![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/timesofsandiego.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/InnoVision-1026-AI-foto-Buddys.jpeg?ssl=1\")
<\/a>A shot from an AI-generated commercial for Buddy\u2019s bar-b-q featuring a man playing baseball. (Photo courtesy of InnoVision Marketing Group)<\/p>\nFor Buddy\u2019s bar-b-q,<\/a> with 19 locations in East Tennessee, the commercial<\/a> follows a baseball as it soars across some of Knoxville\u2019s most recognizable landmarks, traveling over the Tennessee River, past the Sunsphere and Tennessee Theatre and across the Great Smoky Mountains before arriving at a beloved Buddy\u2019s bar-b-q with a song that sings the chain\u2019s tagline, \u201cA Smokin\u2019 Good Deal.\u201d<\/p>\n The song\u2019s lyrics were written by Giselle Campos, InnoVision\u2019s senior VP and senior creative director.<\/p>\n An InnoVision statement said, \u201cA concept that could have required an extensive multi-location shoot instead became a seamless cinematic journey through East Tennessee, celebrating Buddy\u2019s hometown identity and a legacy that dates back to 1972.\u201d<\/p>\n For Southern California roofing company Cal Roof,<\/a> InnoVision took the technology in an entirely different creative direction, using it to make an impossible scenario feel unexpectedly real.<\/p>\n The Cal Roof TV commercial<\/a> uses the inevitable arrival of El Ni\u00f1o to Southern California as the strategic concept with a comedic twist. The spot depicts a downpour of water rushing through a damaged roof and a dolphin appears, delivering a surreal and humorous reminder for Southern California homeowners to prepare their roofs before El Ni\u00f1o\u2019s heavy rains arrive.\u00a0<\/p>\n While the Buddy\u2019s commercial uses AI to create cinematic scale across recognizable real-world locations, the Cal Roof campaign uses AI to bring a playful-yet-impossible scenario to life. Together, the campaigns demonstrate how AI can give creative teams greater freedom to pursue ideas once limited by the practical realities of traditional production, InnoVision said.<\/p>\n \u201cOur new AI video production division has allowed our talented creative minds here at InnoVision Marketing Group to brainstorm wildly elaborate strategic and creative concepts without the limitation of a budget, delivering exceptional, high-quality video productions our clients ordinarily would not be able to afford,\u201d said Ric Militi, CEO and executive creative director, InnnoVision Marketing Group.<\/p>\n The two spots were concepted by InnoVision and produced in-house by its sister company Pretzel Logic Productions.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom concept to final execution, every detail of these commercials was intentionally crafted by our team, leveraging AI as a true production tool,\u201d said InnoVision\u2019s Campos. \u201cAI helped us bring our big ideas to the screen in a powerful way, and I\u2019m incredibly proud of the creativity, skill and attention to detail our team brought to this work.\u201d<\/p>\n *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *<\/p>\n Mindgruve named to two prestigious industry lists<\/p>\n Mindgruve, a San Diego marketing, commerce and data technology agency, announced it was recently named to AdWeek\u2019s Fastest Growing Agencies list for 2026. It was the fifth consecutive year Mindgruve has made the list published by the advertising industry trade publication.<\/p>\n Mindgruve said the AdWeek honor recognized its mergers with three highly-regarded agencies, including Macarta, Icon Commerce and Levelwing, along with the acquisition of ameo, a Hamburg-based agency and one of Europe\u2019s longest-standing Amazon advertising and analytics providers.<\/p>\n \u201cFive straight years on this list confirms that our approach is stronger than ever,\u201d said Chad Robley, founder and CEO of Mindgruve. \u201cWe spent those years uniting modern media, commerce and data technology into one fully integrated brand to accelerate business growth for our worldwide brand partners.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition, Mindgruve recently earned a place on the Inc. 5000, the magazine\u2019s annual ranking of America\u2019s fastest-growing private companies. The ranking is based on percentage of revenue growth between 2022 and 2025. It was the eighth time Mindgruve made the Inc. list.<\/p>\n Mindgruve said the Inc. recognized its development of Slightline, a proprietary AI predictive marketing and business intelligence platform. Sightline connects marketing data, business data and predictive modeling to help brands understand not just what happened, but what to do next and why, resulting in measurable outcomes for clients, Mindgruve said in a statement.<\/p>\n Mindgruve also recently launched Mindgruve Studios, the company\u2019s in-house, full-service production arm. Mindgruve Studios creates content that connects, engages and performs, bringing award-winning creative, production and post-production capabilities to every channel.<\/p>\n Robley said about the Inc. 5000 ranking, \u201cThis recognition reflects a purpose that has guided every decision along the way, to accelerate business growth for our worldwide brand partners through data-driven marketing.\u201d<\/p>\n *\u00a0 *\u00a0 *<\/p>\n Albondigas group meets to discuss election politics<\/p>\n The next meeting of the San Diego Albondigas Political Society<\/a> will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9, at the Casa Machado restaurant, 3750 John J. Montgomery Dr., San Diego. The meeting is open to the public.<\/p>\n It will feature a pre-election media panel, including Andrew Keatts, editor and general manager, Times of San Diego; Scott Lewis, editor and CEO of Voice of San Diego;\u00a0and Michael Smolens, political columnist for The San Diego Union-Tribune.<\/p>\n The panel will discuss the people, politics and issues shaping the Nov. 3 election. Topics will include the 48th Congressional District\u2019s race and redrawn map, California\u2019s governor race, the balance of power on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and key city council races in San Diego and National City, along with along with the larger political forces influencing San Diego voters in 2026.<\/p>\n The Albondigas Political Society traces its roots to the late 1990s, when political consultant Jack Orr began inviting a small group of political enthusiasts to lunch at an Oceanside Mexican restaurant known for its Albondigas soup.<\/p>\n What began as five or six friends quickly grew. Elected officials, staff members, consultants and community leaders began joining the table. Over time, Albondigas has become a popular tradition, a place where colleagues, allies and even friendly rivals can talk politics and civic life in a spirited but collegial way.<\/p>\n The San Diego chapter was revived following the Covid pandemic. Meetings are organized by Madaffer Enterprises.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Cost to attend is $25 per person. Ticket fees cover the cost of the meal, and neither the organizer nor the guest speakers receive compensation. For more information, visit https:\/\/sandiegoalbondigas.com\/event\/20261009-pre-election-media-panel\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n