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November 2008

VENICE ARTS CELEBRATES 15TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SPECIAL EVENT AT RAVENSWORK

Venice Arts, a non-profit organization that has received critical acclaim around the world for its innovative arts programs, marked its 15th anniversary with an Intimate Dinner and Celebration at Ravenswork Studio in Venice on October 25, 2008.

Early in the year, Venice Arts marked the significant milestone of its 15th Anniversary by unveiling its new Gallery and Media Learning Center in Venice, as well as expanding Venice Arts' programs and outreach throughout Los Angeles. Venice Arts' new Gallery and Media Learning Center features a state-of-the-art digital media lab, darkroom, classroom and shooting space. It has allowed Venice Arts to expand its roster of workshops for low-income youth, host larger exhibits, and launch workshops for adults.

"It is a great accomplishment when a non-profit whose mission is to teach youth creative skills can sustain itself for fifteen years," says Venice Arts' Creative Director, Jim Hubbard. "Venice Arts has done just that, while the majority of non-profits cannot last two years. The proof of our success is in the excitement and commitment of hundreds of young people who are so eager to learn — something can be witnessed every day in our workshops," concludes Hubbard.

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CUT + RUN'S JAY NELSON SEEKS TO LIVE LARGE, DRIVE SMALL WITH NEW SUZUKI CAMPAIGN

The new campaign for Suzuki via agency Siltanen & Partners, edited by Cut + Run's Jay Nelson and directed by AERO Films' Ken Arlidge, showcases the SX4 with an unabashed joie de vivre. Infused with playfulness and adventure, the SX4 spots are about camaraderie, fun and the notion that life is a journey worth living to its fullest… especially if you can get around in a fuel-efficient vehicle that inspires Carpe Diem rather than seizing your wallet.

Editor Jay Nelson, who has collaborated with the agency on numerous projects, says: "It's always an honor to be involved in the launch of a new campaign, especially one that is as narrative-driven as Suzuki. I always enjoy collaborating Siltanen & Partners and this project was especially rewarding because it began with the agency pitch and continued through the completion of this campaign, which is all about mood and feeling, and being connected to unique experiences."

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DONER AND SAM BAYER TEAM WITH ZOIC ON MAZDA 6 CAMPAIGN

For the re-launch of Mazda 6, advertising agency Doner assembled a powerhouse of talent including director Sam Bayer and visual effects production company Zoic Studios. This heavy hitting team kicked off the dynamic campaign with a spot titled "Stadium."

Set in a mythological future, "Stadium" begins with a shot of a vast and dramatic stadium rising from a dry landscape. Inside the arena, a teaming crowd waits with reverberating excitement. A young doe eyed boy looks out with anticipation hoping to catch a glimpse of the hero while the Empress calmly presides over the dramatic presentation unfolding in the arena below. The crowd begins to pound their fists in a rhythmic call until the gate slowly lifts to reveal a sleek, black Mazda 6. The crowd falls silent, awestruck by the magnificent machine before them.

To produce this dramatic unveiling, Zoic Studios worked closely with Director Sam Bayer and Production Designer Jan Roelfs. With a supervised set, the filming of a 30-foot section of the coliseum was built as a practical set piece. Over the course of six weeks, Zoic built the complete stadium, populated it with an animated crowd and added complex reflections to the hero car using a combination of flame, After Effects, Combustion, Maya and Lightwave.

The campaign also includes spots that showcase the vehicle's construction and are set to signature tempos. "Zoom Zoom, Forever" is the anthem tagline that concludes them all.

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AT YOUR SERVICE: MR. WONDERFUL PROVIDES FULL-SERVICE PRODUCTION THROUGH POST SOLUTIONS FOR CLIENTS

Broadcast design boutique Mr. Wonderful moves firmly into the world of full-service production. Their full spectrum of production and post capabilities were called into action for a show open and animation package for "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel," HBO's Emmy-winning sports newsmagazine, and an all-encompassing :30 spot for Trix cereal and ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi/New York.

For "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel," Mr. Wonderful Creative Director Beirne Lowry directed the live-action HD shoot, and the shop handled the design, VFX, edit and music composition. The Mr. Wonderful team also produced on-set HD screen footage, shooting time-lapse night scenes of New York City that loop on seven 80-inch flat panel monitors behind Gumbel.

For "Rollercoaster," a CG-intensive spot for General Mills and ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi/New York, Mr. Wonderful began by pre-visualizing the look and feel of the spot in pitch phase. The visually-packed spot involved 23 VFX shots including 2D and 3D tracking, realistic 3D lighting effects, intensive rotoscoping and compositing, 2D animation, cel animation, dust and leaf particles, water ripples, shadow casting, and sky replacement.

"Given that so many elements of spots are interconnected now, and given the reality of trying to maximize resources and budgets, having a single team see the project from start to finish makes more and more sense," concludes David Gioiella, Mr. Wonderful Partner.

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