Audrey Hepburn – Galaxy Chocolate Advert
Framestore has brought the late actress Audrey Hepburn back to the screen using the company’s highly advanced VFX techniques. The realistic CG Audrey was created for a Galaxy chocolate commercial in the UK.
First, they searched for the perfect Audrey Hepburn double who shared as many of her features and characteristics as possible. Then they carried out extensive facial scanning at their in-house Capture Lab, including a FACS (facial action coding system) session. This enabled the team to record over 70 possible muscle movements and capture high resolution textures.
The commercial was then shot along Italy’s Amalfi coast, with cameras covering the action from multiple angles so the team could get a perfect track of the double’s face.
A model of Audrey was built using the iconic star’s film catalog and press photographs. A new renderer called ‘Arnold,’ designed to accurately simulate the tracing of light, enabled the team to perfect the soft, translucent feel of real skin.
The biggest challenges for Framestore were Audrey’s eyes and signature smile. A team of four animators hand-animated carefully posed expressions in every shot in order to bring the star to life. You can check out the impressive commercial below:
Words by PSFK
Posted on March 5, 2013, in Advertising Campaigns and tagged Audrey Hepburn, Capture Lab, CG, Facial Scanning, FACS Session, Framestore, Galaxy Chocolate, Vfx. Bookmark the permalink. 33 Comments.
International Visual 
For Angela the bus was a 1953 Austro Fiat type DT 55 coach
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Wonder why they used a right hand drive Mercedes after all the specialist work that went into this terrific ad.
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What make is the bus?
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I love the advert want the dress does anyone know where I can get one have always wanted a dress like that!!! ???
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Try the internet – there are various shops/individuals selling retro (50s/60s) clothes. Women tended to wear stiff, layered waist-slips underneath full skirts/dresses. Retro clothes are very ‘in’ just now. (Also very feminine.)
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Out of curiosity, can anyone tell me who owns the rights to a dead persons image?!
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In the case of Audrey it is own by hers sons who gave permission for her image to be used, the money going to the charity that Audrey supported during her life
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A classic amongst adverts. Such a realistic Audrey Hepburn image that one could almost imagine she was still alive. Thank you Galaxy chocolate for sponsoring such a brilliant ad.
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I do not like it at all I think it is creepy. Audrey Hepburn was unique as we all are . A beautiful person inside and out. I don’t know who gave permission to use her image in this way or if permission was required. However I think this kind of thing should illegal.2
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Further to Rowland’s comment – how many people/stories/animals in advert’s have direct or obvious connection to the item being advertised!! ie what is the connection with dogs/exotic birds/big cats and cars!! Come on! Audrey was choosing luxury over mundane bus travel. The luxury aspect was also supposed apply to the chocolate. Bit obvious really!
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this advert always has me glued I love it so reminiscent of the 50’s when I was young Audrey was a beautiful woman so elegant just as a film star should be she could teach some of the stars today a thing or two – thank you for making it.
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I question the whole concept. What has Audrey Hepburn (real or CGI) got to do with a bus ride + nicking drivers hat, then being driven off in some gigolos car got to do with chocolate?
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Yes you do seem to have missed the point. At the end of the ad it says ‘Why have cotton when you can have silk?’ i.e. why travel on a bus when you can be chauffeur driven? or, why have any chocolate when you can have ‘Galaxy?’.
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I’m afraid I do find the connection of Audrey with cheap low cocoa chocolate rather tenuous! If it was Juliette Binoche (who starred in Chocolat) it would make more sense ! Plus I’m not sure Audrey would approve…!
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If you read the insight into the making of the advert you will see the the advertising company were give permission by Audrey’s 2 sons who own the copyrights to her name and images. The monies raised went to her favorite charities
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I agree
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It’s a very impressive advert with the bright ‘technicolour’ effect of the era. I agree that ‘Audrey’s’ eyes are very exaggerated – she never wore enormous false eyelashes like that. I think they should have gone for a slightly more authentic look. Apart from that I think it’s brilliant.
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I love Audrey! And I love the advert. The resource input was worth it. I do get a goosebumps every time I watch it. It gave me the opportunity to be a part of Hollywood’s golden years! Thumbs up,guys!
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The advert was film on the Amalfi Coast in the village of Cetara on Via Marina, if you do a Google Maps search you’ll see pictures on the street view. The car she gets into is a 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 – 300 Adenauer Cabriolet, interestingly its a right hand drive model, but with Italian plates
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eyes make her look like something out of a cartoon , dont like them at all , too weird.
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The first ad. I have actually watched all the way through for 30 years. Could this herald a return to the golden age of television advertising. It might stop people flipping channels when the ads come on.
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I had no idea that there was cgi involved, I just thought a double was being used. But those huge spider false eyelashes. Did she really wear such silly ones? Theyre one reason the advert’s spoiled, she looks as if she’s having trouble with them getting in her eyes and she’s blinking as if they’re irritating her. I also feel uncomfortable that a young girl so easily gets into a car with some stranger gigolo lol
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what kind of car is it? I think it is an ALVA. Anyone know better please!
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I belive its an alvis ta21
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The car is a 1955 Mercedes Benz 300B
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The advert is brilliant! Got into a very heated argument with a friend because she just thought it was just a look a like and I was insisting that it was through CG, looks like I was right. The only thing is I’m sure Audrey Heburn was famed for her ‘violet’ eyes and yet the advert had very dark brown. Surely after all the effort they went to they could of got this right!
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It was Elizabeth Taylor who was famed for her ‘violet’ eyes.
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Oh my bad! haha. Well the advert is just perfect then!
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liz taylor had violet eyes as did princess Margaret audreys were brown
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Great ad, love Audrey
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Fantastic advert, I usually do something else while adverts are on, but this one keeps me glued to the screen trying to figure out if it is actually Audrey . Good word.
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I am glad I researched this advertisement as I had the feeling that the whole scene had been the result of computer graphics. It just didn’t seem right. What a surprise to see that it is only ‘Audrey Hepburn’ that is a CG. Brilliantly put together.
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The advert is excellent and, as one of the post war “Baby Bulge” generation , takes me back to such good times, but, I have to say that there is “something not right” about Audrey’s eyes…that being said I am very impressed and sit glued to the screen, each time it is shown. Thank you for letting me relive my youth.
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