Peter Mostert Heads into the Wilds of Africa for 2020 Land Rover Defender Ad

Hooligan Editor Peter Mostert recently cut a new web spot for the 2020 Land Rover Defender via agency Spark44 South Africa and SoloUnion. The spot features modern-day explorers and Land Rover ambassadors Kingsley and Ross Holgate, who adventure across the wilds of Africa and beyond for humanitarian initiatives, such as malaria prevention, water purification, and Rite to Sight spectacles for the poor-sighted.

Directed by Linda Notelovitz of LifeDesign, “Father and Son” is set to Kingsley Holgate’s poetic and soulful narration. As he reflects on the wisdom he has gained from a life of exploration, we see a beautiful bond between father and son – and a poetic connection to the Land Rover Defender.

Mostert worked closely with Notelovitz to create the visual atmosphere of the spot, focusing on creating a sense of anticipation, excitement, and a strong connection to the local relevance of the Kingsley Holgate Foundation’s mission. He wove together a range of shots to achieve this – from cinematic shots of the Defender navigating the majestic African landscape to more subtle visual cues, such as water ripples, bouncing stones, and shifting sands to pre-empt the Defender’s experience of the environment. 

"Peter has a wonderful rhythm in the world, and through this, an intuitive ability to sync with a director’s vision,” remarks Notelovitz, who collaborated remotely with Mostert due to travel restrictions of COVID-19. "He naturally drives a story by finding the light and shade in the footage, whilst creating space to invoke an emotional value exchange for the viewer. It also helped having an instinctive creator like Peter on our post-production team. He’s just as comfortable working remotely as he is in the edit suite with a team.”

“It’s always nice to work with a creative mind that is in tune with you, as Linda and I have collaborated many times through the years,” concludes Mostert. “She has a fresh way of seeing things and finding shots that express the emotion of a scene or moment with the big picture always in clear focus. And Hats off to Spark44, SoloUnion, and Land Rover for pushing the boundaries of car advertising with a spot that is cinematic, narrative, and supportive of a greater cause with local relevance to the South African market while also relating globally.”

Agency: SPARK44ZA & Rob Mc Lennan of SoloUnion

Production Co: LifeDesign 

Director: Linda Notelovitz

Dir Asst: Giovanna Winetzki

Producer: Chris Briggs

Cinematographer: Miles Goodall

Editorial Co: Hooligan NYC

Editor: Peter Mostert

Post House: Ludus, South Africa

Colourist: Michele Wilson

Online Artist: Simone De Ruyck

Sound Finish Co: Sterling Sound, South Africa 

Sound Design & Mix: Sean Williams