Pollo Tropical project shot by Director of Photography Sherman Johnson

Pollo Tropical "A Cuban Staple"
Production Company: Zipper Films

Pollo Tropical “A Cuban Staple” is a food commercial directed and photographed by Director of Photography Sherman Johnson for Zipper Films. Produced by Yiya Garcia and filmed in Miami, Florida, the campaign was created to promote Pollo Tropical’s limited-time ropa vieja offering. Built around a simple comedic premise, the film follows a wife who is unwilling to wait for her husband’s homemade ropa vieja when she can enjoy the dish immediately at Pollo Tropical. The campaign combines humor with detailed food photography to celebrate a meal that has long been considered a staple of Cuban cuisine. Photographed on the ARRI Alexa Mini with ARRI Ultra Prime lenses, the visual approach combines close-up food cinematography, controlled lighting, and detailed preparation imagery to highlight the texture, color, and presentation of the dish while maintaining the vibrant, appetizing style associated with the Pollo Tropical brand.