Is the Dead Rooster Full of Hot Air? Yes, yes he is…
They are finally running the 2009 Honda Pilot commercial I worked on and mentioned in a previous post. I saw it myself this morning on–you guessed it–CNN (do they love me over there or what?). The commercial involves a Good Samaritan (driving a 2009 Honda Pilot) who encounters a recently-landed hot-air balloon blocking the road. The occupants of the balloon are in need of a lift and the Good Samaritan offers them a ride but is surprised to discover they are a group of elderly nudists.
You can’t see me on camera, but I am actually hiding behind the balloon basket with an inflation fan which I am using to fill the envelope with air just before they start to roll the camera. Given the short length of the commercial you wouldn’t guess I had probably filled that thing at least 50 times!
Side note: For those of you looking for my review of Cluck, I’m still reading it. I know it’s taking me forever to get finished, but it’s because I keep getting bombarded with actual paid-work which I can’t ignore. Anyway, I’m hoping to finish reading the book tonight and hopefully I’ll have a review up tomorrow.
Comments
Comment from John Sullivan
Time: May 22, 2008, 10:42 am
Yeah man tighten up and get moving on that review j/k
I was looking around for that yesterday.
Keep up the great job! Thanks for adding me to your blogroll
I got you on both- Key West-they love the ROOSTER there.
All the animal rights people will hit DEADROOSTER just for the hell of it.
And will get treated to an awesome BLOG
Comment from Eric Knapp
Time: May 22, 2008, 2:05 pm
No pressure from me … take your time so you can fully enjoy the book, and write an even better review 
“nudge nudge wink wink”
… and then use those hollywood connections to land the movie deal. I’ve actually tried (very unsuccessfully) to get Bruce Campbell to take a look. I’d like him to star as both Armand and Bobby. Oh well, I can dream.
I’m not sure where elderly nudists fit, but I’m sure we could find a part for them somewhere …
Comment from William McCamment
Time: May 22, 2008, 6:19 pm
@Eric,
I am loving it. While I was reading I was thinking it would make a great movie. I wish I had some pull with the Hollywood big shots, but to them I am mostly someone to be ordered around. 
Bruce Campbell is the greatest actor of our time. He was signing his book, “If Chins Could Kill” in Burbank a few years ago but I spaced on the date and missed it. I was SO bummed. 
Comment from Jenn Thorson
Time: May 23, 2008, 4:30 am
Heh- that’s so cool. When I see that commercial on real-and-for-true TV, I will know there was a Dead Rooster behind it.
Literally.
Comment from William McCamment
Time: May 23, 2008, 4:36 am
@Jenn,
So far, I’ve only seen it once but have friends that have seen it several times. I’m sure it’s only because they watch a lot more non-cartoon television than I do.
Comment from Eric Knapp
Time: May 23, 2008, 5:08 am
That is brilliant - and knowing the story behind the commercial makes it even better!
Yeah - Bruce is the man. And put Ted Raimi in as the voice of either the car or The Charge … instant hit. If only I knew the right people … but unfortunately, the right people don’t live anywhere near NH.
Comment from William McCamment
Time: May 23, 2008, 5:10 am
@Eric,
Haha! I was thinking The Charge would have an adult “Stewie Griffin” type of personality (with a slight French accent).
Comment from OutsideMyBrainAgain
Time: May 23, 2008, 5:14 am
@Dead Rooster: Are you sure you were using a fan? i’m just sayin… It’s the title of your post. j/k Thanks for sharing, the commercial is funny.
Comment from William McCamment
Time: May 23, 2008, 8:17 pm
@OutsideMyBrainAgain,
I used a fan AND I’m full of hot air.
Comment from Steven
Time: May 23, 2008, 10:15 pm
Hi William. Nice work on the commercial. I’ve seen it several times and it always makes me laugh. Eric Knapp made a great comment in saying that knowing the story behind it makes it even better. He’s right.
Comment from BrentD
Time: May 26, 2008, 11:55 am
Happy Memorial Day
William McCamment reply on May 28th, 2008 9:20 pm:
Thanks Brent. I’m a day late, but thanks!
Comment from mudge
Time: May 26, 2008, 12:54 pm
New here; very funny Honda Pilot commercial. Full of respect for creative people, especially those behind the camera (or the basket, as the case may be). Good stuff.
William McCamment reply on May 28th, 2008 9:21 pm:
Welcome! Those guys in the basket were all hilarious too! They kept us all laughing in-between takes.
Comment from Deb on the Rocks
Time: May 26, 2008, 8:28 pm
Saw that commercial tonight and laughed— before knowing your connection. When all the nudists pop up it was really surprising. Hope the pilot had washable seat covers.
William McCamment reply on May 28th, 2008 9:23 pm:
Haha! Yeah, maybe they left some skid-marks!
Comment from AmyOops
Time: May 27, 2008, 6:37 am
I saw the commerical Friday night. Didnt see you though..
Comment from TheMrs
Time: May 27, 2008, 7:08 pm
That’s a pretty good commercial, I must say. I laughed and then when I read you were hiding and I watched it again, I laughed even more. Just remember one thing about hot air… better from the attic than the basment. If that makes no sense, just ignore me and move along. Good to read you.
William McCamment reply on May 28th, 2008 9:28 pm:
YOU are the one that’s been hiding. Where have you been? LOL
Nevermind, I read your blog–I know where you are.
Comment from Bradley
Time: May 28, 2008, 5:10 pm
I use to be a tvaholic but rarely watch anymore. It’s funny that I miss the commercials more than the tv shows.
William McCamment reply on May 28th, 2008 9:29 pm:
That’s because–now days–the commercials are often better than the TV shows.
Comment from Uni
Time: June 11, 2008, 9:05 pm
I’ve finally seen the commercial (and you should appreciate my restraint on commenting on the title of this). Clever commercial. Are they really nekkid?
William McCamment reply on June 11th, 2008 9:27 pm:
Hopefully, you saw the full commercial. There is a heavily edited one that doesn’t even show the balloon envelope and my hard work of keeping it filled with a small amount of air.
They were not completely naked (thank goodness). The men wore skin-colored body wraps up to their waists and the women–yes, there were two of them–wore wraps all the way up over their boobs (but, the girls were hidden pretty well behind the guys).
Even though I was not on camera this time, it was still the most fun ever! I can tell you that people that work on film crews are very happy (except for the assistant director who screams a lot).
William McCamment reply on May 28th, 2008 9:19 pm:
Thanks! It was a lot of fun working on it.
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