Saatchi & Saatchi NZ digital CD Nathan James Cooper launches short film ‘The Beer Scooter’

A none-too subtle warning about the dangers of heavy drinking, Saatchi & Saatchi NZ digital CD Nathan James Cooper has launched his first short film ‘The Beer Scooter’, a perilous journey across the gulf of booze-induced amnesia.

The Beer Scooter explores the circumstances that can lead to an often horrific, hungover realisation: you haven’t made it back to the safety of your bed. Shot entirely on location in Auckland this 3 minute short was made on a shoestring budget (aside from a the rather large bar bill).

WATCH THE FILM

Says Cooper: The whole thing just sort of fell into place, I wrote it with Johnny in mind, meet this great DOP Garth Badger who just got it straight away and then my father in law Peter Vere-Jones said he’d voice it. From there everyone I spoke to was up for helping out.”

The project took around two months from the first draft to it’s first view on Vimeo and involved what Cooper refers to as a bit of method directing.

Says Cooper: ‘I’ve always loved the idea of making a film about the legendary Beer Scooter. And growing up in a pub gave me a good understanding of the subject matter.”

Cooper has already written the film’s sequel ‘Beer Googles’ which is planned for release later this year.

Says Cooper: “Much of the same really, I wanted to do Scooter first as the term ‘Beer Googles’ is much more familiar and so harder to do without cliché. I figured if people like this one then they’ll be more likely to want to see Beer Googles rather than the other way round.”

Previously Cooper had been a commercials director out of Paul Arden’s London shop, where he shot films for Playstation, Carling and Sky. He’s spent the last 8 years working as a digital creative director crafting multi-award winning work for the likes of Converse, Nike, adidas, Sony and Nokia. He’s currently working as digital creative director of Saatchi & Saatchi Auckland.

Click here to download Twinkle Twinkle.

Writer: Nathan James Cooper

Coice & SFX: Franklin Road & Marmalade Audio

Cooper acknowledges Saatchi & Saatchi NZ, BadgerDome, Brian, The Gipsy Tea Room, Mr & Mrs Hunter & the extras (excluding Brad)