How Adam Bentel “Atmosphere-Maxxed” This KFC Commercial
▶ Find Inspiration and develop your ideas with Frame Set:
https://go.frameset.app/4o2SN1D
▶ About This Episode:
DP Adam Bentel joins Dylan Hahn to break down KFC’s “Eat the Rules” campaign, directed by Zee Ntuli. Adam shares how the team turned a single abandoned community center into a surreal party world using practical effects, lasers, dancers, mirrors, confetti, and a lot of experimentation. They get into collaborative scouting, shooting at 250fps on the Alexa 35, building atmosphere with practical effects, lens choices, and how giving talented people room to play led to some of the spot’s most memorable moments.
▶ Sources:
• Connect with Adan Bentel
• https://www.instagram.com/adambentel/
• https://www.adambentel.com/
• View on Frame Set:
• https://frameset.app/search/brand/kfc/kentucky-town-eat-the-rules
▶ 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.
▶ “Eat the Rules” Credits:
FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY: DARLING FILMS @darling__tv
DIRECTOR: ZEE NTULI @zee._.ntuli
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: MELINA MCDONALD / LORRAINE SMIT @melinamcd @lorrainesmit
PRODUCER: THANDEKA MAHUMA @thandeka_mahuma
DOP: ADAM BENTEL @adambentel
PRODUCTION MANAGER: KYRA CRITCHFIELD @kyra.critchfield
ART DIRECTOR: TAMZYN BOTHA @limb_its
STYLIST: NADIA OMAR @fromwheretowear
1ST AD: CHRIS VAN LATUM @first_ad_sa
KEY GRIP: PJ STEYL @pjsteyl
GAFFER: DAVE HOWE @orbitallighting
H&M: ORLI MEIRI @orlioh & NIKIWE DLOVA @nix_indamix
EDIT: POST MODERN @postmodernstudios
OFFLINE: WILLIAM KALMER @willkalmer
ONLINE: SINISTER STUDIO @sinisterstudio_jhb
COLOURIST: TERRY SIMPSON @terrysimp
MUSIC/SOUND COMPOSITION: CHRIS SNYMAN @christoferlaco
SOUND: CHRIS SNYMAN @christoferlaco
RECORDING STUDIO: TIGER FIGHT @tigerfightmusic
▶ Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:10 Hey Adam
02:58 The Mind-Bending Mirror Shot
07:11 Scouting the Perfect Location
08:10 No Egos on Set
11:48 How Insane Can We Make This?
13:28 The Secret to the Atmosphere
16:00 Lasers That Could Destroy the Camera
19:24 Controlled Chaos
22:02 The KY Jelly Filter Technique
24:20 Why They Shot on Alexa 35
25:49 Is Anamorphic Dead?
30:03 Lighting Food Like a Party
33:48 The Candle Bathtub Scene
36:52 Four Terabytes of Footage
38:37 What Was VFX?
39:23 The High-Heeled Bouncer
43:29 Lighting the Entire Party
44:07 The Airplane Propeller Wind Machine
45:21 The Gaffer Gets His Own Monitor
47:29 Building the Camera Rig
50:32 The Most Important Crew Members
52:24 Finding Great Collaborators
54:17 Advice for Young DPs
56:03 Thank You Adam Bentel
https://go.frameset.app/4o2SN1D
▶ About This Episode:
DP Adam Bentel joins Dylan Hahn to break down KFC’s “Eat the Rules” campaign, directed by Zee Ntuli. Adam shares how the team turned a single abandoned community center into a surreal party world using practical effects, lasers, dancers, mirrors, confetti, and a lot of experimentation. They get into collaborative scouting, shooting at 250fps on the Alexa 35, building atmosphere with practical effects, lens choices, and how giving talented people room to play led to some of the spot’s most memorable moments.
▶ Sources:
• Connect with Adan Bentel
• https://www.instagram.com/adambentel/
• https://www.adambentel.com/
• View on Frame Set:
• https://frameset.app/search/brand/kfc/kentucky-town-eat-the-rules
▶ 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.
▶ “Eat the Rules” Credits:
FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY: DARLING FILMS @darling__tv
DIRECTOR: ZEE NTULI @zee._.ntuli
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: MELINA MCDONALD / LORRAINE SMIT @melinamcd @lorrainesmit
PRODUCER: THANDEKA MAHUMA @thandeka_mahuma
DOP: ADAM BENTEL @adambentel
PRODUCTION MANAGER: KYRA CRITCHFIELD @kyra.critchfield
ART DIRECTOR: TAMZYN BOTHA @limb_its
STYLIST: NADIA OMAR @fromwheretowear
1ST AD: CHRIS VAN LATUM @first_ad_sa
KEY GRIP: PJ STEYL @pjsteyl
GAFFER: DAVE HOWE @orbitallighting
H&M: ORLI MEIRI @orlioh & NIKIWE DLOVA @nix_indamix
EDIT: POST MODERN @postmodernstudios
OFFLINE: WILLIAM KALMER @willkalmer
ONLINE: SINISTER STUDIO @sinisterstudio_jhb
COLOURIST: TERRY SIMPSON @terrysimp
MUSIC/SOUND COMPOSITION: CHRIS SNYMAN @christoferlaco
SOUND: CHRIS SNYMAN @christoferlaco
RECORDING STUDIO: TIGER FIGHT @tigerfightmusic
▶ Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:10 Hey Adam
02:58 The Mind-Bending Mirror Shot
07:11 Scouting the Perfect Location
08:10 No Egos on Set
11:48 How Insane Can We Make This?
13:28 The Secret to the Atmosphere
16:00 Lasers That Could Destroy the Camera
19:24 Controlled Chaos
22:02 The KY Jelly Filter Technique
24:20 Why They Shot on Alexa 35
25:49 Is Anamorphic Dead?
30:03 Lighting Food Like a Party
33:48 The Candle Bathtub Scene
36:52 Four Terabytes of Footage
38:37 What Was VFX?
39:23 The High-Heeled Bouncer
43:29 Lighting the Entire Party
44:07 The Airplane Propeller Wind Machine
45:21 The Gaffer Gets His Own Monitor
47:29 Building the Camera Rig
50:32 The Most Important Crew Members
52:24 Finding Great Collaborators
54:17 Advice for Young DPs
56:03 Thank You Adam Bentel
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...