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Toyota Presents: Upgrading the GR Corolla with Genuine Accessories | Toyota

We've all seen parts and accessories videos from every automotive brand. They're informative, but more often than not, your attention starts to drift after the first ten seconds. We were given the same assignment, but instead of creating another product walkthrough, we challenged ourselves to make something people would genuinely want to watch. The goal was to deliver the information while making it funny, energetic, and entertaining from beginning to end. I wrote and directed the project, co-directed on set to keep production moving efficiently, and also served as Director of Photography. It was an ambitious approach, and we undoubtedly made the production far more complicated than it needed to be, but creating something memorable was always more important than simply checking the boxes.

The concept begins as a familiar educational parts video. An engineer installs the accessories, professional drivers demonstrate their real-world use, and a narrator guides the audience through each feature. As the film progresses, however, the drivers begin having a little too much fun and start pushing back against the narrator. Their playful banter slowly unravels the format until the narrator can no longer resist and joins the adventure himself. By turning a traditionally straightforward product film into a character-driven comedy, we were able to make the information feel engaging while giving the audience a reason to stay until the very end.

Director: @gabrieltaylor & @erriott

Written by: @gabrieltaylor

Talent: @ryantuerck , @pistonsandpixiedust & @sethquintero_103

Client: @toyotausa

Production Co: @sweatpantsmedia

Agency: @unv3rified

President: @rko281s

Creative Director: @andrew_nethery

Executive Producer: @andybell

Producer: Bradley Rettele

Production supervisor: @kevinbostoncao

Coordinator: @a_mo.production

1st AD: @ja_el_lion_bey

DP: @gabrieltaylor

1st AC: @m.tursi

2nd AC: @josh_m_montiel

Drone pilot: @orion.herman.media @overridefilms

Drone gimbal op: @gabrieltaylor

DIT: Jason Seaton

Gaffer: @arthurgrigory @ocufilms

BBE: Michael Tomassetti

Swing: James Edwards

Grip: @nixfilm

BB Grip: Chris Phelps

Camera car: @filmotechnicworldwide / @covert_camera_vehicles

Camera car driver: @d_nelson_94

Camera car crane op: @therealreddog

Remote Head tech: @christdawson

Sound: Brandon Sappington

HMU: Amanda Tillman

Key PA: @seanjamesphotography

PA: Devon Ortiz, Jeronimo Leon, Josh Niyogi

Editor: @rob_seidel

Color: @clarkgriffiths

Production Supervisor: @natalieworksinfilm

VFX: @nictorrez

Audio Mix: @capestatus