Gray Whale Gin
A Coastal Journey
2024 • BRAND CAMPAIGN
Client: Gray Whale Gin
Agency: Colossus Creative Co.
Production: Sweven
Director / DP: Greg Farnum
Producer: Steven Galante
Virtual Production: Ian Messina
Executive Producer: Ken Kingdon
Art Director: Cooper Flanders
Drink Stylist: Rob Engle
Studio: Studio Lab
COCKTAIL JOURNEY — FINAL FILM (:15)
The coast, brought to the stage.
Gray Whale Gin’s coastal character comes to life in a pair of journeys: one through botanicals and one through cocktail-hour moments. Colossus Creative Co.’s concept keeps the bottle at the center as the camera carries us from beach bars to poolside gatherings and sunset dinner parties.
Building the journey
Practical tabletop sets, botanical dressing, styled drinks and talent were filmed at Studio Lab. Virtual-production environments extended the California coastline behind the action, allowing each scene to flow into the next through carefully coordinated camera movement.
Sweven’s contribution
Sweven produced the films with Greg Farnum directing and photographing the campaign, Steven Galante producing and Ian Messina leading virtual production. The October 2024 shoot brought the Botanical Journey and Cocktail Journey worlds together on stage.
Botanical Journey
Final film • :15. A moving tour through the coastal botanicals behind Gray Whale Gin.
2023 • BACK TO SCHOOL
Staples’ “School on. Save on.” campaign brings school supplies, technology and family shopping into one energetic film. Bold product displays, playful movement and fast transitions keep the focus on getting ready for the school year.
SWEVEN’S ROLE
Sweven provided motion control, with Greg Farnum as director of photography. The camera work connects the practical retail environment, talent and product moments into the campaign’s continuous visual rhythm.
THE CREATIVE APPROACH
The sequence moves through art-directed shelving and product displays, connects a notebook to a laptop through a rotating match cut, and uses a moving shopping cart to carry the transition into the campaign typography. The final film above brings those moments together.