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February 2003

CREW CUTS/WEST EDITOR BOB JENKIS STOPS CRIMES OF FASHION WITH K&G

Crew Cuts/West Editor Bob Jenkis recently wrapped creative editorial on a series of hilarious spots for fine clothing warehouse K&G. The clever spots are an homage to prime-time cop dramas and center around a group of police detectives in a precinct. Whether the detectives are in the office or on the job, their snappy conversations focus on the bargains offered by K&G.

In the :15 spot, "With Pants," one detective who claims his new suit cost him $1000 rather than $100 realizes his flub as the rest of the cast breaks out in laughter. The detectives are shown in various scenarios discussing K&G's deeply discounted prices on all men's and women's apparel during a stakeout, in the interrogation room, and on a coffee break. Through the narrative, the funny and fresh spots clearly demonstrate the K&G tagline So Much More for So Much Less.

"This campaign was a lot of fun to work on because it was narrative-based," remarks Editor Bob Jenkis. "It was about developing the characters and seeing the relationships progress as the spots go on. You can actually follow through with a narrative rather than just viewing something in a vacuum. I thought the casting and performances all worked towards creating a realistic TV show vibe, which created an unusual and compelling campaign."

[fdg] DESIGNS INTERACTIVE WEB SITE FOR SINGER/SONGWRITER NEIL DIAMOND

neildiamond.com launched with the release of the popular music artist's new album entitled "Three Chord Opera" by Columbia Records. The highly stylized, interactive web site was designed by New York's [fdg]. neildiamond.com is the music artist's official web site and the premiere web site project for [fdg], the award-winning concept and design studio.

"Being a popular and prolific singer/songwriter, Neil Diamond has an incredibly broad fan base," says David Edelstein, Executive Producer and Co-Founder of [fdg]. "We utilized our branding and design skills to create an online experience that will inform and engage Neil Diamond fans of any age. neildiamond.com provides the ultimate interactive musical gateway for Neil's fans, enabling all his fans to follow his latest tour, as well as look back at all of the highlights of his 35-year career."

Visitors to the official Neil Diamond web site are welcomed with a personal greeting from the artist before the launch of his signature tune "Crunchy Granola Suite." Set against a stark, white background, a collage of silhouetted images of the performer merge with Pop-inspired design elements. Once inside neildiamond.com, viewers can note updates on the artist's new concert tour. neildiamond.com also features the Official Biography of the artist with a strip of current and past photographs; a Music section with the artist's full and complete Discography; and a Timeline of the artist's legendary career. There is a Notes section, which features stories and quotes the artist has collected during his travels around the world; a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section; and a Store where current and classic Neil Diamond memorabilia can be purchased.

DIRECTOR HARRY KARIDIS & RING OF FIRE ARTISTS SET ANTI-SMOKING PSA "LIVING MURAL" ABLAZE

Director Harry Karidis of Tropix and Karidis Productions called on the talents at Ring of Fire to apply their artistry to a new Anti-Smoking PSA entitled "Living Mural." The visually compelling PSA was created by ad agency Arvizu Advertising/Phoenix for the Arizona Department of Health Services and TEPP (Tobacco Education and Prevention Program). "Living Mural" showcases the work of internationally renowned muralist Judith Baca of SPARC (Social and Public Arts Resource Center).

"Living Mural" begins with a young man walking past a majestic mural on a busy neighborhood street. He carelessly throws down his cigarette and the mural is set ablaze. The fire encompasses symbolic images, which represent the Latino community, including a man and his child, colorful flowers, and a winged angel. As the young man gets to the end of the city block, the mural's rich images have been burned and tears flow down the faces of the people still living within the mural. The voice-over notes: "This is what tobacco has taken away from our community."

"I have been collaborating with the artists at Ring of Fire for more than five years now on a variety of projects," explains Director Harry Karidis of Tropix and Karidis Productions. "For "Living Mural," they brought an incredible amount of sensitivity to this project, working with another artist's work, and especially an artist on the level of Judy Baca. They always go that extra mile, but with this PSA, they seemed to go that much further."

Under the guidance of Ring of Fire Creative Director Jerry Spivack, Inferno Artist Kevin Prendiville completed on-set supervision during the PSA's live-action shoot in Phoenix. Ring of Fire's Prendiville and fellow Inferno Artist Danny Yoon gave movement to the mural by animating key images within the mural. They also created the vibrant burning effect, and composited all of the elements together. The most challenging aspect to the project, according to Ring of Fire Inferno Artists Prendiville and Yoon was the creation of the burning effect. In order to accomplish this, they actually shot their own live-action footage of burning elements with a digital camera and then incorporated these elements into their final piece.

"We were very excited to collaborate with Harry on this PSA project," concludes Ring of Fire's Spivack. "It was also an opportunity to work with a true artist Judy Baca -- who gave us unprecedented access to her work. It was inspiring to participate in the creation of a message which will hopefully affect people's lives."