How Rick Darge Directs BIG Commercials
▶ Find Inspiration and develop your ideas with Frame Set:
https://go.frameset.app/3PajnJv
▶ About This Episode:
Director Rick Darge joins Dylan Hahn to break down his wildly absurd Popeyes “Chicken Chicken Chicken” campaign. It's a musical commercial built around one word, one weird idea, and a ton of meticulous prep. Rick walks through the entire process of directing a big budget commercial, from casting actors who can sing, navigating UK food advertising laws to solving VFX problems on the fly and keeping a set calm under pressure. They get into comedy theory, agency collaboration, lens choices, actor auditions, production company culture, and why the best comedy commercial work often comes from committing fully to one strange idea.
▶ Sources:
• Watch "Chicken, Chicken, Chicken"
• https://vimeo.com/1183335879
• Connect with Rick Darge
• https://www.rickdarge.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/rickdarge/
• View on Frame Set:
• https://frameset.app/search/brand/popeyes/chicken-chicken-chicken
▶ "Chicken, Chicken, Chicken" Music Video Credits:
Production Company - @prodcofficial
Founding Partners - @ianponsjewell & Zico Judge
Agency - @truantlondon
Founder & ECD - David Gamble
CD - George Bartlett & Charlie Lindsay
EP - @ella.t.g
Head of Production - @samlevene99
Producer - @jack.bradley
Production Manager - Zoe Papworth
DOP - @adambentel
Wardrobe - BRATSK
Hair & Makeup - @luluhinton
Production Designer - @thomasdanbury
Edit House - @thequarryedit
Editor - @bencampbelledit
Color, VFX, Sound House - @harborpictureco
Colorist - @alexgregorycolour
VFX Creative Director - @fergalhendrick
Sound Design + Mix - @gcastlesound & @jim_db
Music Composer/Director - @jenniferann.music
▶ About The Reframed Podcast:
"Reframed" is a show that helps growing filmmakers learn from the creators behind inspiring new work, offering real insights, practical tools, and a stronger sense of connection within the film community.
▶ Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:00 The “Chicken Chicken Chicken” Spot
02:18 UK Laws
04:03 One Weird Idea
05:28 Hiring a Musical Director
07:23 Casting Actors Who Could Actually Sing
11:02 Casting Is Darn Important
12:20 Storyboards, Shit-o-matics, and Previs
15:24 Lens Choices
16:28 Pulling Off the Sugar Glass Shot
20:42 One Day Shoot
23:10 Audition Tapes
25:15 Chasing Light
27:08 Solving the Ceiling Shot
28:35 One Weird Idea
31:30 Orange Glow
33:25 Calm and Fun
36:20 What Isn’t the Director’s Job?
38:15 Protecting Your Creative Voice
39:18 ProdCo
45:34 Rick Darge: Actor vs. Director
https://go.frameset.app/3PajnJv
▶ About This Episode:
Director Rick Darge joins Dylan Hahn to break down his wildly absurd Popeyes “Chicken Chicken Chicken” campaign. It's a musical commercial built around one word, one weird idea, and a ton of meticulous prep. Rick walks through the entire process of directing a big budget commercial, from casting actors who can sing, navigating UK food advertising laws to solving VFX problems on the fly and keeping a set calm under pressure. They get into comedy theory, agency collaboration, lens choices, actor auditions, production company culture, and why the best comedy commercial work often comes from committing fully to one strange idea.
▶ Sources:
• Watch "Chicken, Chicken, Chicken"
• https://vimeo.com/1183335879
• Connect with Rick Darge
• https://www.rickdarge.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/rickdarge/
• View on Frame Set:
• https://frameset.app/search/brand/popeyes/chicken-chicken-chicken
▶ "Chicken, Chicken, Chicken" Music Video Credits:
Production Company - @prodcofficial
Founding Partners - @ianponsjewell & Zico Judge
Agency - @truantlondon
Founder & ECD - David Gamble
CD - George Bartlett & Charlie Lindsay
EP - @ella.t.g
Head of Production - @samlevene99
Producer - @jack.bradley
Production Manager - Zoe Papworth
DOP - @adambentel
Wardrobe - BRATSK
Hair & Makeup - @luluhinton
Production Designer - @thomasdanbury
Edit House - @thequarryedit
Editor - @bencampbelledit
Color, VFX, Sound House - @harborpictureco
Colorist - @alexgregorycolour
VFX Creative Director - @fergalhendrick
Sound Design + Mix - @gcastlesound & @jim_db
Music Composer/Director - @jenniferann.music
▶ About The Reframed Podcast:
"Reframed" is a show that helps growing filmmakers learn from the creators behind inspiring new work, offering real insights, practical tools, and a stronger sense of connection within the film community.
▶ Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:00 The “Chicken Chicken Chicken” Spot
02:18 UK Laws
04:03 One Weird Idea
05:28 Hiring a Musical Director
07:23 Casting Actors Who Could Actually Sing
11:02 Casting Is Darn Important
12:20 Storyboards, Shit-o-matics, and Previs
15:24 Lens Choices
16:28 Pulling Off the Sugar Glass Shot
20:42 One Day Shoot
23:10 Audition Tapes
25:15 Chasing Light
27:08 Solving the Ceiling Shot
28:35 One Weird Idea
31:30 Orange Glow
33:25 Calm and Fun
36:20 What Isn’t the Director’s Job?
38:15 Protecting Your Creative Voice
39:18 ProdCo
45:34 Rick Darge: Actor vs. Director
Frame Set
Helping filmmakers with creative development.
Frame Set's YouTube channel is dedicated to creating videos that inspire, empower, and equip filmmakers of all levels — helping them feel less alone, more connected, and ready to apply what they learn to the...