For the exciting debut of Sharp’s new AQUOS Quattron 3D TV, the ad agency creatives at mcgarrybowen and Dentsu Kansai turned to New Media and 3D Expert, Director Chris Stocksmith at Twist. Well versed in emerging technologies (having been a lead developer on the ground-breaking BMW Films project), Stocksmith was the perfect talent to take on the commercial project, which features legendary actor George Takei, as well as a cast of “Minions” from Universal Pictures popular animated comedy: “Despicable Me.”

Not only did Twist’s Stocksmith have the talent to direct the commercial’s live-action Star, Takei (best known for his portrayal of Mr. Sulu in the acclaimed television and film series “Star Trek,” and who has more than 40 feature films and hundreds of television guest-starring roles to his credit), but he had to balance the live-action performance of Takei with the “imaginary” cast of Minions from “Despicable Me.”

Notes the Director: “The biggest challenge was making sure there was a balance with George’s performance and the comedy of the Minions,” explains Stocksmith. “The Minions of course weren’t on-set with us. We had an idea of what they would be doing, but we had to let the Minions carry the weight of the comic relief. George was the consummate professional, and was very generous with his talent and his time.”

For Stocksmith, this was the first time working with a Hollywood luminary like Takei, and also the first time shooting in the heart of Hollywood at Gower Studios, where so many classic films and television shows have been shot.

The Director gives credit to his talented crew, and the international collaboration between the two ad agencies driving the project: mcgarrybowen from New York in the U.S. and Dentsu Kansai from Osaka, Japan, as well as the marketing creatives from Universal and Illumination, who handled the tie-in with feature film “Despicable Me,” and the film’s lead characters, the Minions.

In addition to this national commercial for Sharp and Universal, Twist Director Chris Stocksmith has just wrapped production on a commercial campaign for Emblem Health and is in development on an original 3D television series. He also recently shot a music video for Brooklyn-based band, Locksley, and their popular song “Darling, It’s True” to promote their new album, “Be In Love.”

Shot with the RED Camera on a Steadicam rig, the video is one continuous take featuring the band walking from the subway to their studio in New York’s Lower East Side. Ensuring one solid take each time challenged the Director and his crew with quintessential New York elements: traffic, disgruntled pedestrians, and even Mother Nature when rain threatened the shoot.