Rabit Haus is a creative production studio in Bend, Oregon, led by founder Jack Botti, who got his start filming skiing. For "Road to Palisades," the client is Toyota NorCal and Palisades Tahoe; the agency on the account was H/L, and Rabit Haus is credited for "Creative + Production," with Botti as director and editor.
The standout shot
The camera pushes into the TOYOTA lettering on the grille until the letters fill the frame, the metal becomes rock and snow, and the shot flies down a ridgeline into a group of skiers. XYZ Studios joined early in pre-production to execute the transition from the driving ground level world to the mountain peaks. Botti calls it a "3D masterpiece into a live action shot."
The craft
- A 2.5-day shoot, and countless hours in post.
- Low, fast tracking shots along the Tundra, with drone and FPV by Nathan McBride on the mountain.
- Part 1 is cut to "No Fear" by Inflo, with sound by DeFacto Sound, and Ken Psalms and William Landry credited for sound design and mix.
- Olympic skier Jonny Moseley, with Connery and Nelly Steinhoff. LBB identifies Moseley as an Olympic gold medallist.
Why it stands out
A lot of automotive advertising settles for a slow orbit and a list of features. This one treats the vehicle as the way into the story, and the signature transition holds attention with rhythm rather than narration.
Credits
- Pt. 1, TUNDRA, March 17, 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7YoWfF3IkY
- Pt. 2, 4RUNNER, March 31, 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgiTf2Jmpvk
- Producer Griffin K, colorist Cam McCutcheon, VFX by XYZ Studios: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/xyzstudioss_road-to-palisades-toyota-we-were-brought-activity-7428937278397431808-669J
- Rabit Haus: https://www.rabithaus.com/blank
- Work page, listing Toyota with HBO Max and Apple Music: https://www.rabithaus.com/blank-1
- Project page: https://www.rabithaus.com/blank-5
- World's End: https://worldsend.studio/work/toyota/
- LBB: https://lbbonline.com/news/olympic-skier-jonny-moseley-carves-through-palisades-tahoe-for-toyata