Superfad : Preguntas Hermosas

Superfad Seattle has just released a new short film called Preguntas Hermosas, a beautiful tale of a time shared between two people told through a combination of “Poema X” by Pablo Neruda and “Under the Harvest Moon” by Carl Sandburg. As explained by Director David Viau, “The story unfolds in three parts; a fond remembrance, loss, and then finally acceptance.”

With cinematic transitions and methodical pacing, Preguntas Hermosas casts dark characters in epic worlds for its arresting narrative. The film’s narrator, Gabriel Puerto, complements the score and adds depth to the amazing visual journey. The camera work shows great restraint, leaning more toward a practical approach to cinematography in the CG environment.

David was kind enough to share some of his thoughts and a bit of the process, after the jump:

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Jeremy Abel : The Conductor

Jeremy Abel, currently a senior at R.I.T, creates this fun piece of stop motion about a robot conductor and his analog ensemble.

The solid editorial, subtle in camera lighting and awesome production design, manage not to overwhelm the narrative, as we follow the robot and his interesting interactions with bringing his friends to life.  Also a noteworthy dynamic in sound composing here that helps bring in some extra energy at the key moments.

Be sure to check out the process/breakdown on Jeremy’s site.

WeWereMonkeys : Coheed and Cambria: The Broken

WeWereMonkeys were so struck by the energy of the new Coheed and Cambria song, “The Broken,” that it inspired them to create an epic sci-fi saga of vast proportions.

Death-match between cyborg titans? Check. Spaceships and mechanical beasts fighting to fulfill an ancient prophecy? Got it.

But the best part of all, you ask? They built all of this from remote-controlled vehicles, kitchen utensils, electrical components, and 50 scale-model kits.  From these parts, they managed to custom-create a total of 15 models over two days, followed by an airbrushing and weathering technique, giving the models the battle-scarred look you see in the final piece. They then shot stills and video of the models in their green screen studio, before assembling the post-apocalyptic world in Photoshop and After Effects.

In a word, awesome! It’s always inspiring to see a tactile approach when so many before have chosen the CG path. For the full wow factor, be sure to look at these amazing process stills after the jump, ranging from the creation of the models to the composting and finishing of the final.

Process images and credits…

Superfad: Sony “Eye Candy”

Superfad Seattle brings more than just eye candy to this surreal exploration of live action and vfx for Sony Bravia HDTV.  Unfolding in three parts, “Birth of Color,”  ”Explosion of Color,” and “Release of Color,” the piece takes us on a dreamlike journey, with each section visually manifesting Sony’s global brand message of “make.believe”.

Drawing from the theatrical world of fashion photography, Superfad chose spherical objects to represent the dot in “make.believe” and serve as a thread that runs throughout the piece.

For an extra bonus, we’re including both the final piece and a behind the scenes video in HD. Also check out the process frames and style boards sent from Directors Will Hyde and Carlos Stevens.

Digital Kitchen : Census “Living Mural”

Digital Kitchen NY steps up to the plate and cracks a grand slam with a seamless blend of sexy live action and hand-drawn animation in “Living Mural,” created for the US Census and agency Globalhue.

Directed by Rama Allen and Bryce Wymer, the Dk’ers also enlisted the helping hands of animating team, Augenblick Studios, to solidify the hand drawn, frame-by-frame process.

This process video gives great insight into the work flow and some of the action on the street. Don’t miss it after the jump!

Credits