Chris Clark serves up some pasture-to-plate goodness for Silver Fern Farms x Designworks

It's always great to be reminded how awesome New Zealand is, particularly regarding our food industry. Director Chris Clark, producer Ivan Barge, and cinematographer Marty Williams headed for the hills and hit the roads to gather all sorts of deliciousness showcasing Kiwi skill and ingenuity, from top chefs to hands-in-the-dirt growers and food-on-the-plate eaters. Tastefully conceived by Designworks for one of our best producers in the biz, Silver Fern Farms.

Below, Chris chats about what keeps him happy, and it looks like this shoot did just that.

"The longer I direct, the more I appreciate the new places and people it introduces me to. This sprawling 10-day production did not disappoint. It took us right across our Motu. Both islands. Up Maunga. Into farms. Native forest. Tasting the flavours of multiple restaurants and chefs. Into suburban backyards, corporate offices and film studios. All to capture the full “pasture to plate” experience and sustainable future focus of Silver Fern Farms, resulting in a 3-minute film. I was also afforded the freedom to create this shorter director’s cut.

As I make ads, I'm constantly throwing everything I've learnt as a director into creating moments of real life that complement the Client and Agency's intensively researched, strategic, targeted scripts. I want my involvement with a high-stakes corporate imperative to wrap an ad campaign in real, dirt under the fingernails, 100% lived-in, smiling, happy, joyful Aotearoa. I feel like this director’s cut achieved that. And then some. Real people. Real places. Keeping it reel." - says Chris.

BTS Stills - Belinda Bradley

Client - Silver Fern Farms

Agency - Designworks

ECD - Jef Wong

Account Director - Emma Worthington

Director - Chris Clark

Producer - Ivan Barge

DP - Marty Williams

EP - Belinda Bradley

Production Manager - Claire Campbell

Runner - Mitch Clothier

Gaffer/Grip - Craig Muirhead

Best Boy - Josh Wijohn

1st AC - Willy Pearce

Playback Op - Sam Mckay

WD/MU Combo - Tracey Feickert

WD/MU Combo - Franziska Knoll

Food Stylist - Ange Casley

Food Assist- Stu Duffin

Art Director - Kate Brown

Art Assist - Haley Williams