AMY MIKLER + CHUCK E CHEESE
Did you know Chuck E. Cheese serves beer and wine for parents? Neither did we. Last year, during our three shoots for Chuck E. Cheese, we discovered quite a few surprising things. Among them: kids scream with excitement when Chuck E. Cheese makes an appearance, reminiscent of the Beatles mobs back in the day; Skee-Ball, once a staple, now feels old-fashioned; and the pizza is so beloved that a thriving takeout business has emerged.
Amy Mikler's first project for Chuck E. Cheese was a scrappy stills and motion shoot aimed at showcasing how CEC can be used for fundraising efforts. With a minimal crew, a loose idea of shots, and a compressed schedule, Amy needed a nimble setup. She also had to keep the all-volunteer talent moving so she could capture their natural energy and excitement.
For the second shoot, Material+ brought us in for a campaign shoot. Amy enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate and brainstorm ideas ahead of time, allowing her to focus her energy on eliciting natural laughs from the kids on set. With a tighter shot list, the need to tell multi-layered stories was crucial. Amy and the art director worked out shots that maximized the background, such as placing meals in the foreground, the dance floor in the middle ground, and the new movie screens in the background. Despite a couple of last-minute food shots, they stayed on schedule, wrapped on time, and left the client very satisfied.
Our final shoot of 2023 was once again a bit scrappy, aiming to showcase the new trampolines. With a mix of motion and stills, Amy and her team needed to tell a fast-moving story, from providing socks to highlighting height requirements, all the way to showing high-flying kids having a blast. Amy incorporated details like friends high-fiving after checking height and slow-motion footage of jumping to keep the clips feeling fresh and fun.
We had a lot of fun getting to know the Chuck E. Cheese brand this year, appreciating the enthusiasm of their team, and we're eagerly looking forward to our next shoot!
