This year’s rendition builds on audio sampled from previous SIFF films to create a disjointed steam-of-consciousness narrative. The visuals are lush, jewel-toned dreams rendered by hand in acetate, paper cut out and ferns(!). I only wish I could see this on the big screen.
2009 is really shaping up to be the year of analogue. Digital post-production finishing adds layers of needed polish, but analoge animation techniques are really experiencing a renaissance. Fun times!
Some the best advice I’ve heard for people just getting into mograph (and for battle-scarred vets, as well) is to work on small, bite-size projects as often as you can. Taking on a six-minute music video sounds great in theory, but it usually just ends up collecting dust on a hard drive somewhere, intimidating you with its overwhelming scope.
With this in mind, Nick Campbell (greyscalegorilla) is creating a series of 5-second mograph challenges. They’re open to anyone, and I strongly encourage you toss your hat in the ring. They give you just enough structure to get you going in a hurry.
Check our some of the submissions for Nick’s latest challenge, “Your Name.” Fun stuff!
For the F5 RE:PLAY Film Festival, we invited some of our favorite studios and directors to create original works around the themes of rebirth, rejuvenation and regrowth. No client demands, no logos—and no money. Just creativity for creativity’s sake. Pure and simple.
The result is a slate of quirky, innovative, funny, moving and diverse films that will debut during F5 on April 16th and 17th. Check out the trailer above and then join us at Roseland Ballroom as we raise our drinks to the RE:PLAY directors:
Holbrooks
Pistachios
Buck
Crush
Imaginary Forces
LaFlama
Ubik
Superfad
Digital Kitchen
Chris Hewitt and James Cambourne
Ryan Rothermel & Sean Pecknold
Sehsucht
Shilo
Special thanks to David Kamp for supplying music in the RE:PLAY trailer. And big ups to Connor Swegle for producing the RE:PLAY film festival with us.
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 | Comments Off
Sprint Now Network: Anthem
I love it when everything falls into place, when the hot potato is passed elegantly from hand to hand along the creative chain. When it works, it looks something like this new spot for Sprint, created to launch the broadcast portion of a campaign masterminded by Goodby, Silverstein and Partners.
Continuing along the vein of their previous Sprint work, Superfad rocked the graphics tip in this anthem. The engine of this thing is its impeccable timing—the voiceover, visuals and sound design (Human) move at a confident click that delivers punchlines with tick-tock surety.
The density is just right: enough to justify repeat viewing, but not enough to make you scratch your head.
SVA student Mike Milyavsky envisioned a frenetic factory of unhappiness and conformity for his computer art thesis. The harsh vignetting, violent camera moves and mechanical textures all contribute to a feeling of claustrophobia and doom. It’s a fun ride, even if it is a a bit depressing.
(I love the robotic breastfeeding bit. Creepy and clever.)
As someone who has an intense love-hate relationship with New York, this sweetly animated film from Andy and Carolyn London tugged hard on my heartstrings. It’s a simple concept: Interview New Yorkers and then animate objects in the city to match their personalities. The result is a compelling short that helps me see the city—and its people—in a new light.
For his master thesis at Arts et Technologies de l’Image, Mathieu Gérard created “Steel Life,” a breathtaking tapestry of textures and light that evokes themes of genesis and rebirth.
While there’s no obvious narrative, the film uses abstract realism—lovingly rendered imagery inspired by nature—to build an associative network of ideas. The lush soundtrack, composed by Mathieu Alvado and performed by the Star Pop Orchestra, adds a dramatic arc to the film.
Take a break from whatever you’re doing (unless it’s open heart surgery) and strap on your headphones for a delightful romp through the collective unconsciousness of some of the most creative image makers working today.
The next six films will go online on April 2nd. Check the Screenings page for showings near you.
Going back to school in style, Mexico City studio Cru De Ladies and BBDO México put their heads together by designing a neighborhood built of notebook paper in Scribe Mundo De Pape.
Directed by Marc Colucci, Lemonade is a documentary that examines several of the 70,000 advertising professionals who have lost their jobs in the economic recession, and as a result, found their true calling.
Assembled by Dutch graphic designer, Christian Annyas, The Movie Title Stills Collection is a comprehensive library of single still images that are representative of main title sequences from the 1920’s – 2000’s.
Created for (and rejected by) MTV Movie Awards. This slice of genius was made by LA duo Fatal Farm (who also animated the recent Major Lazer video). MTV *NEEDS* stuff like this!
Joining forces with UK Production Company Blink Ink and Agency CHI, Noah Harris directs Talk Talk. The light-writing concept is tired, but the spot’s worthy of praise for its execution.
