MPS Camera & Lighting proudly supplied equipment for a series of Austin Animal Center spots by the talented production duo Fancy Coyote. Director Katie Trew Cheline & Producer Haley Alea Erickson made comedy gold with great writing and hilarious talent and brought it all to life with our ARRI Alexa & Cooke S4’s.

 

Tell us a bit about Fancy Coyote and your background.

 

Fancy Coyote is a one-stop-shop for all of your video production needs. From bid to edit we are experienced and adept in producing and fulfilling client expectations at any given budget. We specialize in creating quality production value at any level.

We are Katie Trew Cheline and Haley Alea Erickson (Executive Producers | Co Owners of FANCY COYOTE)

Katie Trew Cheline (Director) has a 6+ year background in major tent pole film and TV production. Katie has been an intricate and vital team member in massive budget, fast paced, multi camera projects such as “Transformers” Dir. Michael Bay, “Men, Women and Children” Dir. Jason Reitman, HBO’s “The Leftovers” and “American Crime” (to name a few) Katie specializes in Camera, 1st ADing and general bad-assery. Katie was also a producer on national Verizon Commercials and has a knowledge for budgeting and scheduling that is imperative in production.

Haley Alea Erickson (Producer + Project Development) (isn’t it fun that we both have 3 names) started in Development working under Don Handfield and Jeremy Renner at THE COMBINE where she developed a sense for storytelling + narrative within the realm of Hollywood and the Studio System. Moving from LA to Austin in 2013 Haley has worked as a Production Coordinator and Producer on countless commercials and films in the Austin arena. Haley worked with Detour Films under Richard Linklater in post production on the Oscar Nominated “Boyhood” in her time at Detour. Haley specializes in project development, production management and client relations. Haley is also an actor/comedian that is featured in several of Fancy Coyote’s projects…including this one!

Tell us a bit about this initiative with the Austin Animal Center and how you came together. Why this project?

 

The Austin Animal Center is such an important pillar in the no-kill shelter community in Austin and beyond. We are both animal lovers who want to see all strays and owner surrendered fluffy heads alike find forever homes. This is our first spot in a series of campaigns that we intend to produce over the next few years that makes sketch comedy web content to draw attention to the shelter and help spread dialogue about the importance of supporting no-kill shelters and facilitating adoption as a first choice.

 

This particular spot comes the brain of Katie Trew Cheline and her love for kitty-cats. We wanted to make the first spot VERY quirky and odd in hopes that it might draw people in from all corners of the interweb and bring attention to AAC and their incredible work.

 

What did you shoot on? Was there a particular piece of gear that was instrumental to the shoot?

 

We were lucky enough to have been able to shoot on the Arri Alexa.  In addition to the Alexa itself the Cooke S4 lenses and our remote follow focus system were essential to our shoot. The Cooke lenses are some of the best on the market and always create an amazing image. The remote follow focus helped us tremendously during the whole shoot, but specifically when we went handheld. All in all- the equipment provided by MPS gave us the tools we needed to capture the highly stylistic and moody aesthetic we were dreaming about.

 

Any funny stories or memories from the set?

 

Of course! Working with kittens and cats always brings giggles and glee to a set. We were lucky enough to have 2 kittens and 6 cats come visit us on set monitored by an animal specialist. At one point we were filming a scene where Byron Brown plays the “kooky cat man” and shares tea and milk with the 2 kittens. We shot this scene at a glass dining room table that you can see through- let me tell you, this provided great entertainment for the kittens who batted at Byron’s slippers through the glass. So cute. You have GOT to see it.

 

And you can! Check out the full length version right here.

 

Together, Katie and Haley co-write and concept promos, films, sketches (you name it) and are working to build up their company and take on new projects and create new long lasting relationships. FANCY COYOTE has just finished making their first film, “HIT” that features talent such as Rooster Teeths, BURNIE BURNS, ZAK ORTH and Austin Sweetheart: KIRK JOHNSON. Keep these talented women on your radar!