Sack's Distillery in Beaver Creek Valley!
Reading time: approx. 6 minutes.
Sunday, December 18, 2022
Article contains unpaid advertising
A "moonshiner" Meets Beaver Creek Valley
When you enter Beaver Creek Valley through the large wooden gate, you are immersed into another world. A sheriff stands on the porch overlooking the terrain, a cowboy heads to the chuck wagon to secure his portion of the freshly made stew that was just simmering over the campfire. In the background, you can hear the blacksmith working an iron and a banjo player plays his lonely song.
You get the impression that you are right in the midst of the Wild West, which has apparently come back to life - thanks to the performers who have taken on this historical period and authentically portray their roles here in Beaver Creek Valley!
But they are not the only ones living a dream in Beaver Creek Valley - others have the idea to use this scenery for themselves and their ideas, too!
So did a "moonshiner" from the countryside who approached us to do something out of the ordinary in Beaver Creek Valley.
Beaver Creek Valley is like a western movie set where all the performers can re-live their dreams in a historically accurate way.
How a Gin Enthusiast Came to Beaver Creek Valley
So today we want to tell you about an unusual shoot for a commercial, for which Robert came up with the idea. Robert is a good friend of TRP and studied media technology and media production with a master's degree.
In his company, the Panorama Videoproduktion, he turns the ideas and dreams of his clients into reality - a little piece of Hollywood for everyone, so to speak.
Robert had an assignment ready to go, which he described as requiring "Western-style" realization.
So what better place to do it than Beaver Creek Valley?
And as it happens in the film business, this would have to be done very soon, of course, since the spot was also to be distributed very quickly. The shooting date was therefore set for January 2022.
Robert's client at that time was the operator of a distillery from the Fichtelgebirge, whose tradition dates back to 1864:
Marcel Völkel fromSack's Distillery in Weissenstadt
The owner and manager of Sack's Distillery in Weißenstadt - Marcel Völkel
Marcel contacted Panorama Videoproduktion, as his new gin creation "Outlaw" from the series of "Illegal Gins" was to be presented in a promotional film.
As a gin lover, this was already Marcel's third gin creation, in addition to the already existing varieties "Bandit" - with real vanilla from Madagascar - and the "Rebel" - a culinary firework of woodruff and lemon.
Marcel describes the Outlaw gin as follows:
An Outlaw does not abide by any laws. Especially not the Illegal Gin "OUTLAW", which simply disregards the rules of mass production and mass taste. He knows only a fine individual taste. Be curious about a unique gin pleasure. Real gin impresses with a pure and rounded touch of juniper. Therefore, this unfiltered gin from our distillery contains only fresh and natural ingredients.
The names are of course very fitting for the "Western genre", which is why we were happy to help produce the commercial. We also liked the idea of supporting a regionally located business.
So we dressed up, polished our revolvers and got ready for an exciting day of shooting on set: "Beaver Creek Valley"!
Cast and Plot: The Actors and Storyline of the Commercial
Outlaw boss M.J. Mornigstar" is imprisoned in the Beaver Creek Valley jail. "Zach", his most trusted associate, one night decides to free his boss. But can he get past the watchful eyes of U.S. Marshal "Chet McCay" without getting into a shootout?
Pictures of the movie
It's hard to believe that behind a 30-second commercial, there's a whole day's work.
Here are a few impressions of the shooting day:
The Shooting Procedure on Set: Beaver Creek Valley in January
First, every single scene was discussed with the protagonists before shooting began. You can certainly imagine that not everything goes as our cameraman would have liked. It happened that a scene had to be repeated many times. For example, the light or the setting didn't fit, there were things in the picture that didn't belong there, the movements were too impetuous or too awkward, and there were smiles where a serious expression was desired.
In addition, the camera had to be rebuilt for each new shot, whether outdoors or indoors.
For the final scenes, we had to wait for evening to capture the campfire setting properly and authentically.
It all happened on Sunday, January 23, 2022. It was a typical winter day for our area; it was freezing cold, wet and the terrain accordingly muddy. But it was magnificent and we are glad we were there!
Such an interesting and exciting day is not experienced too often. Despite the wetness and cold, the shoot with Sack's Distillery was great fun. In the end, we drove home in the middle of the night - frozen to the bone - but satisfied with the result.
Profile - Marcel Völkel - Sack's Distillery Weissenstadt
For over 150 years, Sack's Distillery has been producing fine spirits and spirituous beverages. Marcel, the current owner and operator continues this tradition.
He produces F.U.K. gin and Feuerwasser for the renowned metal band Hämatom.
By now the distillery can look back on several awards, including the "Company of the Year" awards in 2021 for Bavaria and in 2022 for Germany.
Marcel was in front of the camera again for the Oberfranken-TV. For the cooking show "Einfach Lecker" he provided tasty tips for fine digestifs after dinner.
On Instagram and Facebook Marcel shares news and updates about the distillery!
Besides M.J. is guitarist and founder of the post-apocalyptic metal band Wasteland Clan
Zach Volcanic - aka Andreas Niemczyk
In his professional life he is a mechanical engineer and material scientist, in his spare time he is the bass player of the post-apocalyptic metal band "Wasteland Clan".
With Sack's Distille we had another highlight in 2022: The tasting of authentic cocktails straight out of the Wild West!
The Beaver Creek Pioneer will be reporting on this shortly!
Chet McCay – Beaver Creek Pioneer