Client:  Scotts Australia
Agency:  Heckler
Brief:  Comparison props for TVC and print campaign

Working with Scotts Australia, Heckler brought Big Kahuna in to help create the on-set effects for a TVC and print campaign for the lawn and garden company’s range of controlled-release plant foods — Osmocote Professional Potting Mix.

The client wanted to create a comparison ad showing not only the dramatic differences between a plant potted with Osmocote and one without; but, also the differences in the root systems of the two plants and the various uses.

Using a week five result photo as a guide for the creative, Big Kahuna used real potting mix and plants to re-create the comparison on a small scale with Marigolds and a larger scale with Bay Leaf trees.

The trick in this project was to expose the living root system and not letting all of the soil fall out.  We had to research a solution that would achieve the result we wanted but not kill the living plants.  In the end, we mixed some of the potting mix with an organic, binding agent that served as a barrier, allowing us to cut a quarter section of the terracotta pot out while keeping everything else intact.

Big Kahuna delivered two large plant comparisons and two small for the final pot selection on the day of the shoot.  We also designed the props in a way that the elements could be easily slotted into backup pots in the event of an unexpected break rather than having to build multiples as replacements.

We’re still waiting for the campaign to be released but we’ll update the blog with imagery as soon as it’s available.