Honda Accord Advert

If you think the people who set up rooms full of dominos to knock over are entertaining, this Honda Accord advert should impress you. It very possible you have seen it. I understand it was used as a TV ad, and, it was made a few years ago, but still holds good.

Firstly let me tell you, there are absolutely no computer graphics or digital tricks in the film clip. Everything you see really happened in real time, exactly as you see it.

The film took 606 takes. On the first 605, something, usually very minor, didn't work. They would then have to set the whole thing up again. The crew spent weeks shooting night and day. By the time it was over, some people in the crew were ready to change professions.

The film took three months to complete. It is two minutes long. It cost a reputed $6 million to produce - including engineering.

However, this clip is fast becoming the most downloaded advertisement in Internet history. Honda executives figure the ad will pay for itself simply in 'free viewings' (The company is not paying a cent to have you watch this commercial!).

There are six, and only six 'hand-made' Accords in the world. To the horror of Honda engineers, the film-makers disassembled two of them to make the video.
Everything you see in the film (aside from the walls, floor, ramp, and complete Honda Accord) are parts from those two hand-made cars.

When the ad was shown to Honda executives they liked it, and commented on how amazing computer graphics have become. They fell off their chairs when they found out there were no graphics. It was for real! It was approved immediately, including the estimated costs.

Oh, and about those funky windscreen wipers. On those model Accords, the wipers had water sensors designed to start doing their thing automatically as soon as they became wet.