Grammy Winner T-Pain and Prysm Studios Team Up for High-Octane Checkers Campaign

When Checkers & Rally’s secured T-Pain as the face of their new value meal campaign, they knew they had to create something that matched the star power of the Grammy-winning artist. It wasn’t just about promoting a meal. It was about capturing the energy, fun, and boldness that T-Pain is known for. The in-house marketing team, led by Kristi Shaw and Matthew Weidenbenner, aimed to deliver a campaign that was as dynamic as their star. To make sure it lived up to the vision, they turned to their long-time collaborator, Ryan Gilbert of Prysm Studios.

Ryan eagerly jumped on board, excited by the opportunity. Knowing that building a diverse and experienced creative team would be crucial, he immediately reached out to his trusted collaborators. One of his first calls was to Brandon Dermer, a fellow Columbia College Chicago alumnus and a seasoned director who had worked with major names like Blink-182, Panic! At The Disco, and, of course, T-Pain.

Before we hear from Ryan, let’s dive into this brand new spot featuring the Grammy winner…

https://vimeo.com/1010361946

“Brandon has a knack for thinking outside the box, and I knew he’d be excited to play around with the idea of combining a drive-thru with drifting cars,” Ryan explained. With his previous experience working with T-Pain, Brandon brought an immediate sense of comfort and chemistry to the set, making the creative process smooth and enjoyable for everyone.

To ensure the production had the visual flair it needed, Ryan and Brandon also brought in another Columbia College alum, Wojciech Kielar, as Director of Photography. Wojciech’s expertise in high-energy cinematography made him the perfect fit to capture the fast-paced action, especially in the confined space of the drive-thru. His ability to handle complex shots ensured the drifting sequences would be as thrilling as they were visually stunning.

Once the team aligned on the final concept, Matt and Kristi gave the green light, and it was off to the races – literally.

Let’s take a look at a few screenshots from the high energy spot…

The commercial was filmed overnight at a real Checkers drive-thru in Atlanta, providing the perfect urban backdrop to play with lighting. The late-night shoot gave the crew the chance to experiment with neon lights reflecting off sleek cars, creating a vibrant and atmospheric vibe. However, the small size of the drive-thru and parking lot posed logistical challenges. Careful planning was critical to ensure the team could pull off the shoot in the tight space.

To overcome this, the team developed a detailed previsualization (aka previz) ahead of the shoot. This allowed them to map out precise camera angles and develop a timing board, ensuring every shot was executed with precision. “The drive-thru was tight, but with the right planning, we made it work,” Ryan said.

In the end, the commercial was a huge success, perfectly blending T-Pain’s love for racing with Checkers’ playful, fast-food spirit. Thanks to the seamless collaboration between Kristi, Matt, Ryan, Brandon, and Wojciech, the campaign delivered an energetic and visually dynamic experience that left a lasting impression.

The chemistry between T-Pain and Brandon added an extra layer of fun to the project, turning the shoot into more than just another commercial—it became a reunion of creative minds pushing the boundaries of what a fast-food ad could be. The result? A high-octane, memorable campaign that combined fast cars and fast food in a way that only T-Pain could.

Credits:
Starring T-Pain & Inez Vega-Romero
In-House Creative Marketing Director – Kristi Shaw 
Sr Art Director – Matthew Weidenbenner
Director: Brandom Dermer
Post-House – Prysm Studios
Executive Producer – Ryan Gilbert
Editor/VFX – Ryan Gilbert
Assistant Editor – Joey Sinopoli
Post-Audio – NoiseFloor
Custom Music – Devin Delaney
Mix – Victoria Salazar
Executive Producers –  Mike Wildt & Mike Longenbach
Producers – Jonas Dolkart,  & Ryan Gilbert
Cinematographer – Wojtek Keilar 
Production Supervisor – Megan Mewbron
First AD – Townson Wells 
Second AD – Jill Somers 
Cam Op – Ed Martinez 
First AC – Noah Orisich 
Second AC – Drew Barrett 
Gaffer – Carl Johnson 
Key Grip – Brain Adkins 
Art Director – Brandon Funk 
Sound Mixer – Adam Jones 
VTR – Kali Hughes 
Colorist – RKM Studios
HUM/Wardrobe – Amy Elizabeth 
Stunts – Ronny Mathew 
Car – Nappy Boy Automotive
PAs – Jacob Deel, Meron Tewoldeberhan, Gillian Williams, Leon’te Mims, Corey Johnson, Will Davis

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