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November 20, 2009
November 19, 2009
Enjoy a fascinating discussion about filmmaking and art in A Talk with Alfred Hitchcock (thanks Jimmy!).
Brought to us by Luma, check out The Making of Standard Bank Global, from concept to execution. November 18, 2009
Also, dont miss out on his great list of stuff to live by. Shel Silverstein would be proud.
London based director Scott Altman hits the ground running with a frenetic reel, and a slim but slick portfolio.
As an extension of Asylum Visual Effects, Asylum Design is making its mark with three reels showcasing their work in main titles, screen design, and commercial productions. November 17, 2009
November 16, 2009
Ross Neil and Matt Clark direct an alternate “Strawberry Swing” music video. (See Shynola’s official video.) Thanks, Hector! November 14, 2009 Nikon Film Festival open for entries — closing 12/15. November 13, 2009
Toronto based Alchemy drops this wicked spot for MEDT (Ontario Ministry of Economic Development)
November 12, 2009
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1st Ave Machine: “TED”
Well, that settles it. 1st Ave Machine are the masters of creating creepy but believable CG lifeforms. Their newest project, a music video for Warp Records’ Clark, is a showcase of their darker side, with dimly lit insects slithering, crawling and—dare I say, dancing?—to the electro-agitated soundtrack. Beautiful stuff (in a really gross way).
23 responses to “1st Ave Machine: “TED”” |
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Monday, January 22nd 2007 at 12:51 pm |
http://www.1st-ave-machine.com/
Monday, January 22nd 2007 at 12:54 pm |
hmm.. can’t get to /insects/ though.
Monday, January 22nd 2007 at 1:03 pm |
http://www.1stavemachine.com/insects
Monday, January 22nd 2007 at 1:54 pm |
are those insects 100% CG? or do they just have CG additions?
Monday, January 22nd 2007 at 2:25 pm |
guess both URLs are working now.
Monday, January 22nd 2007 at 9:15 pm |
the 3d and live action is so good but it feels kind of off pace wise to the music. Maybe its just me…
Monday, January 22nd 2007 at 10:10 pm |
the insects are real, but they put cg ontop of it like in their previous clips.
Tuesday, January 23rd 2007 at 6:01 am |
real life combined with cg again with the guys from first ave. and again IMPRESSIVE
it has theyr style all over it, i thnk thats what makes it good
Tuesday, January 23rd 2007 at 6:08 am |
The music is cool… and the video is cool too… but they don’t fit together at all.
Feels as if they’re thrown together randomnly… it doesn’t seem as if they’re reacting to the music at all.
Tuesday, January 23rd 2007 at 6:39 am |
I disagree with Alex. The shots are cut quite nicely to the music. Cuts fall on or around beats in a loose fashion that i think works well. Granted, the insects don’t dance and swing to the beat, but that’s not what insects do. If they had rendered realistic insects and synched their movement to the music, then you’re approaching ‘It’s a Bug’s life.’ I love what 1st Ave do. They are certainly ‘mining a seam’ and are doing it very well. With this insects film they are boradening a style which they ‘own’. Great stuff…
Tuesday, January 23rd 2007 at 9:12 am |
I’m not talking about animating Insects… I’m just saying that the slow and creepy movements don’t fit to the spectacular music… listen to the music with your eyes shut… do you “see” slow crawling caterpillar? Or a fast twitching mantis?
as I said before… the pictures are awesome and I love how they inconspicuously added things to the insects… but still the soundtrack doesn’t fit.
Tuesday, January 23rd 2007 at 10:29 am |
I hear you Alex. I just don’t think visual always has to ‘hard-synch’ with audio in a promo. Sometimes the gap between visual an audio can be interesting. But i really think it’s a matter of taste…I would venture however, that 1st Ave probably had this idea before they heard the music, and saw the video as a good opportunity to execute the idea. But that’s OK, and it’s how many promo directors work. Would be interesting to hear 1st Ave’s comments on this…
Tuesday, January 23rd 2007 at 4:34 pm |
i’d also like to hear 1st ave’s comments.. justin, an interview with them would be fantastic.. it’d be good to hear them dispell the fact that there never seems to be any substance to their work.. it’s apparent they have a style they mastered and treat ALL their work with.. i mean.. that nicktoons spot.. you gotta be kidding me.. from the standpoint of commercial design, these guys are 1 trick pony’s.. i respect the fact they do what they want.. but would like to hear their rationalization of how they’re able to do this.. and also where they see themselves going.. though the spot is beautiful, it’s pointless..
Tuesday, January 23rd 2007 at 6:07 pm |
pointles…1 trick ponies…Jeez, that’s harsh. They have created a unique look and approach to their work and are exploring it, that’s all. Remember, clients will be aware of them , and approach them for the style they have seen and want to buy into. THAT is the reality of commercial work. And it’s a very foolhardy director / outfit who turn down work just because they’re being asked to create something similar to what they’ve done before. Fashion moves so quickly in this industry that it’s prudent to ‘Make hay while the sun shines’. That said, i think there’s plenty more to explore for 1st Ave within the style they’ve created. Good for them!!!
Tuesday, January 23rd 2007 at 6:09 pm |
This is from FEED.
From 1st Ave Machine director Arvind Palep: “These insects have a distinct regal quality, we wanted to augment that quality of perfect intimidation. We started designing and creating elements that would blend with and add to characteristics already present.�
“It’s a bit shocking, but that’s what we love to do,� says Palep. “Triggering that primary emotional response; that curious, excited surprise in viewers is what we are always after.�
Tuesday, January 23rd 2007 at 6:14 pm |
And it’s a music video, not a spot lubalin. Music videos are allowed to seem pointless, since they sometimes represent an artistic individual interpretation of the music.
Tuesday, January 23rd 2007 at 7:13 pm |
I think there are 2 kinds of design houses out there (in terms how how things work for them): those who are versatile and so diverse, like Shnyola, and those who are very good at one particular unique style that they do, like 1st Ave….and they get hired for different reasons I guess. Some of us prefer those who are versatile–one can not guess what they’d come up with next..Lubalin seems to be one of them. Although commercial reality is different (like what Simon said, ‘make hay while the sun shines’)..it’s still a subjective thing—choosing what you want to become and what sort of designer you choose to look up to.
Tuesday, January 23rd 2007 at 7:41 pm |
if this is infact a one-trick pony, which it kinda is…
its still one hell of a trick. they have their lil aesthetic all kinds of locked up.
Wednesday, January 24th 2007 at 1:46 pm |
Lilian-
Versatile good? One trick pony bad? So, according to you Michael Jordan should have mastered baseball and football as well, and Mike Tyson should come out with a grill.
Wednesday, January 24th 2007 at 5:15 pm |
Rad tad — no i didnt say that. I said each has their own merit. and each gets hired for different reasons..and i didnt call anyone a one-trick-pony. but its up to individuals who they choose to look up to!
but perhaps if mike tyson did come out with a grill, he’d be in less trouble than he is now
let out those aggression!!!
Wednesday, January 24th 2007 at 7:08 pm |
I think the music and visuals fit. The insects don’t have to react to the music, but what I think ties the two things together is the tension present in the visuals and composition of the music. It looks as though there is a conflict between insects, and the music I think hightens this tension.
Thursday, January 25th 2007 at 9:17 am |
Rad Tad – You mean Tyson doesn’t have a grill? Now there’s a missed opportunity…
Saturday, January 27th 2007 at 11:15 am |
If you reference another video with a similar feel and style, NIN’s “Closer to God” by Mark Romanek, I don’t think you’d say that that video was “pointless”. TED just happens to borrow from that disconnect feeling of music and visuals that Romanek made a huge mark with. Eliciting a primal response from the viewer is vastly more effective and thought provoking than some overt and heavy handed attempt to “connect” the two together.