About

Erik Johann Van Wyk

Erik Johann
Van Wyk

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USA NMSI

'Touch down'

So what do you do if NASA refuses to licence their footage to an ad? You make your own. In a gigantic studio in Burbank, California, with an exquisitely crafted real model lander, a massive moon surface, a capsule set and control room. Makes one wonder.

USA NMSI

'Sound Barrier'

All in-camera models of planes, cockpit and people shot on the correct retro film stock of the day in the Nevada winter sun, all combined with re-augmented original footage with permission. It doesn’t get more technical and real than this. Wonderful.

Coca Cola

'Brrr!!!'

Shot in Zanzibar on 35mm film. This was a remote control shaking rig we built to shake people from a distance when the time was right. Super fun. We also used 2 parrots, one had it’s feathers, the other had already molted. We spun a toilet brush stuffed with feathers to create the effect of shedding and comped all three. The parrots just had to be themselves.

Ikea

'The Boy and the Box'

This was part of the IKEA campaign for Europe out of Milan. This little guy, Harrison, was just such a beautiful little soul. Very, very funny.

Honda

'Let it Shine'

If you are going to do a massive amount of lights and shoot it on anamorphic lenses and 35mm film, do the actual lights for real. The lens flares and optical dances of the light perspectives are too glorious to ignore or fake. And for goodness sake, try and time your sequence to a real sunrise. This was an art installation on another scale. Heaven.

Santam Insurance

'What could go wrong?'

Helicopters, bushpigs, skyscrapers and the uncanny valley. I love giving super solid concepts like these scale. This was fun.

Allegro – Branded Short Film

'Lemonade'

We found these two brilliant young stars on a discarded casting for a tv show. A friend sent it to us after our casting was signed off, but we managed to get them on board. Funny how the best people sometimes don’t go to advertising castings. 😉 We shot this in the coastal forest of Gdansk on the Baltic sea.

Allegro

'Dog'

Shot in Warsaw with London talent, this was more difficult than I thought it would be. Kids and dogs. Thanks to actor Finlay Robertson for managing these moments like a genius.

SAB

'130'

One hundred and thirty SAB trucks with a message on each one. A massive moving billboard in the shape of a ‘Truck Train’. Helicopter, drones, tracking vehicles, handheld, and a lot of running around. Almost impossible to reset for a shot – just keep going, keep pushing, never stop rolling.

Heineken

'In the City'

Heineken wants to do the very first Formula E racing ad. Today. All over the world. So you get a race car, cool people and you go for it. Edited, graded and sound designed in London.

Porsche Classic

'Look after things'

A classic Porsche, a helicopter and an open road. What is not to love? This is such a beautifully simple idea. We shot this in the South African desert. The actress, Jenna Upton, does all her own driving. Manual. At speed. With a helicopter buzzing her. Lovely.

Citroën

'Frog'

Shot in Barcelona for France, this was a CG dream from the original Framestore in London. Shot on 35mm film with anamorphic lenses over some long nights. Still love this film grade.

Southwest Airlines

'Moving Forward'

Who says 10 second ads can’t be smart and designed. These were designed to stand out, and punch up the tone and concept. Shot around Los Angeles, this was a one point perspective framing tribute to Stanley Kubrick. Anamorphic lenses on 35mm film with the most beautifully designed tracking.

Canon Cameras

'Photo Tag'

Shot in Kings Hill Forest outside London on 35mm film in icy winter. These people were a blast. Unrelated, but interesting: ‘According to Google Trends, search traffic for non-phone digital cameras started ramping up and is currently at a 5 year high.’ – The Verge

McDonald’s

'Believe in Magic'

Shot in Slovenia this was an exercise in everything. Kids, dogs, rain. Casting was long and we cast in 5 countries, but we found what the story needed. She was very funny. Not your average McDonald’s script. Edited in Germany, graded at Framestore London, post production finish in Cape Town.
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Erik Johann Van Wyk

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Erik is the founder of Lovers & Fighters

Nicola Louw

[email protected]

WhatsApp +44 7870 636445

A bit about me.

I was born and raised in the winelands of Stellenbosch outside Cape Town, South Africa. I’ve been directing and designing commercials in all shapes and sizes all over the world for a while now through companies like Independent London, Anonymous Content Los Angeles, Velocity Films Johannesburg, Lovers & Fighters Cape Town and my own studio EJVW Studio for Europe. I started my career as an agency creative, so aligning the script concept with the most beautiful and entertaining film for viewers is central to my thinking. I’ve been very fortunate to be part of a remarkably diverse body of award-winning work, each with its own unique cinematic design for some of the most celebrated agencies in the world like Wieden+Kennedy, BBH and Martin. My family lived in many cities (London, Oslo, Geneva, Stuttgart, Singapore, Boston, Portland, New York, Minneapolis, Barcelona, Palma, Johannesburg, and Cape Town), so I draw heavily from the influences of all these places. I studied art, robotics engineering, economics, photography and screenwriting, and drummed for art school bands. Music is always the starting point when designing any visual. I currently live between London and Cape Town with my wife and little boy.
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