Edouard Salier: Massive Attack “Splitting the Atom”

The fixed moment of the catastrophe. The instant the atom bursts on the beast, the world freezes into a vitrified chaos. And we go through the slick and glistening disaster of a humanity in distress. Man or beast? The responsibility of this chaos is still to be determined. — Edouard Salier on “Splitting the Atom”

Originally posted as a Quickie, the promo for Massive Attack’s “Splitting the Atom” deserves a brighter spotlight, if only to illuminate all the incredible work that went into the project. From the storyline to the final composites, it’s a project that glitters darkly, thanks in large part to the vision of director Edouard Salier.

We asked Salier for a little more info on the project: (more…)

Phillip Bloom: Skywalker Ranch

We don’t usually feature straight cinematography work on Motionographer. However, what Director/DP Phillip Bloom was able to capture on Canon 5D and 7D DSLR’s during his 5-day stay at the Skywalker Ranch is so beautifully shot and full of inspiration that we just had to share it.

At the home of George Lucas, with Lucusfilm Producer Rick McCallum and Head of Post-Production Mike Blanchard, Bloom was faced with only one mission: show them how to get the best out of the Canon 5D Mark II and the Canon 7D.

This epic, 7-minute short film goes well beyond that with one jaw-drop after another.  Philip Bloom’s blog post on the shoot is also a useful guide into his process and gear.

With this level of quality coming from the new breed of DSLRs, this undoubtedly changes the game for studios of all shapes and sizes and their creation of high-end live action.

For a fitting example, check out Prologue’s beautiful use of the Canon 5D in this motion test for the Sherlock Holmes main title (via Art of the Title.)

Have you used DSLR video for a project? Share it in the comments!

Coalition of the Willing Goes Live

For Simon Robson, Tim Rayner and a slew of other collaborators, what started as conversation and sketches is now coming to life in the form of “Coalition of the Willing.” To quote the site, which launched yesterday:

“Coalition of The Willing” is a film that discusses how we can use new internet technologies to leverage the powers of activists, experts, and ordinary citizens in collaborative ventures to combat climate change.

Rayner and Robson first announced their project at F5 last spring in New York City. Since then, they’ve assembled an impressive array of talent from around the world, all joined together in an effort to create positive change through the power of animation and collaboration.

Drawing on his past experience creating viral hits like “What Barry Says” and working as animation director on the BAFTA-nominated “Taking Liberties,” Robson took on the roles of director and producer, while also finding time to animate his own sections of the film.

To get the full story behind the project, I donned my dorky headset and conducted a Skype interview with Robson. Watch it below or on Vimeo.

Learn more

Coalition of the Willing’s Facebook page
Official site

LAIKA: Tostitos “The Amazing Flamenco Chef”

A spot hit the airwaves last week and caused a stir in our community. It had the kind of  superb craftmanship that catches your eye amid the muddy commercial landscape.

“The Amazing Flamenco Chef” comes from LAIKA’s commercial division, LAIKA/house and director Nicholas Weigel. Teaming up with agency Goodby Silverstein and Partners, Weigel and his team have further catapulted LAIKA’s already solid reputation into contention with top CG commercial shops that can pull off a commercial narrative with saucy animation bolstered by a feast of triumphant design.

Weigel’s no stranger to Motionographer. He worked with Psyop as an Animation Director on “Coke: Inside the Happiness Factory” and with The Mill on Orangina’s “Naturally Juicy” project before joining the LAIKA/house family in 2008.

LAIKA’s also enjoying another bit of animation news: LAIKA Entertainment’s “Coraline” was just nominated for an Oscar. With LAIKA’s unwavering artistry- and people like Weigel—LAIKA/house is parlaying their sibling’s success as masters of narrative and stop-action into victory in the commercial world.

Note: Interview to come. Director Nicholas Weigel will talk about “The Amazing Flamenco Chef” and Laika’s commercial division, LAIKA/house.

Alan & Adam March Through Your Head

Alan Poon and Adam Makarenko directed this recent, stop-motion music video for Zues, “Marching Through Your Head”.

For Alan, this is an appropriate follow-up to his last naturalistic stop-motion video “In Our Talons” for the Bowerbirds. Much like his past work, Alan creates whimsy through simplicity. The consuming undercurrent that runs through these narratives are the result of a restraint and patience — a likely by-product on his background with docs and as a DP.

A solid track never hurts either…

You can also check out the making-of for some stop-motion chat about the fundamentals.

Ad Land

Lovely animation from London based Coy directors, Mark Denton and Seth Watkins. This charmingly quirky spot was created to raise awareness for the new advertising awards scheme Creative Circle. See how many adverts you can spot being lampooned (hint: there are 85 in total)!

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Johnny Kelly gets to the core of Het Klokhuis

Het Klokhuis is the Dutch childrens television show title that literally translates as ‘The Apple Core’.

Nexus Director Johnny Kelly along with sculptor, Jethro Haynes built the apple shells with 3D rapid prototyping technology (to maintain the logo shape). They were then animated in London’s Clapham Road Studios. The result is a beautifully handcrafted stop motion title sequence.

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Slamdance: Sweet 16

In the cultural tradition of pop psychology, the number 16 is celebrated as a coming of age. For young girls, in particular, the allegorical figure is a worn as insignia to symbolize the connate transition from girlhood to young womanhood. Even so, while most ceremonies are are marked by high spirits and  jubilation, Boolab and The Ebeling Group, in their main title for film festival, Slamdance, get the party started with “Sweet 16.”

Palpitating to the rumbling beat of a drum and unfurling at a frenzied pace, the piece makes haste, borrowing from sweet 16 folklore by illustrating the benchmarks of pubescence through a surfeit of rousing imagery. By way of the first shot, the audience catches a glimpse at the awkward portrait of innocence: a sweet young girl with wide eyes, buck teeth, and  straggly hair.

Wrought with a series of literal and figurative transformations, the cinematography is elegant: brimming with quick cuts that fire in rapid succession, leaving the audience in a stupor to the evocative imagery and reverberating beat. As the storytelling visuals swell into motion, viewers are shepherd through a turnstile of tactful visual effects that exist solely to reinforce the conceptual underpinnings of the enduring, sweet 16 mythos.

For process imagery and insight from the Boolab director, Nico Casavecchia, continue here.

Barclay’s Mill-Built NYC-Coaster

In a time where spots like this are reserved for the elite few; common collaborators, Nicolai Fuglsig and The Mill team up to bring you “Rollercoaster” for Barclaycard (via BBH, London). Using scenes from all over NYC this production, that began last fall, constructs and elaborate coaster-ride through the city.

As can be expected, The Mill comes with a solid making of that proves to be as entertaining as the finished product.

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The strange tale of Skhizein

This may be old news to some, but I noticed Jérémy Clapin and Stéphane Piera’s 2008 Oscar contender ‘Skhizein’ has yet to receive any Motionographer attention. So here it is in full. A curious tale indeed yet so quintessentially quirky and French, it’s a joy to behold full of original ideas and visual cleverness not to mention rock solid art direction and admirable follow-through in all aspects of the execution.

Available here to buy on DVD with an insightful making of. Bon appetit!