationships are so important and can be such special connections. Some of my most treasured memories with my dad are baked into the smells of pancakes and homemade treats. This project is about mixing and making memories together!

PRODUCTION

Director: Brittany Neff
Director of Photography: Alexander Rivera
Assistant Director: David Orr
1st AC: Ryan Shackleford
Gaffer: Matt Hedt
Key Grip: Zach Bennet
G&E: Jeff Buckner, Michael Powell
Art Director: Shannon Malone
Food Stylist: Paul Kilpatrick
Sound: Jeremy Childers
Boom Op: Paul Kilpatrick
Stylist / HMU: Robbie Forrest
Script Supervisor: Jill Davis
Location Scout: Will Beaty
Production: Jordan Whilden
Storyboard Artist: Amin Quliyev

EDITORIAL

Editor/Colorist: Tim Snider

talent

Talent Agency - KU Talent
Aalyiah - Rae Minter
James - Arthur Minter
Mom - Aliya Minter

RENTALS

Camera Rental: www.summitcamera.com
G&E Rental: www.matthedt.com
Production Supplies: www.campsoundsrentals.com

The approach

I wanted to center this story on a father and daughter because, let’s be honest, I don’t think commercials always make enough room to show the quiet, steady ways dads show up. So much of a parent’s love happens behind the scenes, in the small gestures that may not seem grand in the moment, but stay with us for years.

For this concept, I pulled from pieces of my own childhood and blended them with the magic of a little girl’s point of view. Her dad works the night shift, which means he can’t always be physically present for the big moments, but he still finds ways to stay close. Through notes, baked treats, and little surprises left behind, we see how love can travel across time, schedules, and sleepy mornings. It’s a story about presence, even when someone can’t be in the room.