Reality, documentary and branded entertainment television leaders BCII premiered their new feature documentary film Raptor – Born in Baja on Tuesday, June 23 at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, California to 500+ automotive and off-road motorsports executives, entertainment industry heavyweights, celebrity guests and press.

Raptor – Born in Baja follows the story of a group of Ford Motor Company designers, engineers and race program directors, along with a number of aftermarket support teams, as they construct, test and unveil their new F-150 Raptor SVT truck to the automotive world by entering it in the toughest point-to-point off-road race anywhere...the infamous Baja 1000. Planned, shot and produced over 16 months, the film's story plays dramatically like the early Apollo space missions, while at the same time making a powerful brand statement for Ford.

"When Ford first came to me to discuss the Raptor project, it was on the heels of our feature documentary Chasing Baja which we had just finished producing and premiering with BFGoodrich" said Bud Brutsman, BCII CEO and the film's executive producer. "I had read in the automotive trades that Ford had told its dealers that the Raptor would be the 'first truck you could buy right off the lot and drive in Baja.' I told Ford...'Let's prove it.'"

Brutsman and the BCII crew followed the Raptor Baja adventure from its earliest planning stages around the board room table at Ford headquarters in Detroit, to the build up of the race truck in Phoenix, Arizona, to the unveiling of the truck to the press at the SEMA convention in Las Vegas, and then on to Baja for the race. BCII worked directly with Ford Racing to plan every inch of the race, from support teams to security, and Brutsman even sat in the cockpit as one of the race team drivers.

"When BCII works directly with a client on a branded entertainment project, we completely immerse ourselves in the product and the brand strategy" noted Brutsman. "We want to make sure that the film, its story and its characters are both compelling and authentic. That's the key to making a great film with a powerful and effective brand message."

In addition to Raptor – Born in Baja and Chasing Baja, BCII has lent its dramatic style to several other successful branded entertainment projects, including the four-part Forza Motorsports Showdown produced for Microsoft and SPEED, the long running series Hot Rod TV based on the renowned magazine brand, and numerous integrated episodes of its hit TLC series Rides. Currently, BCII is lending its talents to car polish and wax giants Meguiars on the new season of their branded series Car Crazy.

BCII has also put its expertise to use in short form brand messaging, producing commercials and webisodes for Meguiars, Royal Purple, Timberland PRO Boots, Home Depot, Ironclad Performance Wear, BASF and others.

Following the June 23 premiere, a one-hour TV version of Raptor – Born in Baja will air on SPEED on Sunday, July 12 at 4 p.m. EST with several additional airings TBD.

Source: Ford