Don Knodel has never actually hugged a polar bear but anyone that has seen the new commercial for the all-electric Nissan Leaf might be fooled.
In the final shot of the sequence, the Coquitlam actor is seen embracing a large, furry, white animal as its stands more than seven feet tall on its hind legs.
But according to Knodel, it is all camera trickery that gives the illusion he is hugging the bear.
"They combine the shots," he said. "I would pretend the bear was there or, for a couple of shots, I was hugging a football pad."
The commercial tells the story of Aggie, Knodel's furry co-star, who travels from the far north - where global warming is melting Arctic ice - to thank a driver for purchasing the electric vehicle. The bear is seen swimming in the icy ocean before climbing out of the water and walking through forests, along rural roads, into an urban centre and, finally, a residential neighbourhood.
Except for one computer-generated shot of the bear crossing Vancouver's Burrard Street Bridge, all of the clips use live animals.
When Aggie reaches her destination, which was shot at a home in North Vancouver, Knodel is seen walking to his Leaf before being startled by the beast, which stands up and gives him a hug.
The commercial has been airing in the United States since the fall but now that Nissan has started selling the vehicles north of the border, Knodel expects his neighbours will be seeing the ad shortly.
"Some friends of mine saw it on an NFL game back in December," he said. "It has been playing all over the place."
The ad has also been popular on YouTube, where it has been viewed by more than 1.2 million people. In fact, the advertisement has become so popular that it will reportedly be featured on a CBS broadcast showing the best commercials of 2010.
Knodel said he is not surprised at the reaction the advertisement is getting, adding it bodes well for a product that is the first 100% electric powered vehicle.
"I knew it was going to be a big campaign," he said. "Everyone - actors, cast, crew - had to sign a thing saying we weren't allowed to say anything about it."
Knodel has lived in Coquitlam since 1993 and has been acting most of his life. He played a German doctor at a mental institution in the movie The A-Team and recently took on a role as a lawyer in an action thriller that has yet to be released. Knodel has also done work behind the scenes on the production side of the business but said he prefers acting.
Since the Nissan commercial began airing, Knodel's agent has received some calls about more work but nothing has panned out yet, he said.
"I don't hold my breath," he said. "It is not like a television show, where you have your name in the credits. I just keep acting."
To view the clip, go here. To view another video about the making of the advertisement, click here.
gmckenna@tricitynews.com
