Mind Guerilla

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 18:23:00 +0000

Stephen Arnold Music Refreshes China Global Television Network (CGTN)

With New Sonic Branding

Teams With Renowned Design Firm Flint Skallen To Create New Show Themes And Promos Across CGTN’s Five Networks

DALLAS, TX -- The five international channels of China Global Television Network (CGTN), reaching over one billion people around the world, have newly updated sonic brands courtesy of Stephen Arnold Music, who returned to the network after launching its distinctive sonic brand in 2015.

Collaborating once again with design firm Flint Skallen, Stephen Arnold Music produced an extensive package of new show themes and promo music for CGTN’s five international channels: CGTN English, French (African), Spanish, Russian and Arabic. Together, the two firms forged fresh graphics and music to reflect the channels’ increased digital footprint and accessibility worldwide. Across the channels and their shows, the new elements express that CGTN’s audience can access the network’s content digitally via Web and mobile.

Stephen Arnold Music took the opportunity to evolve the sound of each channel, while basing its compositions on the instantly recognizable sonic brand and four-note mnemonic they had originally developed. Each theme builds off the concept that rhythm has the unique power to transcend international barriers.

“A beat crosses all borders,” Chad Cook, Vice President, Creative for Stephen Arnold Music. says. “Many of the themes are built around distinctive rhythms, which are woven into soundscapes that feature both traditional instruments and electronic elements. Together, they communicate the digital accessibility that defines CGTN today.”

A prime example is “Across and Anywhere.” Strikingly cinematic, the international promo showcases CGTN’s multi-platform, multi-geographical footprint, with music and visuals that take viewers on a colorful journey through India, Lebanon, Greece, the United States, Africa and Argentina. Other key CGTN shows that received graphical and musical updates included “Global Business,” “New Money,” “Dialogue,” and “World Insight.”

“When Stephen Arnold Music’s work for CGTN debuted in 2015, the result was a memorable sonic brand for a global news operation of unprecedented reach,” Cook adds. “The opportunity to further evolve and grow that sonic brand has been very rewarding, a process made all the better by the highly inspiring visuals from our talented colleagues at Flint Skallen.”

About Stephen Arnold Music:

Often referred to as the most-heard, least-known composers in the world, Stephen Arnold Music’s creativity is experienced every day in more than 500 million homes worldwide. Based in Texas, with additional studios in Santa Fe, New Mexico, The World Leader In Sonic Branding® has more than 25 years of success delivering impactful, brand-defining music that makes a difference for today’s top broadcast networks, cable channels, television stations, digital media outlets, production companies and advertising agencies. With multiple Emmys, Addys and Promax Golds to their credit, Stephen Arnold Music’s specialized approach and commitment to the power of sonic branding, state-of-the-art production and unparalleled customer service is at the core of its promise. Stephen Arnold Music continues to set the creative bar in a highly competitive content landscape.

For more information, please visit http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com

Stephen Arnold Music Debuts “Ready” – Multi-Themed/Multi-Platform Image Campaign For Local TV Stations

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 17:30:00 +0000

“Morning Ready,” “Weather Ready,” and “Always Ready” Market Exclusive Promo Package Engages and Empowers Audiences Throughout the Day

_____________

DALLAS, TX – Stephen Arnold Music, the World Leader in Sonic Branding, has announced the launch of “Ready.” Featuring multiple themes of “Morning Ready,” “Weather Ready” and “Always Ready,” the campaign is the latest in a series of comprehensive audio and video offerings from Stephen Arnold Music, providing local TV stations with a cost-effective marketing toolkit.

“Ready” provides stations with full 360-degree coverage of a station’s strongest brand silos – morning, weather and news. It engages viewers across multiple platforms, empowering them to be prepared throughout their day. Optimized for broadcast, mobile, online, and social media, “Ready” pairs three versions each (Always, Morning, Weather) of two memorable original songs combined with relevant video, reflecting the confidence viewers feel by being 100% ready for whatever comes their way.

“Audiences today interact with their favorite local station in so many ways – via their phone, online, and across multiple social media channels,” Chad Cook, Vice President, Creative for Stephen Arnold Music, says. “The diverse messaging of ‘Ready’ creates a comprehensive connection between stations and their audiences, anytime and anywhere.”

Featuring different verse/chorus/bridge lyrics within addictive pop songs, the multiple themes of “Ready” allow stations to evolve their campaign, with staged rollouts of “Morning,” “Weather” and “Always” over months or years. All versions of the song packages include Full Song/60s/30s/15s/10s/IDs, along with full sing, donut, tag and instrumental mixes, plus an instrumental “Severe Weather” theme. Stations can also collaborate with Stephen Arnold Music on custom lyrics for their market.

Following the success of previous integrated campaigns such as “Everywhere I Go” and “Waking Up My Day” from Stephen Arnold Music, “Ready” is oriented from the viewer perspective. The lyrics and imagery focus on feeling fully prepared by their local station for the fast-changing developments of each day. From “Always Ready:” Whatever's making headlines/Whatever's going on in the world outside/Yeah ya keep it coming on time/Ya keep me in the know anywhere I gotta go/And as long as you're within my reach/Yeah ya give me everything I need.../I'm always ready/Anytime anywhere/I’m always ready.”

As the World Leader in Sonic Branding, Stephen Arnold Music has helped define the brand identity for such clients as CNN, Fox, ESPN, AXS TV, CCTV, and local stations in 75% of all US TV markets.

About Stephen Arnold Music:

Often referred to as the most-heard, least-known composers in America, Stephen Arnold Music’s creativity is experienced every day in more than 100 million homes throughout the U.S. Based in Dallas with offices in San Diego and New York, with additional recording studios in Santa Fe, “The World Leader In Sonic Branding™ has more than 20 years of success delivering impactful, brand-defining music that makes a difference for today’s top broadcast networks, cable channels, television stations, film production studios and advertising agencies. With multiple Emmys, Addys and Promax Golds to their credit, Stephen Arnold Music’s specialized approach and commitment to the power of sonic branding, state-of-the-art production and unparalleled customer service is at the core of its promise. Stephen Arnold Music continues to set the creative bar in a highly competitive content landscape.

Web Resources:

Click here for more info about Stephen Arnold Music’s new “Ready campaign:

http://stephenarnoldmusic.com/ready/

“Always”:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/229198990

“Weather”:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/229200626

“Morning":

https://player.vimeo.com/video/229201476

Click here for more info about Stephen Arnold Music:

http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com

Spears & Arrows Welcomes Directors Robert Logevall And Josh Miller

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 15:44:00 +0000

Directors Robert Logevall (left) and Josh Miller (right) have joined Spears & Arrows, Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Looking to add to their burgeoning roster of talented directors, Spears & Arrows, the three-year-old production company founded by Executive Producer Jason Wolk, has added directors Robert Logevall and Josh Miller. They join an impressive roster headlined by Arni Thor Jonsson, Ago Panini, John Grammatico and Don Broida.

For Wolk, the additions of Logevall and Miller represent a continuation of the values that he founded the company on, which are succinctly summed up in their corporate philosophy: “Defend The Story.”

“’Defend the story’ simply means putting the creative ahead of everything else – ahead of money, profits, margins,” Wolk says. “As one creative director told me, Spears & Arrows combines new school thinking with old school values. For me, that was a huge compliment. That’s exactly what I set out to do when I launched the company 2014, and it’s why we wanted to work with both Robert and Josh.”

Robert Logevall:
Logevall brings his singular sense of design and film composition to Spears & Arrows, following stints at production companies Supply & Demand and Anonymous Content. Originally from Sweden, Logevall began his creative career in Canada working as both an art director and production designer in film and television.

As a commercial director he brings that same sense of graphic design, detail and filmic composition to his work, which at times recalls such filmmakers as Wes Anderson and Spike Jones. His visual style is perhaps best exemplified in his Fiat spot “Immigrant,” a whimsical montage of various Fiat’s driving into the waters around Italy and arriving on American shores to highlight the brand’s reemergence in the U.S. market; and Chrysler’s “Life Evolves,” which effectively uses a split-screen to highlight two distinct stages in a man’s life and the car’s that bridges them.

“Robert is famous for his unique twist on the auto spot,” Wolk notes, “but he is much more than your typical “car guy.” His spots are always very composed and graphic thanks to his production design background. His eye for detail and sly wit have made him a favorite not only in Detroit, but agencies worldwide.”

In addition to his commercial work, Logevall recently wrapped shooting his second feature film, “American Pets”, as well as a short film, “Kim and I.”

Josh Miller:
Miller began his career as an agency copywriter working at such top creative shops as Kirshenbaum Bond + Partners and Hampel Stefanides. He worked as a creative director at Cliff Freeman & Partners and Team One Advertising, before launching his own directing career that included stints at RSA Films, B-Reel Films and most recently Humongous Production.

With a sharp wit, coupled with an innate ability to craft memorable stories and characters, Miller’s best work highlights his singular abilities to mine comedy through performance, as in his Klondike spot “Good Listener” and Target ad “Neighbors,” which expertly captures a cringe-worthy awkward exchange of holiday presents between two young couples.

“Josh’s agency creative background is a huge plus, he understands the pressures agency producers and creatives are under with their client relationships, and what the team is up against in general,” Wolk says. “He’s able to offer creative solutions that work for everybody, and always without ego.”

Beyond commercials, Miller currently has two series’ in development at Comedy Central; one based on his award-winning short film, "Hand Job: Portrait of a Professional Male Hand Model."

Busy Roster:
In addition to the new director additions, Spears & Arrows other directorial talent has had a busy start to 2017.

• Arni Thor-Jonsson just wrapped a seven-day shoot on a global Hilton Hotels image campaign, and is currently shooting his fourth Walgreens spot for GSD&M.

• John Grammatico recently finished two new campaigns featuring classic brand icons for Cream of Wheat and Ortega taco meal kits. In the new spots, Grammatico masterfully brings the mythological Cream of Wheat chef to life, and introduces Mama Ortega to audiences.

• Don Broida just completed work on the launch of the Spectrum brand, formerly known as Time Warner Cable via agency Wilson RMS, and just completed a spot for eBay with Digitas.

“My directors are my partners and we have to be able to work together in today’s creative economy,” Wolk notes about the changing relationships between brands, agencies and creative production company’s like Spears & Arrows. “That means working with our clients to provide solutions that crush it creatively, but are fiscally responsible. We prioritize the interpersonal relationship because it is not a numbers game for us, and anything we can do to stand out from the competition we will do, which is why I am very deliberative when it comes to who we work with.”

Wolk adds, “The whole business has changed -- there’s less work, for less money that needs to be done quicker, but with even greater expectations. The days of an agency producer simply handing a board and a budget to a director are long gone. For us, every job is precious and a chance to do something great, which is why we treat every job as if it’s our last.”

Spears & Arrows is represented on East Coast by Mary Eiff and Michelle Stuart of Hello Tomorrow (www.hellotomorrow.tv); Brad Grubaugh and Sophie Moore of Goodrebel (www.goodrebel.tv) on the West Coast and Texas; and in the Midwest by Nikki Weiss-Goldstein of Nikki Weiss & Co (www.nikkiweissandco.com).

About Spears & Arrows:
Like, Honor & Passion, Excellence & Inspiration, we are a team that values the balance and blend of best practices with the best talent in commercial production. http://www.spearsandarrows.tv/

Web Resources:
http://www.spearsandarrows.tv/
http://www.spearsandarrows.tv/#RobertLogevall
http://www.spearsandarrows.tv/#JoshMiller

Animation Studio Calabash And Director Steve “Spaz” Williams Reteam For New StarKist Campaign

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 19:15:00 +0000

CHICAGO, IL – Reuniting with acclaimed live action director Steve “Spaz” Williams and food and beverage branding specialist quench, Harrisburg, PA, award-winning animation studio Calabash once again took a creative deep-dive, with the latest ad campaign from StarKist. The new spots spotlight the brand’s new line of Tuna & Salmon Creations® single-serve pouches and feature legendary brand icon Charlie the Tuna, alongside actress Candace Cameron Bure, perhaps best known as D.J. Tanner on the classic family sit-com “Full House.” Phasmatrope Studios, West Conshohocken PA, produced the spots.

“For the compositing effect to work they needed to appear to be speaking to each other and lit by the same light in the scenes,” Wayne Brejcha, Calabash Creative Director says. “Additionally, we needed to make Charlie his usual charming self, and create a photorealistic StarKist product that Candace grabs from his nimble little fins. To make all those elements come together was an exciting creative challenge for the studio.”

Each of the two new :15s feature a different side to Bure’s busy life and how StarKist’s Tuna & Salmon Creations® single-serve pouches fit into it, whether at work as in the spot “Action Candace” or at home as in “Making Lunches.” Both feature Charlie dropping in (quite literally) on a hook to chat with Bure and offer some tasty lunch options.

For Calabash Executive Producer Sean Henry one of the key animation challenges the new work presented was the CG model rigging that required a considerable amount of thought to give the animators enough control to match the poses conceived by agency creatives.

“The animation required a lot of corrective blend shapes in the final polishing stage,” Henry notes. “Our team of 2D and 3D animators did a great job merging the styles to come up with something that manages to bridge the gap between 2D and 3D while staying true to the character.”

Henry adds, “Acting with animated characters can be a challenge for some actors, but Candace was fantastic. The old shtick was always that Charlie wanted to be a star, so I guess he's coming up in the world. Spaz is a dream director for animation because he knows both animation and filmmaking, and how to get every shot to connect with viewers.”

For Williams, who in addition to directing numerous ads played an instrumental role at acclaimed visual effect house Industrial Light & Magic, working on such early groundbreaking feature films such as “The Abyss,” “Jurassic Park” and “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” notes that while Charlie has evolved over the years, the key with this project, as well as the previous StarKist spot he directed, was the role of Calabash.

“These guys are one of the best animation houses in the country,” Williams says. “Their animation skill in both classical and computer graphics is fantastic. They are character and performance guys first. They’re not a huge, bloated shop – rather a small family of artists who understand attention to performance and look.”

Calabash’s technological arsenal included 3D animation software Maya, with rendering done with V-Ray, and Nuke for compositing.

About Calabash Animation:
Led by Creative Director Wayne Brejcha and Executive Producer Sean Henry, Calabash Animation is the Chicago, IL-based animation production studio known for its award-winning animation for the advertising and entertainment industries. Calabash Animation is perhaps best known for their creative character animation and development of some of America’s most beloved brand icons. In addition to it advertising working, the company has also produced several acclaimed short films, including ‘’Stubble Trouble,’’ which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2002.

About quench:
A boutique agency made up of more than 70 food & beverage zealots, operating out of three offices in Harrsburg, Philadelphia and Chicago. We have big-agency capability combined with boutique agility. http://www.quenchagency.com

Web Resources:
Click here to watch the StarKist spot “Making Lunches”:
https://youtu.be/J1fUVkILuEo

Click here to watch the StarKist spot “Action Candace”:
https://youtu.be/hNo_EWqE4LA

Click here for more info about Calabash:
http://calabashanimation.com/

Click here for more info about Phasmatrope Studios:
http://www.phasmatrope.com/

Click here for more info about Quench:
http://www.quenchagency.com

Creative Credits:
Client: StarKist
Project: “Action Candace,” “Making Lunches” (both :15s)

Agency: quench, Harrisburg, PA
Chief Creative & Content Officer: Jeff Odiorne
Group Creative Director: John Gilbert
Creative Director: Dave Spink
Agency Producer: Matt Campbell
Group Brand Manager: Ami Lawson
Brand Manager: Laura Osmolinski

Production Company: Phasmatrope Studios, West Conshohocken PA
Director: Steve “Spaz” Williams
Executive Producer: Jon Isen

Animation/VFX: Calabash, Chicago, IL
Creative Director: Wayne Brejcha
Executive Producer: Sean Henry

Stephen Arnold Music Launches “Everywhere I Go” – Multi-Platform Image Campaign For Local TV Stations

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 19:43:00 +0000

DALLAS, TX – Stephen Arnold Music, the World Leader in Sonic Branding, has announced the release of “Everywhere I Go.” The audio + video image campaign is the latest in a series of comprehensive offerings from Stephen Arnold Music, providing local stations with a cost-effective marketing toolkit that focuses audiences on their multi-platform delivery of information.

The “Everywhere I Go” package includes Full Song/60s/30s/15s/10s/IDs along with full sing, donut, tag and instrumental mixes.

Built around a fun, high-energy Americana-tinged pop song that instantly inspires listeners to chant along, “Everywhere I Go” emphasizes local stations’ digital presence spanning online, mobile and social media – as well as a station’s involvement in their community and covering the important stories in their town. In addition, stations can even work with Stephen Arnold Music on custom lyrics specific for their market.
Viewers expect to get news, weather, and traffic updates from stations wherever they are, at any time via their computers, mobile phones, and tablets. The catchy lyrics of “Everywhere I Go” reflect that expectation. “Tell me how the day unfolds/Traffic fast or traffic slow/It’s good to know you’re never far away/You’re just a touch away/Got you…Everywhere/Everywhere I go.”

Like Stephen Arnold Music’s well-received “Waking Up My Day” campaign, which has aired in over 100 markets, “Everywhere I Go” was created to help local stations grow viewership and generate additional revenue. Rather than a typical promo that just lists a stations’ digital offerings, “Everywhere I Go” instead focuses on the audience perspective and the positive feelings that a station stirs by demonstrating that it’s ready with the latest essential information on any device.

As the Leaders in Sonic Branding, “Everywhere I Go” builds on what Stephen Arnold Music does best, helping define the brand identity for such clients as CNN, Fox, ESPN, AXS TV, CCTV, and a full 35% of all US local TV markets.

“A station’s digital offerings have rapidly become a key component of its brand,” says Chad Cook, Vice President, Creative for Stephen Arnold Music. “’Everywhere I Go’ gives immediate credibility to this critical revenue stream, delivering audiences to advertisers on all station platforms, and placing it in a leadership position. More than anything, the song makes an emotional connection by celebrating the relationship between the viewer and their local news station.”

Cook adds, “Stephen Arnold Music has seen an extremely enthusiastic response to our previous bundled campaigns. ‘Everywhere I Go’ builds further on these cost-effective solutions by providing stations with memorable creative that’s easy to implement, engages with audiences and fills a real need. When it all comes together, the result is a very powerful promotional tool.”

About Stephen Arnold Music:
Often referred to as the most-heard, least-known composers in America, Stephen Arnold Music’s creativity is experienced every day in more than 100 million homes throughout the U.S. Based in Dallas with offices in San Diego and New York, with additional recording studios in Santa Fe, “The World Leader In Sonic Branding™ has more than 20 years of success delivering impactful, brand-defining music that makes a difference for today’s top broadcast networks, cable channels, television stations, film production studios and advertising agencies. With multiple Emmys, Addys and Promax Golds to their credit, Stephen Arnold Music’s specialized approach and commitment to the power of sonic branding, state-of-the-art production and unparalleled customer service is at the core of its promise. Stephen Arnold Music continues to set the creative bar in a highly competitive content landscape.

For more information, please visit http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com

Web Resources:
Click here to experience “Everywhere I Go”:
http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com/everywhereigo/

Click here for a behind the scenes look at the making of “Everywhere I Go”:
http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com/everywhereigo/?video=181697597

HOBO Partners With Gigantic Post On Audio For Sundance Winning Doc “Weiner”

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 18:46:00 +0000

Audio Team Helps Cut The Noise And Create City Life Ambiences For Revealing New Film Currently In Theaters, VOD And Premium Cable Showtime In Fall

________

NEW YORK, NY -- One of the surprise hits on the film festival circuit this year has been the documentary “Weiner,” the all-too-revealing inside look behind the failed New York City mayoral campaign of former Congressman Anthony Weiner that took home the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. Enhancing the aural impact was HOBO engineers Chris Stangroom, Stephen Davies and Julian Angel, who each played a key role in the film’s audio postproduction.

Directed by Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg, “Weiner” is currently playing in theaters and on VOD, and will premiere on Showtime in October.

Working alongside Supervising Sound Editor and Re-recording Mixer Tom Paul of Gigantic Post, New York, the HOBO team was focused on the film’s dialogue and sound effects, preparing each component for the final mix by Paul. As with most documentaries, the verite style of the film and the varied audio sources used, proved challenging for dialogue editor Stangroom.

“A lot of the audio sources we were dealing with came from old news footage, cell phone cameras and the filmmakers themselves were shooting in guerilla style,” Stangroom says. “We needed to clean all that up – the harsh drones, crackles and blaring sounds of city life. More so than other film genres, nobody pays attention to the audio in docs unless something sounds wrong. Making sure all of the source audio was as clean as possible was paramount.”

HOBO has worked on numerous other indie documentaries including “Documented,” “The Education Of Mohammad Hussein” and “Breaking A Monster,” as well as several reality TV series, including Discovery’s popular series “Gold Rush” and AMC’s “Making of the Mob.” They most recently teamed with Paul and Gigantic Studios on the indie films “The Seventh Fire” and “Tomorrow We Disappear.”

Layering Ambience:
While Stangroom was immersed in the dialogue, HOBO’s Davies and Angel worked on the overall sound effects, which meant confronting a wide range of extraneous noises and layering subtle, yet crucial, ambiences of city life soundscapes to create a natural mood that allows viewers to focus in on the story.

“Julian and I concentrated on finding the right city ambiences to use, and layering them so they sounded natural and believable,” Davies says. “The challenge sonically was to make it all feel like one cohesive world.”

The Sounds of Brooklyn:
Never was that more key than in the scene involving Weiner yelling into a bullhorn while marching in New York’s Caribbean Festival, a particularly noisy and crowded event held every summer in Brooklyn.

“The parade scene was complex because of the extreme noise level,” Angel notes. “Weiner is yelling into the megaphone, the crowds are almost louder than he is, and booming music from the floats are everywhere, and yet somehow we had to clear out all of that noise and focus on what Weiner was actually saying, and more importantly what the scene represents in the context of the film.”

Adds HOBO President Howard Bowler, ”Filmmaking is a collaborative job with every company contributing creatively to make it work,” he says. “Through sound, we help to pull audiences into the story and keep them entertained and engaged.”

About HOBO:
HOBO is an audio post production company dedicated to creating an exceptional listening experience. The company has earned the trust of some of the most iconic brands and companies in the world. Make yourself at HOBO.

Web Resources:
Click here for more info about HOBO:
www.hoboaudio.com

Click here to see the “Weiner” trailer:
https://youtu.be/nJ4FIGnJknk

Click here to see the “Weiner” IMDB page:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5278596/

Stephen Arnold Music Drives CW33 “Express Yourself” User Generated Content Campaign With Energetic Original Song

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 19:46:00 +0000

-->

The World Leader In Sonic Branding Creates An “Instant Classic” To Get Dallas-Fort Worth Station’s Viewers Excited About Sharing Video, Images And Music

-->

DALLAS, TX -- CW33-KDAF TV doesn’t expect their viewers to just tune in -- they also want the Dallas-Fort Worth station to be a part of their daily conversation. The solution for that challenge is their engaging new “Express Yourself” campaign, driven by a catchy original song from Stephen Arnold Music.

With “Express Yourself,” CW33 has a promotional vehicle that encourages viewers to interact with the station -- uploading and sharing fresh user generated content in keeping with the campaign’s motivational theme. The foundation of “Express Yourself” is its song, an instant classic that’s heavy with hooks, written and produced by Stephen Arnold Music to forge an instant connection with viewers.

A perfect up-tempo mashup of new school funk-pop sensibilities and old-school Motown, Stephen Arnold Music’s “Express Yourself” combines a killer vocal with live organ, guitar, bass, brass and drums – plus plenty of catchy claps and whistles -- to fire audiences up. The lyrics make the motivational message crystal-clear: “Be loud, be big, be true to yourself/You’re one-of-a-kind, there ain’t nobody else/Be hot, be cool – just do what you do/Don’t hide what’s inside cuz it’s time that you/Express yourself.”

The song was designed with modularity in mind. Stephen Arnold Music provided CW33 with a wide assortment of versions including :05, :10, :15 and :30 promos that highlight the station’s shows, news and contests. Each impression is a reminder that viewers should express themselves by sharing video, images and music that may be broadcast by the station or spread via its social media channels.

For CW33, getting the song right was essential to a successful campaign.

“Music is a common language that everybody understands,” Jamie Aitken, VP and General Manager of CW33/KDAF-TV, says. “We’ve had the words and logo ‘Express Yourself’ on air since January, but without a sonic brand behind it, it’s very two-dimensional. Sound is what drives people.”

Adds Roger Vertrees, Director of Creative Services for CW33/KDAF-TV: “We wanted a track that was timeless, so it was critical that we collaborate with Stephen Arnold Music to get it done right. They created an infectious original song that’s getting everyone involved.”

About Stephen Arnold Music:

Often referred to as the most-heard, least-known composers in America, Stephen Arnold Music’s creativity is experienced every day in more than 100 million homes throughout the U.S. Based in Dallas with offices in San Diego and New York, with additional recording studios in Santa Fe, “The World Leader In Sonic Branding™ has more than 20 years of success delivering impactful, brand-defining music that makes a difference for today’s top broadcast networks, cable channels, television stations, film production studios and advertising agencies. With multiple Emmys, Addys and Promax Golds to their credit, Stephen Arnold Music’s specialized approach and commitment to the power of sonic branding, state-of-the-art production and unparalleled customer service is at the core of its promise. Stephen Arnold Music continues to set the creative bar in a highly competitive content landscape.

For more information, please visit http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com

Web Resources:

Click here to watch Stephen Arnold Music’s “Express Yourself” campaign: https://youtu.be/7QWnGFBF2WU

Hear the “Express Yourself” song here:

https://tribcw33.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/01_exyslf_full_fulltheme_01.mp3

Click here for more info about Stephen Arnold Music:

http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com/

Creative Credits:

Client: KDAF-TV CW33, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
Project: "Express Yourself" Campaign

VP/General Manager: Jamie Aitken

Director of Creative Services: Roger Vertrees

Music: Stephen Arnold Music, Dallas, TX

The STUDIO Crafts Elegant Holiday Video Card With Chartable Message

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 21:51:00 +0000

Stunning Tracking Shot Immerses Viewers In Animated Winter Wonderland

NEW YORK, NY – The STUDIO has a present for you, but you won’t find it under any Christmas tree. Rather the creative design/animation studio led by Founder/Creative Director Mary Nittolo, has crafted an elegantly-designed holiday video card that features a meticulously animated tracking shot that pulls viewers into a lush winter wonderland.

However, more than just eye-candy, the STUDIO expresses gratitude for a strong 2016 with a donation in the names of those who receive the holiday card to the Children's Health Fund, the esteemed charity co-founded by musician Paul Simon and Dr. Irwin Redlener that’s committed to providing health care to vulnerable children in the U.S.

“The CHF is such an extraordinary organization and the fact that it was started thanks to the vision and generosity of an artist like Paul Simon is something that isn’t lost on the creative community,” Nittolo says.

The video card itself is a beautifully crafted festive animation created by Alison Abitbol and Adam Rozanski, with 3D support from Eric Kilanski and Jackie Garbuio; it features a continuous tracking shot that traverses a festive snow-filled winter village. Featuring original music from Bryan Senti of Los Angeles-based music house Hook and Line, the camera passes through various holiday scenes employing a festive color palette and simple geometrical designs, appearing as if the landscape exists in a 2.5D animated world made up of textured card planes.

“I’m delighted with this year’s holiday card,” Nittolo adds. “Our creative team was excited to be able to produce an animation worthy of our relationship with the Children’s Health Fund. Its success reinforces our commitment to the power of ideas to persuade, and this is the time of year where we should remember that this is why most of us ended up in this business."

About the STUDIO:
In business for over 25 years, the STUDIO is a integrated production and animation company that unites the diverse talents of designers, artists, animators, directors and visual effects artisan to interpret projects for pages and screens everywhere. Involved in all aspects of the marketing and communication process from pre-production through production and post, the STUDIO supplies the images that brands need to reach their audiences. the STUDIO client roster includes major Ad Agencies, Fortune 100 companies, non-profits, cultural and educational institutions as well as entertainment and media companies.

For more information, visit www.studionyc.com, or follow the STUDIO on Facebook, Twitter (@TheSTUDIONYC), Instagram and LinkedIn.

Creative Credits:
Client: the STUDIO
Project: Holiday Card

Production/Animation/Design: the STUDIO, New York
Creative Director: Mary Nittolo
Creative Leads: Alison Abitbol, Adam Rozanski
3D Artists: Eric Kilansky, Jackie Garbuio

Music: Hook & Line, Los Angeles, CA
Composer: Bryan Senti

Web Resources:
Click here to watch the STUDIO Holiday Card:
https://vimeo.com/148397600

Click here for more info about the STUDIO:
http://www.studionyc.com/

Hiccup Media Rocks Music Biz With Featured Video Content For Its Biggest Acts

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 13:15:00 +0000

Working closely with major record labels such as RCA and Epic, a has become an indispensable creative resource for crafting engaging, conceptually driven video content, graphics packages and more for music’s biggest stars.

“There’s such a high demand for content today, not just music videos, but content that takes fans where most can’t go – backstage, into the recording studio or on the set of their latest music video,” Nicholas Robespierre, Vice President, Video Production at RCA Records says. “It’s the kind of content that demands a creative studio that is nimble and able do a lot of things well. Sometimes we need a live action production, sometimes we need an animation or graphics package, sometimes an edit. That’s why we’ve worked with Hiccup for nearly 7 years – they can do it all.”

Recent Hiccup music work includes a 30-minute documentary about the making of Michael Jackson’s latest posthumous release “Xscape” that recently aired on BET; a behind the scenes look at guitarist Santana’s latest music video that ties into World Cup 2014; the iconic music video “Goldie” for hip hop artist A$AP Rocky; and an array 2-3 minute promotional pieces for Gavin DeGraw, Cage The Elephant and Sleeper Agent, to name a few.

Additionally, Hiccup director John Poliquin’s work on Universal Music artist Hedley’s video “Anything” was nominated for 4 MuchMusic Video Awards, including Best Director.

Agency Mindset:
For Hiccup Creative Director Rob Simone, the primary reason for Hiccup’s success in the music industry centers on a creative agency mindset that emphasizes a conceptual approach in sync with the artists’ image, music, website, photos, etc.

“We are first and foremost a creative agency,” Simone says. “While we do amazing production and post work, we don’t come to these projects with a post or production mindset. We think like an agency, and for our music work that means looking closely at the artist as a whole and coming up with a conceptual approach that works for them.”

For Chief Creative Officer Michael Cruz, the challenge for the company’s music projects centers on tight deadlines (sometimes as little as a few days), and volume (as many as 10 different projects in the pipeline in a given month). The secret, Cruz notes, is the Hiccup workflow and a creative team that’s been refined over the years like a finely tuned instrument.

“We’ve really perfected the process,” Cruz says. “It’s not easy to work on as many music projects as we do and give each of them their own unique look and feel, especially given the deadlines and budgets, but we’ve managed to make it work, and in the process become a major player in this competitive arena.”

About Hiccup Media:
In 2006, we believed that brands were developing a need for a different type of agency. With the growing demands for video, mobile and content in general, a secondary more nimble firm was becoming more of a necessity. Hiccup Media was founded to meet that demand. We believe that broadcast work and non-broadcast work are equally important and dually essential pieces of a brand’s strategy. Therefore, we develop creative timing and cost solutions that make sense in today’s industry and we never sacrifice quality. For more info go to http://www.hiccupmedia.com.

Web Resources:
Click here to view Hiccup Media website:
http://www.hiccupmedia.com
https://www.facebook.com/Hiccup.Media

Click here to check out Hiccup Media’s recent music work:
http://vimeopro.com/hiccupmedia/music-work

HOBO Audio Captures Powerful Sonic Mood For Intense New HISTORY Documentary Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours to Live

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 19:42:00 +0000

NEW YORK, NY – While there is no shortage of media coverage surrounding the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy, few look at it from the perspective of Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours To Live, a two-hour special premiering Friday, November 22 at 10 p.m. on HISTORY® featuring audio post/sound design by HOBO Audio.

“This is not a traditional documentary – the film’s dramatic re-creations and cinematography make for very compelling viewing,” says Howard Bowler, President of HOBO. “The challenge for us was to find the best moments to amp up the tension, and conversely, to know when to let other moments breathe. This, like our other work with HISTORY, is very rewarding thanks to the quality of their productions. It’s an honor to be a part of such a finely tuned storytelling process.”

Directed, produced and written by Anthony Giacchino (based on the book by Steven M Gillon), Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours To Live is a minute-by-minute account of the final two days of Oswald’s life – his attempt to flee, his capture by the police, and the grueling interrogation by the Dallas police detectives prior to being shot by Jack Ruby – a chapter of history that raised more questions than it answered.

The production stands out as the first documentary to tell Oswald’s story by filming inside the Dallas Municipal Building, where the old Dallas Police Department was housed. It’s also the first film to accurately portray Oswald’s interrogation inside Captain Will Fritz’s actual office.

Working with music licensed from the Extreme Music catalog, Chris Stangroom, HOBO’s Senior Audio Engineer, headed the audio mix for the film, which included sound design, audio clean up of archival footage and ADR. For Stangroom, the key to the project was finding ways to match the powerful visuals shot by Giacchino.

“The film is so inspired visually, with moody re-creations of pivotal scenes and dramatic slow-motion footage that heighten the tension,” Stangroom says. “I felt I had to raise my game with the sound.”

For Giacchino, this project represents the fourth consecutive film he’s entrusted to HOBO, and it looks like just the beginning.

“Music and sound is such a big part of any film, and HOBO has great creative sensibilities -- they never push it into cheesy, over-the-top ways,” Giacchino says. “I trust them and their audio judgement immensely.”

About HOBO Audio:
HOBO is an audio post production company dedicated to creating an exceptional listening experience. The company has earned the trust of some of the most iconic brands and companies in the world. Make yourself at HOBO.

Web Resources:
Click here for more info about HOBO Audio:
http://www.hoboaudio.com/

Click here to watch a trailer for "Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours to Live”:
http://vimeo.com/79260194

Click here for more info about "Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours to Live”:
http://www.history.com/shows/jfk-specials/episodes

Music Production Library Endo Music Song “There Were Times” Heard In "Jobs" Film And Soundtrack

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 20:24:00 +0000

Endo Music, the diverse music production library known for its work in feature films, network television and advertising, has placed the song “There Were Times” in the new Steve Jobs bio pic "JOBS" starring Ashton Kutcher and Josh Gad opening August 16, 2013.

Co-Written and performed by Endo Music Founder/CEO Freddy Monday, (along with Rick Horvath and Randall H. Light), “There Were Times” perfectly captures the jangly guitars and stacked vocal harmony driven sound of 70s-era California rock. The song is featured early in the film when Jobs is working at Atari and just beginning to develop the ideas that would come to define Apple.

“The 70's vibe was always there from the beginning,” Monday says, “but when the Endo team got together on it we took it even further adding the 12-string guitar riffs and three part chorus harmonies. The mood of the song for me is a yearning for a time passed and a feeling of isolation from choices made, and it works very well in the film.”

In addition to being heard in the film, “There Were Times” is also on the film soundtrack record, which also features classics from Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, Joe Walsh, REO Speedwagon and Toad The Wet Sprocket.

Founded by Monday and COO/Composer Phil Cimino, Endo Music boasts a collective of 25 top composers and musicians that specialize in quality customized music in all genres for Film, TV and Advertising. Their work can be heard in shows ranging from CBS’ “The Young and The Restless”, USA Network’s “Burn Notice,” TNT’s “Dark Blue” and TLC’s “Toddlers & Tiaras,” as well as the upcoming film "The Bronx Bull," a prequel to "Raging Bull" opening November 2.

Additionally, Monday is an accomplished solo artist with three albums available via iTunes. His latest single “Me Are You Are Me” will be available on iTunes October 8.

“Our musical approach to JOBS was one of authenticity in the aesthetic of the life of Steve Jobs and story we were telling,” Mason Cooper, Executive in Charge of Music, Five Star Features, Pasadena, CA, says. “Freddy has amazing creative sensibilities as an artist. In addition to his great talent and sound, his music captures the authenticity and spirit of the period that we needed for the film. It worked perfectly.”

About Endo Music:
Endo Music is a diverse music production library creating high quality compositions for Film, TV and Advertising. Their creative team collectively features over 25 composers and musicians that provide original customized music in all genres. Endo also publishes a vast library of songs, cues and Instrumentals for all production media needs. For more information visit http://www.endomusic.com/.

Web Resources:
Click here for more info about Endo Music:
http://www.endomusic.com/

Click here to stream "There Were Times":
http://endomusic.com/jobs

DuArt Names Craig Gordon Senior Editor

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:32:00 +0000

Award-Winning Editor Brings Accomplished Capabilities to Renowned New York City Post House

NEW YORK, NY – DuArt (www.duart.com), New York City’s comprehensive video, digital media, and film post facility, announced that it has added Craig Gordon as Senior Editor

A highly experienced video and film editor, Gordon brings 20+ years of post production expertise to his new position at DuArt, with recognition industry-wide for his deep knowledge of HD and award-winning accomplishments as a creative editor. Prior to joining DuArt, Gordon was HD Specialist/Editor for Brass Monkey Post (BMP), where he edited a wide range of projects including commercials, feature films, corporate videos, promo packages, music videos, documentaries, episodic television and museum exhibitions. Before BMP, Gordon was Head of HD development and the HD project manager for Rhinopost in New York.

Gordon’s credits include a number of high-profile projects, including the Academy Award-nominated and Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner film Trouble the Water; the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or Award-winner Fahrenheit 9/11 directed by Michael Moore; and the acclaimed documentary A League of Ordinary Gentlemen. His extensive TV portfolio includes series for CBS, A&E, MTV, History Channel, PBS and Discovery.

Craig Gordon will be available to all of DuArt’s clients, from non-fiction television to independent documentaries and more. His addition marks the latest expansion of DuArt’s complete post production offerings.

“DuArt provides all of the services and resources that clients need today,” Gordon says. “You can work here on an extremely wide variety of formats, with an experienced and dedicated in-house support staff at the ready. We make it easy for clients to produce and post produce short-, medium-, and long-term projects, and realize significant cost savings along the way.

“This is a great time to be at DuArt,” Gordon adds. “They’ve successfully transitioned from being one of the largest film labs on the East Coast, to being recognized as a premier provider of digital content services.”

About DuArt:

DuArt is a full service post facility in NYC, servicing the broadcast and film industries. Operating out of their 12-story building in midtown Manhattan, DuArt provides video editing, color correct, voice recording, casting, 3D editing, direction for animation, music scoring, sound design, film and audio restoration, production space, and more. Since being established in 1922, DuArt has finished thousands of the world’s most loved feature films, documentaries, festival releases and television shows.

For more information, please visit www.duart.com.

Calabash Animation Blow-Up The Moon In Latest For Lucky Charms

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:07:00 +0000

Award-Winning Studio's Latest Project For General Mills Amps Up The Energy And The Creativity

CHICAGO, IL - Apparently the moon is made of Lucky Charms cereal pieces - at least it is in the fantasy world found in "Paper Moon" -- the new CG animated ad brought to life by Calabash Animation (www.calabashanimation.com) for General Mills. The spot was created by agency Saatchi & Saatchi, New York.

"With each new Lucky Charms spot we try to build on the last one, not only story-wise but technically as well," Sean Henry, Calabash Animation's Executive Producer explains. "We always want to push it creatively and come up new ways of exploring the Lucky Charms world. For "Paper Moon", we really pushed the camera movement because we wanted to keep the energy and pace high. There are few static shots. The spot is alive and dynamic throughout."

"Paper Moon" is set amid an ancient astrological ruin -- complete with Stonehenge type slabs of rock, and marble surface revealing detailed inscriptions of Lucky Charms cereal pieces. It is there we find Lucky the Leprechaun summoning his rainbow powers to create the six new moon-shaped pieces now found in Lucky Charms.

Interrupted by those kids who are "always after his Lucky Charms," the chase is on -- until Lucky stumbles and accidentally focuses his book of magic on the moon, causing it to explode and rain cereal to the delight of the kids. The spot ends with Lucky surfing a rainbow and using the book to recapture the cereal and make his getaway.

"We had a huge challenge in making the moon blow up with all these cereal bits flying out everywhere," Wayne Brejcha, Calabash Creative Director says. "We used new software plug-ins to fragment the moon's sphere and send the pieces tumbling in every direction. The camera move was poetic and dizzying, and it works dramatically."

Brejcha adds, "We painstakingly choreographed the characters to fit this constantly moving perspective and made many revisions to get it working as smoothly as possible. From the character's perspective we wanted to push the performance of the kids and Lucky to a higher level."

About Calabash Animation:
Led by Creative Director Wayne Brejcha and Executive Producer Sean Henry, Calabash Animation, Inc. (www.calabashanimation.com) is the Chicago, Il-based animation production studio, known for its award-winning cel, 3D and stopmotion animation for the advertising and entertainment industries. Calabash Animation is perhaps best known for their creative development of some of America's most beloved brand icons. In addition to working on some of today's top advertising the company has also produced several acclaimed short films. It's 2002 short ''Stubble Trouble'' was nominated for an Academy Award in 2002.

Web Resources:
Click here to view the Lucky Charms "Paper Moon" spot:
http://calabashanimation.com/dlink.php?preview=91

Click here for more info about Calabash Animation:
http://www.calabashanimation.com

Creative Credits:
Client: General Mills/Lucky Charms
Project: "Paper Moon" (:30)

Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi, New York

Animation: Calabash Animation, Chicago, IL
Animation Director: Wayne Brejcha
Executive Producer: Sean Henry

Stephen Arnold Music Launches Little Kids Rock Benefit Drive On Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:15:00 +0000

Sonic Branding Company Will Donate $1 by for Each New "Like" Up to $5000 Goal

DALLAS - When programs like Little Kids Rock(tm) (www.littlekidsrock.org) - the national nonprofit that's transforming children's lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in disadvantaged public schools -- work so well, people want to get involved.

That's why Stephen Arnold Music (www.stephenarnoldmusic.com), the leader in sonic branding, is spearheading a new effort to raise $5,000 for the organization.

Simply go to their special Facebook page at http://ulink.tv/ch-17, and Stephen Arnold Music will donate $1 for each new "Like" that the campaign receives, all the way to $5,000.

Simple as that. Everyone who "Likes" the Facebook page will be helping Little Kids Rock to partner with school districts. Little Kids Rock trains public school teachers in their innovative curriculum, and donates all of the instruments and resources necessary to run full-fledged music programs.

Stephen Arnold Music first found a meaningful way to give back to Little Kids Rock in 2012: They released The Six Strings of Christmas (http://littlekidsrock.org/stephenarnold.html), an album of virtuoso guitar performances where 100% of the proceeds support the New Jersey-based nonprofit organization.

Stephen Arnold Music's sonic branding has been central to the identity of such clients as Nexstar Broadcasting, Fox Business Channel, CNN, The Weather Channel, and a full 35% of all US local TV markets.

"Kids are the next sonic branders, and we want to keep encouraging them to be creative with music," Stephen Arnold, President of Stephen Arnold Music says. "The Facebook campaign is underway, and it's been a fun and easy way to get people involved. No need to write a check -- just click and we'll cover it."

About Stephen Arnold Music:
As a multiple Emmy, Addy and Promax Gold award-winning music production company, Stephen Arnold Music has over 20 years of success in delivering the sounds that make a difference to networks, television stations, advertising agencies, film studios and video game companies the world over. The company's Commanding Sonic Branding approach to music production and commitment to industry-leading service is at the core of its promise. For more information, please visit http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com.

IKA Collective Produces Powerful Launch Campaign For New FOX Thriller THE FOLLOWING

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:51:00 +0000

Creative Production/Post Hybrid Transforms Industrial Property into Multiple Television Stages For One-Day Shoot With Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy and 100 Additional Cast And Crew

NEW YORK, NY -- For the launch of the new psychological drama THE FOLLOWING, which marks Golden Globe winner and Emmy Award-nominated actor Kevin Bacon's primetime series debut, Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) again turned to the creative production/post studio hybrid IKA Collective to produce one of the multi-spot promo campaigns that led to the series' highly-rated premiere. IKA had previously worked on successful series launch promo campaigns for several other FOX series, including NEW GIRL, RAISING HOPE and THE MINDY PROJECT. They also produced the extravagant promo for last season's SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE premiere.

"We're proud that FOX again entrusted us with this crucial series launch," Ian Karr, Founder/Director at IKA Collective and Executive Producer on this project, says. "Launches are a huge deal -- for the networks and for IKA. Whether it's assembling an A-list team, or coming up with creative solutions to logistical and production challenges, we thrive in that high-stakes environment."

Directed by Kerry Shaw Brown and lensed by Anthony Arendt, production on the two promos (entitled "Footsteps" and "The Raven") proved especially challenging because it called for multiple, visually unique promos to be shot in just one day. That meant finding a location that not only captured the sense of urban dystopia that drives the creative, but one that also provided enough space to build a jail cell and an FBI office set.

Karr and his production team used an abandoned grain elevator in Brooklyn as the primary location for the sequence in which series co-star James Purefoy and his many followers walk through a graffiti-filled, decaying building, leaving behind bloody footprints as they walk toward a stone-faced Bacon. The other sets were built in an adjacent structure, creating a "pop-up" production studio on the Brooklyn waterfront.

"The FOX team came to us with epic creative concepts and everyone performed at their very highest level," Karr adds. "The spots turned out great and more than 20 million viewers tuned in for the premiere. It doesn't get much better than that."

About IKA Collective:
Founded by noted brand strategist/director Ian Karr, IKA Collective is more than a production company. IKA Collective is all about communicating in a way that entertains and gets results. Our facility includes a live insert stage, five edit rooms, digital color grading, graphics, compositing and audio mixing suites, allowing us to deliver great work at budgets that make sense in every medium. Recent clients include Discovery Channel, United Airlines, Hallmark Channel and Penguin Publishing. For more information go to http://www.ikacollective.com

ABOUT THE FOLLOWING:
Airing Mondays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), THE FOLLOWING is a fast-paced psychological thriller that follows a former FBI agent who is called out of retirement to track down a devious and diabolical serial killer, the mastermind behind an ever-growing web of murderers.

THE FOLLOWING is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Outerbanks Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television. The series is created, written and executive-produced by Kevin Williamson. Marcos Siega ("Dexter," "The Vampire Diaries") also serves as an executive producer and directed the pilot.

"Like" THE FOLLOWING on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheFollowing. Follow the series on Twitter @TheFollowingFOX and join the discussion at #thefollowing.

Creative Credits:
Client: FOX Television
Project: THE FOLLOWING promo campaign -- "Footsteps" and "The Raven"
(both :45s)

Agency: FOX Television, Hollywood, CA
VP On-Air Creative: Julio Cabral
VP of Production - Special Ops: Golareh Safarian

Production: IKA Collective, New York, NY
Executive Producer: Ian Karr
Director: Kerry Shaw Brown
Producer: Gary Kout
Director of Photography: Anthony Arendt

Web Resources:
Click here to watch THE FOLLOWING promo "Footsteps":
http://player.vimeo.com/video/55485711

Click here for more info about IKA Collective:
http://www.ikacollective.com
Click here for more info about THE FOLLOWING:
http://www.fox.com/the-following/

New Napoleon Group Studio Reimagines Production

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:26:00 +0000

Acclaimed Company Blurs The Lines Between Pre-viz And Post With A Smarter Studio In-Tune With Contemporary Agency Needs

NEW YORK, NY - Seizing on the opportunity for growth and expansion within their industry, The Napoleon Group (http://www.napny.com) -- the leading pre-viz and post production studio led by Founder Marty Napoleon and President Douglas Miller - has created a one-of-a-kind contemporary office design and technology infrastructure. The Napoleon Group opened its new doors at 48 West 25th St in New York's Flatiron district in early January 2013.

The new space will occupy over 14,000 square feet across two floors in the former corporate offices of fashion designer Kate Spade. Featuring 8 Avid Symphony Workstations, a Vicon Motion Capture system, and a large green screen stage, the space will be seamlessly tied together with a state of the art fiber cabling.

For Napoleon Group Creative Director Ken Kresge, the real innovation is the open and collaborative space that the new office presents. Creatives can work with over 40 artists in a space that is perfectly suited to the changing nature of the advertising business.

"Over the years we've adapted to the needs of our clients and streamlined every part of our process," Kresge says. "Everything about the way we approach workflow has been tailored and customized --the only thing left was our space. It's the final piece in a puzzle we've been working on for a long time, and we can't wait the fruits of our labor with our clients."

Perry Morton, Napoleon Group's Head of Production, adds that while the company will always offer a traditional edit or animation suite for clients that prefer to work one-on-one with their favorite editor or designer, the new space takes into account the growing collaborative team based workflows now trending in pre-viz.

"Our clients are collaborating more, and we're shifting our business model to accommodate that changing dynamic," Morton says. "That means a workspace where we can put together a specific team of editors, animators and producers that perfectly suits the needs of a particular assignment."

Napoleon's new project-centric space includes:

• An acoustically designed for low noise, open seating arrangement that is dotted with numerous, "brainstorming booths" - small conference rooms perfect for idea sharing or a private conversation;

• A full-service green screen production stage, complete with a Vicon motion capture system, allowing for sophisticated animation and complex camera setups;

• An In-house software development team that will build seamless pipelines with workflow shortcuts through Autodesk Maya, Avid, Final Cut, and Adobe's Creative Suite.

For Maciej Maciak, The Napoleon Group's Director of Technology and Engineering, the new space is all about being faster and more flexible with technology resources.

"Pre-viz is unlike any other post production discipline because things change quickly and our creatives need to respond fast, and that means giving them access to all of our technology resources any time, any where," Maciak says. "It's no longer about this room being an edit suite or that one a Flame suite --the technology follows the project, the project doesn't follow the technology."

About The Napoleon Group:
The Napoleon Group (http://www.napny.com) is the established leader of post production services in art, test, audio and broadcast. We provide creative direction and strong story telling skills to a wide spectrum of media. We bring care and craftsmanship to every project and take pride in achieving the highest quality product.

As experts in test advertising we work with you to select the right style to realize your creative concept and meet the practical needs of the brand. Whether the style is 3D, illustrative or live action, our team of seasoned professionals will ensure that your ideas earn the highest possible test scores.

In a volatile industry, trust the experience and vision of The Napoleon Group.

Waveplant Composer Joel Corelitz Blends Traditional and Non-Traditional Musical Elements For Sublime "The Unfinished Swan" Videogame Soundtrack

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 14:51:00 +0000

Recorded With A Full Orchestra, Evocative Score Perfectly Captures The Mood Of Acclaimed Game Designed For Sony Playstation

CHICAGO, IL - The new Sony Playstation 3 game "The Unfinished Swan" is all about exploring the unknown. The same is also true for composer Joel Corelitz of Waveplant Studios, whose personal creative journey with the project found him writing some 60 minutes of original music that blends traditional and nontraditional elements into a wholly original score.

"People in music often talk about film and TV scores as either being traditional or non-traditional, with non-traditional frequently being characterized as at odds with a classic, melody-based score," Corelitz says. "I wanted to create something that felt like a mix of both, a blending of organic instruments and ambient sound design that would feel fresh ten years from now."

Set in a mysterious black and white landscape that grows more colorful as the game progresses, "The Unfinished Swan" centers on a lonely 10-year-old orphan named Monroe who follows a swan that has stepped out of an unfinished painting and wandered off into a surreal, storybook-inspired kingdom. Each chapter brings surprises, new ways to explore the world, a host of bizarre (and sometimes dangerous) creatures and encounters with the eccentric king who built this empire.

Finding A Balance:
For Corelitz, who Is perhaps best known for his work in advertising and film/video installations, such as LOOM, the interactivity musical installation work for HP, as well as traditional ads for Dodge Dart, Pop Tarts and Kelley Blue Book, one of the key challenges centered on taking the game's moody narrative and composing a score that didn't sound too minor key. The goal, he says, was to use those emotions and build on them with music that also captures a sense of wonder at this strange world.

"There's a sad backstory to the main character," Corelitz explains, "and we needed to bring those emotions to the table, but it was equally important that we infuse the music with a sense of curiosity and playfulness."

With that in mind, Corelitz's score features an array of plucked acoustic instruments, such as harps, marimbas and violins, layered onto a bed of ambient sound design and ethereal synth tones. It's a blend that effectively borrows from traditional film scorers and non-traditional mood purveyors.

"As you play the game, the music is constantly evolving," Corelitz says. "It's never quite the same no matter how many times you play. The music is not just background noise, it's part of the world, it's part of how you feel, how the character feels. We didn't want those things to be separate, we wanted it to be all one experience."

Recording In Nashville:
The music was recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, TN, and for Corelitz hearing his score performed live by both a 25-piece orchestra and a simple string quartet was a powerful moment.

"Ocean Way is an amazing studio housed in a 100-year-old gothic church," Corelitz says. "Hearing my music performed by this orchestra in this studio was amazing. 'The Unfinished Swan' let me spread out creatively and flex musical muscles that haven't used in awhile. It was an amazingly satisfying project to be a part of and I'm proud of what we accomplished."

About Waveplant:
Led by Composer Joel Corelitz, Waveplant transcends classification in its design-oriented approach to composition - creating a seamless sensory experience. Fusing music and sound design, Waveplant produces audio for advertising, broadcast, gaming, film and live installations. Firmly believing that truly special projects deserve originality in every aspect of their creation, as well as the idea that being hired to work on something should never preclude the incorporation of heart and soul, Waveplant is a haven for original sound. For more information go to http://www.waveplantstudios.com

Web Resources:
Click here to hear Waveplant's score for "The Unfinished Swan":
http://www.waveplantstudios.com/The-Unfinished-Swan

Click here for more information about Waveplant:
http://www.waveplantstudios.com

Click here for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of "The Unfinished Swan" music:
http://youtu.be/H1ebugoPsP0

IKA Collective Teams With Discovery Networks On Premieres For "American Chopper" and "Deadly Affairs"

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 23:57:00 +0000

Hybrid Creative Studio Crafts Powerful Promos For Popular Shows

From the "American Chopper" (left), and "Deadly Affairs" (right) promos, both produced by IKA Collective for Discovery Networks.

NEW YORK, NY - "American Chopper," now in its ninth season on the Discovery Channel, remains one of cable's most popular reality shows. When the network needed to promote the much-awaited new season it turned to frequent collaborator IKA Collective, the creative strategy, production, post hybrid studio led by Ian Karr. The conceptual spot, directed by Chris Stifel, centers on the rift between father and son and the rebuilding of their relationship.

Over at sister network, Investigation Discovery, Karr himself directed the launch promo for "Deadly Affairs," the new series hosted by Susan Lucci that tells real-life tales of love gone terribly wrong.

"Both of these projects are very different, but perfectly showcase the range of services IKA Collective brings to our clients," Karr says. "For 'American Chopper' we were there to support Chris's vision and delicately handle the real-life estrangement between Junior and Senior. Conversely, 'Deadly Affairs' was a project in which we were asked to pitch the creative strategy and execute it."

Tension In Orange County:
As any "American Chopper" fan will tell you, the Teutul family is a complex one, especially since the high-profile rift that saw Junior leave his dad's famous motorcycle shop, Orange County Choppers. Their fractured relationship was a big consideration for Karr, who served as Executive Producer on the project.

"This is a big show for Discovery and everyone wanted the new season to begin with an epic promo," Karr says. "We found an old airport hanger at Stewart Airport in Orange County, New York, that perfectly captured the gritty look Stifel and DP Pete Konczal were after."

Set in a dramatically lit shop, reminiscent of OCC's humble beginnings, the spot begins with audio echoes from past arguments between Senior and Junior, as we see the two enter and walk toward the center of the garage where a motorcycle sits on a table covered by a tarp. Facing each other, Senior says, "under this is where it all started." "And now we're going to rebuild it," Junior replies, laying out the story arc for this pivotal season.

The production faced numerous challenges, including shooting in a hot, leaky TSA-monitored hanger located next to a live tarmac with constant plane traffic. In order to make the day, it was necessary to create multiple sets for simultaneous shooting.

"We pre-lit the entire spot to minimize on-set time for Junior and Senior," Karr says. "After we fired up the cameras and the guys stepped in, you could feel the electricity in the air. With such great on-camera chemistry, it's clear why the show is such a hit."

Deadly Direction
For "Deadly Affairs", the new real-life soap on Investigation Discovery that looks at love triangles gone terribly wrong, IKA's creative team pitched several concepts for the promo. "The only mandate from the network was that they wanted an ending with a twist, just like in the show itself," Karr notes. "We had to strike a balance between dark and light, entertaining the audience without minimizing the tragic nature of these true stories."

The winning concept from IKA Collective and Creative Director Robbie Chafitz, begins with a woman entering her home, walking past a mantle and walls full of happy family pictures as a warm female voiceover says, "He's the love of your life, the father of your children, the man you share your bed with." The mood then turns sinister as the wife opens the bedroom door, revealing her husband with another woman. As she raises a gun toward the fearful cheaters, the voiceover adds, "and yours is the last face he will ever see."

The spot ends with the sound of a gunshot, smash cutting to host Susan Lucci who buttons the spot by saying "first comes love, then comes marriage...and sometimes murder."

In addition to the live action, Karr photographed a series of family portraits -- wedding photos, a fun day in the park, soccer games, etc. -- that served both as props in the home and as backstories for the characters.

"This was a fun scene to create," Karr says. It's partly an homage to Stanley Kubrick. I've always loved the way he used camera placement and motion to evoke a mood.

Karr adds, "The whole spot is shot using a Steadicam. It begins with us happily following the wife around, but when we cut to the scene outside the bedroom, the camera becomes more voyeuristic and you quickly sense that something's off. Then she enters the room and we reveal she's the murderer, not the victim. Sometimes the best way to tell the story comes down to where you put the camera and how you move it."

About IKA Collective:
Founded by noted brand strategist/director Ian Karr, IKA Collective is more than a production company. Rather, they're creative collective of writers, producers, editors, directors, composers, digital artists, fashionistas, foodies and horror film fanatics who love to tell stories. Whether it's an ad, a network promo, a digital media project, or their own original content, IKA Collective is all about communicating in a way that entertains and gets results. Our facility includes a live insert stage, five edit rooms, digital color grading, graphics, compositing and audio mixing suites, allowing us to deliver great work at budgets that make sense in every medium. Recent clients include Fox TV, Discovery Channel, Continental Airlines, Hallmark Channel and Penguin Publishing. For more information go to http://www.ikacollective.com

Creative Credits:
Client: Discovery Channel
Project: "American Chopper" promo

Agency: Discovery Channel, New York
Creative Director/Director: Chris Steifel

Production: IKA Collective, New York
Director: Chris Steifel
Executive Producer: Ian Karr
Producer: Robbie Chavitz
DP: Pete Konczal

Post: IKA Collective, New York

--

Client: Investigate: Discovery
Project: "Deadly Affairs" promo

Agency/Production: IKA Collective, New York
Creative Director/Director: Ian Karr

Post: IKA Collective, New York

Web Resources:
Click here to watch the "American Chopper" promo:
http://player.vimeo.com/video/47600307?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=dd6026&autoplay=1

Click here to watch IKA Collective's "Deadly Affairs" promo:
http://player.vimeo.com/video/47602572?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=dd6026&autoplay=1

Click here for more info about IKA Collective:
http://www.ikacollective.com

Stephen Arnold Music Releases 'The Six Strings of Christmas' Album Benefiting Little Kids Rock Charity

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:24:00 +0000

Virtuoso Guitar Performances of Holiday Classics Help Non-Profit Organization Provide Free Instruments, Music Lessons to Disadvantaged Public Schools

DALLAS, TX - Stephen Arnold Music, has found a meaningful way to give back in 2012: Record an unforgettable new spin on classic holiday songs, then release them as an album where 100% of the proceeds support the nonprofit organization Little Kids Rock(tm).

Rooted in the company's years of experience creating sonic branding and original music, The Six Strings of Christmas presents a welcome new way to enjoy 16 essential holiday season tunes. Each track is a virtuoso guitar performance - four, six, eight, and 12-string instruments are all represented - arranged and performed by top studio musicians and talent that work with Stephen Arnold Music throughout the year on their many demanding projects.

The result is a collection of fresh renditions of "Joy to the World", "Ave Maria," "Little Drummer Boy," "O Come Emmanuel," "The First Noel," "Auld Lang Syne," and ten more that are magical to listen to. Recorded at Stephen Arnold Music's studios in Dallas, TX, each track captures the nuanced performances of some of the world's top musical craftsmen.

Available on iTunes and CD, The Six Strings of Christmas sells for $9.99, with all proceeds going to Little Kids Rock, a national nonprofit that transforms children's lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in disadvantaged public schools. Little Kids Rock partners with school districts, training public school teachers in their innovative curriculum, and donating all of the instruments and resources necessary to run full-fledged music programs.

Stephen Arnold Music's work has been central to the identity of such clients as Nexstar Broadcasting, Fox Business Channel, CNN, The Weather Channel, and a full 35% of all US local TV markets. With The Six Strings of Christmas, the company realized it had an opportunity to make a difference through music.

"We've always had a strong belief in the power of music to positively affect the life of a child," Stephen Arnold, President of Stephen Arnold Music says. "We have the great fortune to work with these amazingly skilled musicians, and after we got to know Little Kids Rock it made perfect sense to put it all together this holiday season.

"Little Kids Rock is an all-volunteer organization that's very efficiently run - it's amazing how far they can make a dollar go," Arnold continues. "By collaborating with them on The Six Strings of Christmas, it's our hope that underprivileged kids across America will get to experience music as an anchor, and an inspirational force, in their lives."

With its highly efficient use of funds, Little Kids Rock will be able to make the most of each copy of The Six Strings of Christmas that is sold:

1 CD = One "rock band" lesson for an entire classroom of students
2 CDs = An entire year of music lessons for one student
5 CDs = One brand new acoustic guitar into a classroom
10 CDs = One brand new electric keyboard and amp into a classroom

"Music education is being stripped from our nation's public schools at an alarming rate due to budget cuts," Keith Hejna, Communications & Outreach Coordinator for Little Kids Rock says. "It's up to the adults to stand up for our children's right to rock this holiday season, and ensure that they receive music education, which is vital to their development as students and human beings.

"Stephen Arnold Music has been a wonderful partner to Little Kids Rock, supporting our mission of not only restoring, but also revitalizing music education for disadvantaged schoolchildren all across the country. Since Stephen Arnold Music is donating 100% of the proceeds of The Six Strings of Christmas, you are actually helping Little Kids Rock bring music into children's lives just by buying some for yourself."

"Our future does not lie in our children's hands," Little Kids Rock Executive Director, David Wish adds. "Our future lies in our children's creativity. We appreciate Stephen Arnold Music and all of its supporters and fans for investing in our children, and our future!"

To purchase The Six Strings of Christmas, or to help spread the word, please visit http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com/thesixstringsofchristmas/

Web Resources:
http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com

http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com/thesixstringsofchristmas/

http://littlekidsrock.org/stephenarnold.html

Deck The Halls (featuring Stephen Arnold): http://youtu.be/kTRNJee-JAE
Auld Lang Syne: http://youtu.be/ZMHbDF4y3q4
Ave Maria: http://youtu.be/U9DjhEqeOMM
O Come, O Come Emmanuel: http://youtu.be/yY1LuD_N5P8

Creative Agency Loyalkaspar Rebrands Screenvision

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:23:00 +0000

Comprehensive Project Includes New Logo and On-Screen Visual Environment

NEW YORK, NY – What would it take to get moviegoers to come to the theater early to see the pre-show entertainment? That was the branding challenge facing Loyalkaspar, the Entertainment Branding Agency led by David Herbruck and Beat Baudenbacher, when they tackled the rebrand of Screenvision, the leader in cinema advertising representing over 2,300 theaters across the U.S.

"Our over-arching goal was to create a pre-show experience that would make audiences purposely get to the theater early," Herbruck says. "Screenvision knew they had to take a more proactive look at their brand and the overall entertainment value of the on-screen presentation. We started with designing a new logo and moved from there to exploring new ways to engage and interact with the audience."

The New ‘S’:
Loyalkaspar senior designer Josh Lynne oversaw the logo design and explained that he wanted to deconstruct the letter "s" down to its most basic elements.

"We set out to explore the shape of the letter 'S' in the name ‘Screenvision.’" Lynne says, "The idea we landed on were these high-tech-looking building blocks that formed the 'S.' The look not only suited the brand, but we saw potential in using the rectangle shape to house and deliver content in a variety of ways."

That simple approach to the logo design belies the complexity of the overall on-screen look -- a richly detailed, futuristic environment replete with sleek geometric lines and vibrant neon colors, reminiscent of the sci-fi classic "Tron."

Reintroducing CMOR:
This dynamic world is overseen by the ever-present animated robot, CMOR (as in ‘see more’), who serves as the host of "Limelight" – the Screenvision pre-show featuring interactive trivia contests incorporating smart phones; the new music segment "Soundtrax"; and exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at upcoming film releases.

"CMOR was a hold-over from the old brand," Herbruck notes. "We thought he had tremendous value, both in terms of equity and functionality, but we had to give him more to do and imbue him with more personality. We came up with the concept of Limelight as this futuristic digital playground that explores."

Loyalkaspar producer Melissa August adds, "The challenge for us centered on creating a cool world where all these fun opportunities exist with CMOR as your host," she says. "To keep audiences in their seats we made it immersive and visually engaging."

About Loyalkaspar:
Loyalkaspar is an entertainment branding agency with offices in New York and Los Angeles. With an emphasis on crafting unified brand narratives through smart storytelling and an international design aesthetic, Loyalkaspar offers a full spectrum of strategic and creative capabilities from initial insight to final execution. For more information go to http://loyalkaspar.com.

Creative Credits:
Client: Screenvision
Project: Corporate rebrand

Agency: Loyalkaspar, New York
Exec. Creative Director: Beat Baudenbacher
Creative Director: Elliott Chaffer
Executive Producer: David Herbruck
Senior Producer: Melissa August

Design/Animation: Loyalkaspar, New York

Web Resources:
http://loyalkaspar.com
http://loyalkaspar.com/screenvision

Calabash Animation Transports Reality In New Lucky Charms Spot "Transportasty"

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 18:47:00 +0000

Targeting Adult Audience New Ad Brings Nostalgic Office Worker Into Lucky The Leprechaun’s Enchanted Forest

CHICAGO, IL – Tapping into the kid inside every adult, Calabash Animation, the award-winning animation studio led by Creative Director Wayne Brejcha and Executive Producer Sean Henry,worked its animated magic on a new ad targeting adults for General Mills’ Lucky Charms cereal. Created by agency Saatchi & Saatchi, New York, "Transportasty" features a busy office worker whisked away to an enchanted forest by just one bite for a chance encounter with Lucky the Leprechaun.

"This spot touches on nostalgia for one’s own youth – a simpler time when a bowl of Lucky Charms and Saturday morning cartoons were the highlight of the week," Henry says. "It was fun idea because the truth is kids aren’t the only ones who love Lucky Charms and this spot gets at that idea in a smart and cinematic way."

Blending 3D animation and live action photography, "Transportasty" (:15) opens with an employee walking through her office break-room. Noticing a bowl of Lucky Charms on the table she helps herself to a bite and is suddenly transported to a lush, beautifully animated 3D forest – complete with rainbows of swirling Lucky Charms cereal pieces around her. As she savors her first bite, Lucky appears uttering his famous catch phrase ("they’re always after me Lucky Charms"), and snatches the bowl of cereal from her hands.

Just as quickly as she got there, she’s transported back to the office, saying to herself "I forgot how good these taste." The last embers of her journey can be seen in the form of pixie dust emanating off the spoon in her hand.

For Brejcha, the creative challenge was determining exactly how Lucky was going to interact with the live action.

"Historically, Lucky doesn’t interact very often with live action characters, and it was imperative to keep it true to the existing Lucky design," Brejcha says. "We spent a lot of time on the photographic details of the CG environment
and the coherent lighting of this world, because it was crucial that viewers believe that Lucky and this woman are in this world together – magical though it is."

Brejcha adds, "We approached the CG environment in a very painterly way, using gorgeous concept art to guide the feel of it. Lucky’s animation was an amalgam of 2D drawings informing the CG animation, as we tried to keep Lucky as nimble and expressive as always."

About Calabash Animation:
Led by Creative Director Wayne Brejcha and Executive Producer Sean Henry, Calabash Animation, Inc. (www.calabashanimation.com) is the Chicago, IL-based animation production studio, known for its award-winning cel, 3D and stop-motion animation for the advertising and entertainment industries. Calabash Animation is perhaps best known for their creative development of some of America’s most beloved brand icons. In addition to working on some of today’s top advertising the company has also produced several acclaimed short films. It’s 2002 short ‘’Stubble Trouble’’ was nominated for an Academy Award in 2002. Its most recent "Botnik" will hit the festival circuit in Fall 2008.

Web Resources:
Click here to view Lucky Charms' "Transportasty" spot:
http://www.calabashanimation.com/custom_reel22.php

Click here for more info about Calabash Animation:
http://www.calabashanimation.com

Creative Credits:
Client: General Mills/Lucky Charms
Project: "Transportasty" (:15)

Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi, New York
Creative Director: Manny Galan & Pat Giles
Art Director: Justin Roth
Copywriter: Adam Kline
Producer: John Catapano

Animation: Calabash Animation, Chicago, IL
Animation Director: Wayne Brejcha
Animation Producer: Sean Henry

Production: CO2 Films, Santa Monica, CA
Director: Rogelio Sikander
Producer: Toni-Ann Parker
Executive Producer: Dora Medrano

Editorial/Post: Northern Lights Post, New York
Editor: Michael Novello

Music: Stimmung, New York
Composer: Robert Miller

BIGSMACK Brings On The Bling for A&E's "Duck Dynasty" Promo

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:27:00 +0000

Rap Video Parody Airs During NFL Games and MLB Playoffs

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Eyeing that always elusive young male demographic, A&E Networks turned to entertainment agency BIGSMACK to craft a clever new hip hop music video inspired promo for the season premiere of their popular "Duck Dynasty" reality show on Wednesday, October 10. The cross-channel spot aired during NBC's highly rated Sunday Night Football broadcast, and will run during this week's MLB playoffs, as well as on other channels.

"Usually our work for an A&E targets a very broad audience, but this was all about reaching the dudes," Andy Hann, BIGSMACK's Creative Director says. "We wrote some lyrics, but honestly the funniest material came when we let rapper Kurt Hunte do some free-styling on his own."

The clever spot combines a classic hip hop groove and a fast cut music video edit to tell the "Duck Dynasty" story, which centers on The Robertsons, a newly-minted multimillionaire Louisiana bayou family living the American dream as they operate a thriving sporting empire manufacturing top-of-the-line duck calls and decoys made out of salvaged swamp wood.

Hann notes that this was one of those rare projects that actually benefited from having a quick turnaround - the project went from concept to final delivery within days.

"Sometimes quick projects like this can be creatively fun because you don't have time to over-think," Hann adds. "With more time and money, a simple yet effective idea like this might not have made it up the ladder."

About BIGSMACK:
BIGSMACK is an award-winning entertainment agency comprised of writers, directors, producers, editors, designers, animators, strategists, audio engineers and musicians.

We are more than 100 strong, occupying creative and production space in New York and Philadelphia.

We are all about commercials, promos, print, interactive, design and animation, full-blown productions, show launches, network launches and rebrands, show opens, titles, marketing and upfronts.

We sport the latest technology in our 15 AVID/Final Cut bays, four audio finishing and recording suites and eight Smoke/Inferno/Lustre workstations.

We are partners with ad agencies, studios, networks, cable channels, sports leagues, Internet companies and advertisers direct.

Contact: Andrew Kobliska, andrew@bigsmack.tv

Web Resources:
http://www.bigsmack.tv/editorial/spots/ae-duck-dynasty/
http://www.bigsmack.tv
http://www.aetv.com/duck-dynasty/

Creative Credits:
Client: A&E Networks
Project: "Duck Dynasty" promo

EVP, Marketing: Guy Slattery
VP Brand Creative: Valerie Albanese
Senior Creative Director, Brand Creative: Maria Pecoraro

Agency/Production/Post: BIGSMACK, Philadelphia, PA
Creative Director: Andy Hann
Producer: Laura Gillespie
Editor: Craig Fields
Copywriter: Tom Pace
Animator: Matt Hall, Jason Harmon
Colorist: Jason Harmon
Composer: Bob Schachner
Rapper: Kurt Hunte

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:58:00 +0000

Welcome To Cartoon Lagoon:

Longtime Agency Creative Directors Pat Giles and Manny Galán Return To Animation Roots With The Launch Of Cartoon Lagoon Studios

First Project Is Original Series "Captain Cornelius' Cartoon's Cartoon Lagoon" Available This Fall On DVD

NEW YORK, NY - Longtime Saatchi & Saatchi creative directors Pat Giles and Manny Galán have returned to their animated roots in a big way with the launch of Cartoon Lagoon Studios. The studio's first release is "Captain Cornelius Cartoon's Cartoon Lagoon," coming to DVD this November.

Part puppetry, part animation, this distinctive show promises to plumb the depths of "Cartoon Lagoon" as characters Wet Willy Jones and Axel Rodd McGee go on an undersea quest aboard the Manta Ray, a cartoon-retrieving vessel commanded by Captain Cornelius C. Cartoon, in a search of the best and the worst cartoons ever made. The show was created by Galán and co-produced with Giles.

The official trailer for "Captain Cornelius Cartoon's Cartoon Lagoon" is available here: http://cartoonlagoonstudios.com. The series will have its premiere screening at New York Comic-Con (#NYCC) in October 2012.

Melting Pot of Pop Culture:
A portion of the show clearly pays homage to "MSTK3000" as the crew searches for the best and the worst cartoons ever made, and make fun of them as they screen them. But it is also much more. Each DVD also features "Captain Cartoon's All Star Revue" - a line-up of new and classic cartoons, musical guests, and interviews with leading animators, original skits and commercial parodies.

"We constructed these segments to help this show feel like it exists in an alternate reality -- like it's from a TV Universe other than our own," Galán says. "It's a Saturday morning or Friday night animation lineup that never existed on TV."

According to Galán, "Captain Cornelius Cartoon's Cartoon Lagoon" is a big melting pot of pop culture commentary and a nostalgic reflection on animation days gone by.

"The spirit of the show harkens back to a time when kids would wake up before their parents on a Saturday morning with a big bowl of cereal and watch cartoons because that was the only time they were on," Galán adds. "This is our attempt to recreate what ephemeral appointment television felt like, only put it on ever-ready DVD and digital media."

Animated Bios:
Galán and Giles know their cereal and their cartoons. They have been in the kids pop culture business for years, most recently as agency creative directors at Saatchi & Saatchi, New York creating ads for General Mills' cereals, such as Lucky Charms, Trix, Cocoa Puffs and Honey Nut Cheerios.

Beyond that the duo have a long pedigree in anmation. Giles was the art director for Disney's "Stanley" series, and worked on 6 other TV shows, including "Doug," and MTV's "Daria."

Galán worked at Marvel, DC Comics and Archie Comics, before joining Nickelodeon, first in their Consumer Products division, and later in the On Air department where he wrote and directed hundreds of shorts, including the legendary "NIckmas" series, "Captain Nick," and "How Angelica Stole Christmas." Galán's toy line "Dookie-Poo" is an award-winning collection of designer vinyls and plush. They also co-own two small comic book publishing companies, featuring the indie-hit "Monkeysuit" series, and "Combination Platter" collections.

But Cartoon Lagoon is the culmination of years of hard work -- half of which was spent in Manny's basement.

"Manny started building a submarine in his basement, about two years ago. He would mention it now and again, you know, this goofy thing," Giles says. "Next thing I know this stunning miniature submarine stage appears. It was amazing."

The show features some noteworthy talent, including legendary voice actor Chris Phillips as 'The Captain'; director Euralis Weekes; and head writer Steve Borst (Robot Chicken, MAD).

"We had a great time making this and we're thankful that so many talented folks were interested in helping us create this modern day tribute to the things we hold so dear," Galán says.

About Cartoon Lagoon:
Join Wet Willy Jones and Axel Rodd McGee on their undersea quest aboard the MANTA RAY, a cartoon-retrieving vessel commanded by Captain Cornelius Cartoon. This brand new animated/puppet show adventure available on DVD in Fall 2012, plumbs the depths of Cartoon Lagoon in search of the best and the worst cartoons ever made. Check out our blog at www.cartoonlagoonshow.blogspot.com

Created By Manny Galán, Produced by Pat Giles and Manny Galán, Directed by Euralis Weekes, Director of Photography, Joshua Meyers, Starring Chris Phillips as the voice of "Captain Cornelius C. Cartoon," featuring the puppeteers Michael Schupbach, Noel MacNeal and Frankie Cordero, with puppets designed by Julia Rosner. Written by Manny Galán and Steve Borst, Recorded at Super Exploder, Trailer Scored by Jeff Elmassian and Endless Noise, Produced by Cartoon Lagoon Studios, Filmed in Lagoonimation!

Web Resources:
http://cartoonlagoonstudios.com
http://cartoonlagoonshow.blogspot.com

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 22:39:00 +0000

BIGSMACK Adds Matt Hall As Creative Director

Creative Strategist Joins Award Winning Entertainment Agency Following Work With

NBC Sports, Discovery Networks and Microsoft

NEW YORK, NY - Building on their reputation as a leading creative force in the entertainment marketing community, BIGSMACK has added Matt Hall as Creative Director. Hall, who most recently worked on projects for NBC Sports, Discovery Networks and Microsoft, joins a staff led by Chief Creative Andy Hann and Head of Marketing Andrew Kobliska.

Hall joins a BIGSMACK that is in the midst of a creative boom year for the agency hybrid. In addition to winning 10 awards (5 gold) at the recent PromaxBDA Conference held in Los Angeles, the company has been busy on a series of high-level projects for Ogilvy Entertainment, A&E, Nat Geo and comprehensive image campaign for New Jersey's Kean University.

"Matt is the perfect addition to our team,'' Hann says. ''We've worked with him in the past on projects for OWN and A&E and have always been impressed with his writing and his conceptual thinking. BIGSMACK has evolved greatly over the years to the point where some of the largest entertainment brands in the world are turning to us to help guide them through today's complex media landscape with strategic creative, as well as our ability to deliver full service production and post. Having someone like Matt on our team helps BIGSMACK continue our creative evolution."

Joining BIGSMACK represents a reunion of sorts for Hall and Hann, who worked together at Concrete Pictures, Los Angeles, from 2004-2007. Prior to that Hall was a Creative Director at the design/visual effects house3 Ring Circus, Los Angeles. Since 2007 Hall has been working as freelance creative director/designer for clients ranging from NBC Sports, where he developed logos for their Epic Cycle, College Hockey and College Football franchises; and Discovery Networks where he worked on promos for their Animal Planet, TLC, and Discovery channels. He's also freelanced at BIGSMACK, working on projects for A&E, OWN and Discovery.

"I've known Andy for a long-time and I know how he thinks and what he expects - in a way we share a creative shorthand in which we know instinctively where we're going with a particular idea or execution," Hall says. "That kind of familiarity with each others' style and sensibility really helps, especially when time is of the essence, which is the case with so much of BIGSMACK's work. I'm looking forward to working again with Andy, Andrew and the entire BIGSMACK team and contributing to what they're building: the top creative agency in the entertainment space."

BIGSMACK ...
We are an award-winning entertainment marketing agency filled with writers, directors, producers, editors, designers, animators, strategists, audio engineers and musicians.

We are more than 120 strong, occupying a ton of creative and production space in New York City and Philadelphia.

We are all about creating commercials, promos, print, interactive, design and animation, full-blown productions, show launches, network launches and rebrands, show opens, main titles, marketing strategies and upfronts.

We sport the latest technology in our 15 AVID/Final Cut bays, four audio finishing and recording suites and eight Smoke/Inferno/Lustre workstations.

We are partners with ad agencies, studios, networks, cable channels, sports leagues, Internet companies and advertisers direct.

DuArt Authors Joe Satriani’s “Satchurated: Live In Montreal” 2D & 3D Blu-Ray Release At For Cinemusica

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Ecke) — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:21:00 +0000

Joe Satriani, widely recognized as one of the world’s top guitarists, has added to his legacy with the release of the new live-concert film, "Satchurated: Live in Montreal." The HD film was authored for both 2D and 3D Blu-Ray release by DuArt, NYC’s full-service video and audio post facility.

Filmed by GRAMMY and EMMY award-winning concert filmmakers Pierre & François Lamoureux of Cinemusica, Satchurated was captured live during Satriani’s “The Wormhole Tour,” supporting his studio album "Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards" at the Metropolis in Montreal, Canada. "Satchurated: Live in Montreal" was released to select theaters throughout the country for a limited engagement in March.

Cinemusica captured the sold-out concert with a total of ten camera positions, recording Satriani’s musical best in both 2D and 3D HD formats, in 7.1 Surround Sound.

Randy Hudson, Director of Digital Media Post Production for DuArt, oversaw a meticulous 3D Blu-Ray authoring process at DuArt’s advanced facilities in midtown Manhattan. “This was an amazing project, and well deserving of the level of production necessary for making it available on 3D and Blu-Ray,” says Hudson. “You have a front row seat to every chord change, played by one of the world’s undisputed guitar masters.”

Working with his team in DuArt’s dedicated 2D/3D BluRay authoring suite, Hudson used the NetBlender encoding module, Panasonic multiscan displays, and his deep media production experience to help Cinemusica prepare Satchurated for 3D Blu-Ray release.

“Over 5,000 retail DVD and Blu-Ray titles have been collectively authored by the Disc Production team here at DuArt,” Hudson explains. “That helps us to fully understand the workflow and the final product that we’re working toward: knowing the intricacies of 3D subtitling and menuing, advising the client on how to simultaneously set up to playback in 2D for checking text or credits, and myriad other details are all factors in delivering the best possible product to the consumer.”

The complete post offerings available in DuArt’s 12 floor building on 55th Street and 8th Avenue provided Cinemusica with additional important benefits. “Along with the video assets, we can also handle full QC of the audio in a surround environment,” notes Hudson. “All the services at DuArt are available to the client for a fast, complete turnaround, no matter what the format is.”

About DuArt:
DuArt is a full service post facility in NYC, servicing the broadcast and film industries. Operating out of their 12-story building in midtown Manhattan, DuArt provides video editing, color correct, voice recording, casting, 3D editing, direction for animation, music scoring, sound design, film and audio restoration, production space, complete DVD, Blu-Ray, and 3D Blu-Ray disc media production services, and more. Since being established in 1922, DuArt has finished thousands of the world’s most loved feature films, documentaries, festival releases and television shows. For more information, please visit www.duart.com.

About CINEMUSICA:
Cinemusica was formed by brothers, Pierre & Francois Lamoureux. Their films have won a Grammy, two Emmy, two Juno, two Gemini, a multitude of industry and technical awards, sold millions of copies on BluRay and DVD and aired all around the world. Pierre & Francois Lamoureux have directed and/or produced concert films and music documentaries for Rush, The Who, Harry Connick, Jr., Slipknot, Rihanna, The Pretenders, Zappa Plays Zappa, Branford Marsalis, Pat Metheny, deadmau5, Cowboy Junkies, Collective Soul, Ben Harper, Willie Nelson, Deep Purple, The Stray Cats and others. For more information, please visit www.cinemusica.tv.

Web Resources:
Click here for more info about DuArt:
http://www.duart.com

Click here for more info about CINEMUSICA:
http://www.cinemusica.tv/

Click here for clips from "Satchurated":
Trailer: http://youtu.be/bFwSf8zXWYU
"Satch Boogie": http://youtu.be/3pexXLb66bI
"War": http://youtu.be/-nlSGsQY_3o