Our Company | About Us | Services | Our Clients | What's New | Events

January 2010

SERIOUS PICTURES’ TOM MERILION AND CUT + RUN’S DAN ROBINSON CAST CREATIVE EYES ON “VISION FOR A NATION”

In Rwanda approximately 95% of people who need eyeglasses do not own a pair, with only four optometrists to cover its population of 10 million.  In response to this, Adaptive Eyewear commissioned the beautiful and poetic “Vision for a Nation” film directed by Tom Merilion of Serious Pictures and edited by Dan Robinson of Cut + Run.

Vision for a Nation is using revolutionary, low cost self-adjustable eyeglasses, distributed by local community health workers, teachers and nurses. Their mission is to provide eyeglasses to all who need them in Rwanda by 2014, which is approximately 1.2 million people.

The film is a lyrical visual journey into the world of Rwandan people given renewed sight with the help of Vision for a Nation. Using Adaptive Eyewear, children can read, a man can earn his livelihood and a woman can see the beauty of the landscape before her.

To view the piece and find out more about the organization visit: www.visionforanation.org.

COMPANY X EDITOR BRUCE ASHLEY & FOCUS CREEPS DIRECTOR AARON BROWN REVEAL THE ‘NAUGHTY’ TRUTH BEHIND CREATING DIRECTOR’S CUT OF GIRLS MUSIC VIDEO “LUST FOR LIFE”

Directors Aaron Brown & Ben Chappell (Focus Creeps) recently traveled to NYC edit house Company X to create the Director’s Cut for “Lust for Life,” the lead single off GIRLS’ critically acclaimed "Album" (True Panther Sounds/Matador). With a stash of unused footage and a vision to shift the music video genre into brave new territory, the directing duo tapped acclaimed commercial and music video editor Bruce Ashley for an alternative narrative perspective. For Company X, regarded for editing high-end commercials and music videos, contributing to such an extraordinary piece was a unique opportunity, creatively, to do something edgier in the music video realm.

Both versions of video feature a boisterous, wanton cast (most of whom are indie artists and friends of Girls) indulging in the androgynous glamour of lead singer Christopher Owens, miming his infectious pop lyrics. The Director’s Cut achieves a similar vibe, but this time using unseen footage and a little more playful exhibitionism from the cast. Exploitative? Not according to Focus Creeps, who insist their creative choice was more about conceptually blurring the lines of online media, while offering a more sincere narrative exploring the spirit of the band.

“It’s exciting to do a video with a less formulaic structure of performance vs. narrative,” says Ashley. “This video appeals more to your sub-consciousness than your standard linear story telling sensibilities. It opens interpretation for the viewer, tweaking your curiosity and making it more engaging and entertaining.”

To view the Director’s Cut of “Lust for Life,” please go to: http://companyx.tv/Girls/

ROYALE & RC DESIGN FEDERATION CREATE ‘SPACE ODDITY’ WITH MULTIMEDIA DAVID BOWIE INSTALLATION

Motion design & production house Royale and Designer Rogerio Carvalheiro, Principal of RC Design Federation, joined forces to create a David Bowie-inspired multi-media installation for "Rock 'n' Platinum: A Designer Showcase That Interprets Music Through Design. The showcase was commissioned to introduce Lofts @ Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles and pay tribute to the loft's historic grounds where countless music icons once recorded. The collaboration marks the integration of Royale & Carvalheiro's professional design focus: motion and interior design, respectively.

Royale created two video installations that would communicate with the spatial décor, while enhancing the experiential cohesion of the "Bowie" motif, as a whole. Entering the top level, visitors encounter Royale's first video piece: a mesmerizing portrait of David Bowie, which slowly morphs into abstractions of his various creative personas. Royale's second video installation downstairs is a looping four-minute montage of motion graphics, as well as Bowie film clips and interview footage, all resounding between the sardonic industrial rock anthem "I'm Afraid of Americans" and classical music from the "Hunger.”

Royale says the concurrent installations were designed to serve and channel the spatial experience, encouraging exploration between levels.

“The installation downstairs represents the more literal Bowie,” says Royale. “To illustrate his ‘show’ side and ‘personal’ side, we juxtaposed the fast-tempo and ambient media centered around the music. Overall, it’s intended to entertain; whereas the piece upstairs is more of a fine art experience.”

To view Royale’s video installation please go to: http://www.weareroyale.com/work/54