Benedict's hot seat
National Theatre Live unveils its elegant brand film with actor Benedict Cumberbatch promoting the experience of watching world-class theatre from The Best Seat in the House, i.e. on the big screen.
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Credits
powered by
- Agency Wonderhood Studios/London
- Production Company Friend
- Director Mike Sharpe
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Credits
powered by
- Agency Wonderhood Studios/London
- Production Company Friend
- Director Mike Sharpe
- Executive Producer Luke Jacobs / (Managing Director)
- Editing Avenues Post Production
- Editor Thomas Goldser
- Post Production/Color Black Kite Studios
- Colorist George Kyriacou
- Sound Factory Studios/London
- Sound Jon Clarke
- Chief Creative Officer Aidan McClure
- Executive Creative Director Stacey Bird
- Executive Creative Director Jack Croft
- Creative James Rafter
- Creative Myles Vincent
- Head of Art Simon Elvins
- Senior Graphic Designer Katarzyna Wozniak
- Producer Henry Davies
- Producer Natalie Uglow
- DP Steve Annis
- Talent Benedict Cumberbatch
Credits
powered by
- Agency Wonderhood Studios/London
- Production Company Friend
- Director Mike Sharpe
- Executive Producer Luke Jacobs / (Managing Director)
- Editing Avenues Post Production
- Editor Thomas Goldser
- Post Production/Color Black Kite Studios
- Colorist George Kyriacou
- Sound Factory Studios/London
- Sound Jon Clarke
- Chief Creative Officer Aidan McClure
- Executive Creative Director Stacey Bird
- Executive Creative Director Jack Croft
- Creative James Rafter
- Creative Myles Vincent
- Head of Art Simon Elvins
- Senior Graphic Designer Katarzyna Wozniak
- Producer Henry Davies
- Producer Natalie Uglow
- DP Steve Annis
- Talent Benedict Cumberbatch
For anyone who's suffered a stiff neck/squinty eyes from attempting to connect with miniscule actors on a distant stage viewed from budget seats in row Z, through the woman in front's beehive hairdo, this is a welcome reminder of the ease of plays viewed at the cinema.
Created by Wonderhood Studios, in collaboration with ManvsMachine, Factory Studios and Avenue Editors, National Theatre Live's campaign sees Benedict Cumberbatch evoke the magic of theatre via a visually surprising montage of emotional chair imagery.
Directed by Mike Sharpe, through Friend, the brilliantly simple concept sees various feelings experienced by an imaginary audience projected onto a single wooden chair – ropes hold it in suspense, tears raining down on it, joy floats upwards around it in a flurry of balloons – as the actor's velvety tones articulate how theatre explores every emotion.
Ultimately, he reflects on how these sentiments are most powerful when experienced up close and personal, something that filmed performance offers, capturing the best angles for every moment of the show.
Mike Sharpe, ECD at ManvsMachine said, “A cinematic film for the National Theatre, centred around a single chair and as series of visual metaphors, all shot practically, with one of the world’s leading actors of both stage and screen - what a dream project this was!"
