Campaign Goes Whole Hog

In a commercial from Costa Mesa-based ad agency Buckley/Friedman for Balance Bar Co., a squadron of winged pigs takes flight. Here’s how the Los Angeles production company Fahrenheit created the spot.

1. A trained pig was outfitted with wings that could be flapped by remote control. The pig’s forelegs were placed on a box to make the animal appear to be flying. To keep the pig in position, with its head up, it was fed grapes as it was filmed against a blue screen.

2. Using a computer, the pig was digitally duplicated to create a squadron of flying pigs.

3. The pigs were then electronically inserted into the commercial, where they appear to soar through a blue-cloud sky.

Director Justin Klarenbeck said two pigs were needed to complete the shoot, as the pigs were no more than 4 months old and tired easily. “They slept a lot,” he said.