Dean Boyd | The Color of Justice

September 7, 2025

Concept

When concepting for Dean Boyd’s latest campaign, we drew inspiration from Martin Scorsese’s The Color of Money. At the heart of the spot is Coach Dean Boyd—our Paul Newman figure—mentoring a brash but inexperienced Randy as he faces off against his rival, Shooter. By placing Dean in this iconic mentor role, the story becomes a metaphor for his real-life legal practice: the wisdom, experience, and grit that guide clients toward victory.

The pre-production phase was an ambitious lift. The Salado team handled everything from locations to casting, wardrobe, and crewing. Thanks to a tightly coordinated team, we captured both the drama of the showdown and the character of Coach Dean Boyd. The final piece delivers a stylized, unforgettable portrait of a lawyer who always knows how to win, whether in the courtroom or across the pool table.

Tone & Feel

The concept of our spot called for a polished look straight from a movie. The unique depth of the space and the practical lights around us, informed everything from where we pointed the camera to our lighting. The result is a soft, cinematic look in a 2.4:1 frame, using one of our favorite combos, the Alexa 35 and Cooke Anamorphics.

Production

While we were tasked with producing four distinct spots across just two shoot days, this particular commercial was by far the most ambitious in scope. With a packed schedule and a ticking clock, our AD orchestrated an incredibly efficient plan—balancing complex shot lists, multiple set-ups, and the coordination of more than 20 extras without missing a beat.

A key factor in pulling it off was the rehearsal stage. Our Do-Directors invested heavily in this phase, ensuring that talent blocking, character beats, and camera movement were dialed in before we ever rolled. This preparation paid dividends on set, allowing the cast and crew to execute quickly and with precision under time constraints.

Our G&E team responded seamlessly to every adjustment, keeping the visual language sharp and cinematic, while HMU and Wardrobe elevated the production with a dedicated trailer—a rare luxury that allowed them to work at the pace and polish the project demanded. The result was a high-pressure shoot that felt smooth, collaborative, and ultimately delivered one of the most cinematic pieces we’ve created for Dean Boyd to date.

Post-Production

Hayden Rhodes took the reins in post as our editor, crafting not only the cinematic :60 hero cut but also a broadcast-ready :30 version along with a suite of social assets. Working closely with the directors, Hayden shaped the narrative through multiple rounds of internal revisions before presenting to the client, who was immediately impressed by the sharp pacing and tone offered.

A unique aspect of this project was that our Director of Photography also served as the colorist. From the very start, we shot with the grade in mind—designing lighting and lensing choices to support a stylized, cinematic finish. That foresight allowed the color pass to elevate the piece beyond homage, giving it the rich, polished tone that blends both the comedy and drama we were inspired by in The Color of Money.

Together, Hayden’s editorial instincts and our DP’s thoughtful approach to color created a seamless final product—dynamic, cinematic, and versatile enough to thrive across TV, digital, and social placements.