Modul: Diploma Project by Maxim Zhestkov

Young designer/director Maxim Zhestkov has just released his diploma project,  entitled “Modul.”

Explains Maxim: “I’ve tried to reflect the universe in infinite confinement. Pulsating energy and magnetism. Confrontation and the pursuit of something great, a goal that an observer can not understand not being involved in the process.”

Sound by Marcelo ‘Combustion’ Baldin.

Parachute Ending

Will Sweeney and Steve Scott have teamed up to co-direct this trippy new video for Birdy Nam Nam. Made entirely in Flash and After Effects in a little over a month with a completely open brief given to the Directors by the band, Parachute Ending is a stand-alone sci-fi short inspired by the likes of La Planète Sauvage (Fantastic Planet) and other vintage sci-fi references. It’s altogether surreal and mysterious with amazing illustrations and animation for this wordless synth-driven song. Totally digging it!

Update: Vimeo version here.

Thanks to Collin for the tip!

Full Credits

Prologue: 2009 MTV Movie Awards

Prologue has released a montage of their colorfully wacky package for the MTV Movie Awards, directed by Ilya Abulhanov (who also directed the recently posted OFFF 2009 titles).

The creators of the many awards show packages, including the MTV Music Video Awards and the last five Academy Awards shows, Prologue knows their way around a sealed envelope. Careful never to upstage the red carpet regulars who share the spotlight with their graphics packages, Prologue knows when to pull back—and when to shine.

As Prologue’s youngest creative director, Ilya brings a shoot-from-the-hip confidence that’s countered by crisp typography and well-composed shots. His palette is an unlikely mix of mustards, eggplants and oranges that works with the surreal vignettes and icon-headed figures that unify the package.

De Monsters

Monsters: 091 Tourists from Volstok Telefunken on Vimeo.

This is Monsters: 091 Tourists, just the latest of almost a hundred similar shorts made by Volstok Telefunken for a Belgian Show, “Man Bijt Hond.” The Monster films all feature silly, gross and joking Monsters animated over real live-action shots of people in everyday situations who interact with the drawn Monsters in unexpected and hilarious ways. Mix Candid Camera clips with 2 parts sick and twisted animation, shake and enjoy!

The Monsters’ own site is here.

London: See No Evil June 4th at Bodhi

Attention Londoners: See No Evil’s next meeting will be meeting on June 4th, 7pm at Bodhi. David Wilson will be on hand to discuss his “We Got Time” for Moray McLaren, followed by an Open Screen Night. There will also be free Stash DVDs being handed out like highly addictive substances worthy of their namesake.

Wish I could be there! Fellow Motionographer James Wignall will be in attendance, though. Get there early. Space is limited.

Full details on the See No Evil site.

Europride: “Pufff”

Sometimes a great project comes your way, and you know you’ve just got to do it—budgets and deadlines be damned. That’s how London studio The House of Curves must have felt when Grasshopper Films and agency TBWA tapped them to create this showstopper for Zurich’s Europride gay festival coming up in June.

The House of Curves’ Andrew Daffy tackled quite a few tasks for this labor of lust: editing, previsualization, modeling, animation, lighting, compositing and even co-writing the lyrics with director Richard Hickey, who maintained a pitch-perfect balance between magic and kitsch throughout the spot.

Watch “Pufff” a couple times to catch all the subtle interactions with the physical space and the transformations of the objects surrounding the sleeping couple.

Just to prove that Andrew (who looks like a cross between John Cusack and Seth McFarlane) was fully committed to the spot, he even dolled himself up in drag for a little character research. Head over to the theater page for all the action, and keep your eye out for a making-of podcast from The House of Curves.

Challenge Your World

Through an online community, contests, and events, Challenge Your World connects emerging entrepreneurs to the resources and expertise they need to launch companies that restore the environment, contribute to society, and build a healthier economy.

It’s with great pleasure that I share with you the first five films from this year’s inaugural Challenge Your World 20/20.

Each year, 20 video artists create 20 wild, whimsical, and unconventional machines that solve environmental issues. If we’re going to transform the world we have to push ourselves to think differently — so these videos reject the status quo, explore crazy ideas, and blast beyond boundaries.

Want to participate? For information on how to submit a video contact Julien Vallée at video@challengeyourworld.com.