Elvis and Dolly Take a Road Trip


By: Elvis Australia
Source: EPE
April 26, 2006

In a broadcast television first, Tennessee music superstars Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley meet on screen to promote their home state. The newest commercial from the State of Tennessee's Department of Tourist Development features Dolly Parton riding alongside Elvis in a digital scene recreation from the 1967 Elvis film, Clambake.

Film Elvis & Dolly Parton Road Trip Commercial (00:29)

The ad titled 'Tennessee Road Trip', conceived by Memphis advertising agency Chandler Ehrlich, signifies the first time Elvis has digitally appeared with another celebrity for a television commercial. Directed by Jacques Bailhe, the commercial captures the range of culture and music found in Tennessee and represented by Dolly and Elvis, two of the state's most renowned entertainers.

According to Dolly Parton, the commercial was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 'Riding in a convertible with Elvis? What more could a girl ask for?' she continued. 'I am so proud of my Tennessee heritage, and I am thrilled and incredibly honored to be promoting our great state alongside the world's most legendary superstar'.

The broadcast commercial features Dolly and Elvis side by side cruising through Tennessee together. How is it done? By shooting Dolly in High Definition against what's called a 'green screen', and by then removing all the green from the shot in post production and replacing it with the original background of Elvis in Clambake. Dolly was then able to be digitally placed in the car with Elvis.

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen commented: 'The idea behind the commercial is to bring together two international stars that symbolize Tennessee's unparalleled musical history. The commercial is a positive, energetic and unforgettable celebration of Tennessee's past, present and future'.

'This represents a very rare time that EPE has allowed an Elvis film to be digitally altered. But we know that Elvis admired Dolly. And no one loved Graceland and Tennessee more than Elvis, so we agreed knowing how proud he would be to welcome the world to visit,' said Jack Soden, CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Dolly and Elvis transcend superstardom, having achieved world-wide fame as entertainment legends and leaders among other outstanding Tennessee legends. Whether it's rock, country, jazz, gospel, soul, or bluegrass, Tennessee offers rich musical heritage and unparalleled live musical experiences. And the state's stage is not only set for great music, it's set for outdoor adventure and beauty, available throughout the state, from the banks of the Mississippi to the Great Smoky Mountains.

Interesting Facts

* Chandler Ehrlich creative staff reviewed 13 Elvis films - over 20 hours of film to find the 10-second scene needed for the commercial. They also reviewed hundreds of photos and materials from the archives of Elvis Presley Enterprises. It took approximately 6 months to make all of the arrangements to produce the commercial.

* Dolly's wardrobe in the commercial was designed as a tribute to Elvis.

- Clambake was filmed in 1967. The car used in the commercial is a customized 1967 Corvette Stingray convertible.

* The music for the commercial was scored to fit the classic 50's style of Elvis.

- Dolly's scene was filmed in Knoxville, Tennessee; the original music was written and recorded in Memphis; the editing and special effects were produced in Nashville. Elvis is known for living in West Tennessee (Memphis) and recording in Nashville. His Clambake album was recorded at Music Row's Studio B. Dolly is known for performing and recording in Nashville and living in East Tennessee (Pigeon Forge) near Dollywood.

* In preparation of the commercial every detail in the 10-second scene had to be studied so that Dolly could be inserted into the car with Elvis seamlessly - countless hours studying camera positions/angles/locations, lighting to match exactly with the 1967 lighting, location of Dolly in the car, her reaction to Elvis in the car, creating wind to blow her hair the same as Elvis', creating reflections of Tennessee landscape on the car hood, and development of sound effects to compliment the action in the scene.

* Dolly Parton has 25 number one country singles, 55 top ten country hits and eight top 40 pop hits. She has earned 25 gold, platinum and double platinum records and sold over 100 million records in total. She has 41 top 10 country albums - more than any other artist has achieved. She has won seven Grammy Awards, 10 Country Music Association Awards, and five Academy of Country Music Awards. She has two Oscar nominations and has been nominated five times for Golden Globe Awards.

* Elvis Presley has had 18 number one singles, 40 top ten singles, 114 top 40 singles, 10 number one albums and 27 top ten albums on the pop charts, along with outstanding success on the R&B singles chart and country singles and albums charts. His American sales have earned him gold, platinum or multi-platinum awards for 150 different albums and singles. Globally, he has sold over one billion records, more than any other artist. He starred in 33 successful films, made history with his television guest appearances and specials, and triumphed on the concert stage. Elvis received 14 Grammy nominations - his three wins for gospel recordings. He received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36. Elvis has been honored with induction into the Rock and Roll, Country Music and Gospel Halls of Fame - the only artist to date so recognized by all three. Graceland, his home in Memphis, has been designated a National Historical Landmark.

- Dolly wasn't parton with hit song

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