BUFFALO STAMPEDE AT TRONA PINNACLES (December 23, 2002)

(Ridgecrest)---If you're looking for that home where the buffalo roam, look no farther than the Trona Pinnacles, located just east of Ridgecrest, CA. The home of STAR TREK V, DINOSAUR, last year's PLANET OF THE APES, and dozens of other features played host to the furry bovids for an upcoming LEVI JEANS commercial that will air during the SUPER BOWL on January 26th.

Academy commercial's Location Manager Rob Gregory contacted the Ridgecrest Regional Film Commission to permit the Pinnacles for the unique shoot. But during the technical scout it was decided that there was insufficient space for 44 one thousand pound, stampeding buffalo. Fortunately the production's Director and Director of Photography for the London based company immediately fell in love with the rough gray-white surface of Searles Dry Lakebed, located just 3 miles north of the Pinnacles. The decision was made to shoot background plates of the Pinnacles and film the animals running the lakebed from three angles: east, west and overhead. The huge historical buffalo will the be seamed into the original location through Computer Graphic Imaging during postproduction.

LEVI joins MASTERCARD, CHRYSLER and NISSAN as the fourth Super Bowl commercial produced in the greater Ridgecrest area.