Toyota Highlander “Projections” featuring Olympic skier Jonny Moseley

Caruso Company produced a :60 spot for the Toyota Highlander featuring Olympic skier Jonny Moseley. Filmed in Tahoe, California, the piece combines performance-driven ski footage with detailed vehicle imagery, using a layered visual approach to connect the two.

The concept centers on aligning the movement and lines of Moseley’s skiing with the design of the Highlander. His runs are selected and framed to emphasize flow, control, and precision, which are then echoed in the vehicle’s form and features. Rather than separating action and product, the film integrates both through compositing and transitions that link the environments.

A key part of the execution is the use of anamorphic lenses, which introduce natural lens flares and light artifacts that help bridge mountain and vehicle footage. These optical elements are captured in-camera, along with environmental details like blowing snow and reflections, to create transitions that feel continuous rather than constructed.

The piece uses a range of camera speeds to shape the pacing. High-speed photography highlights specific moments within the ski runs, while real-time movement maintains energy and forward motion. This variation supports the compositing approach, allowing certain actions to align visually with the Highlander’s contours and movement.

Filming in Tahoe provided a consistent visual environment, with snow, light, and terrain all contributing to the overall look. The production focused on capturing clean, directional footage that could be used flexibly in post, particularly for layered compositions.

The final spot presents a connection between athlete and vehicle through shared visual language—line, motion, and control—using in-camera techniques and compositing to unify the two without relying on heavy visual effects or overt transitions.