Nov 25

Nice work for FedEx, Ray-Ban, Samsung and more

Posted in: Uncategorized

Welcome to this week’s round-up of great new work that’s been sent into CR Towers lately. First up, BBDO Toronto uses of hundreds of FedEx boxes to create a domino-style chain reaction…

The ad was directed by Jeff Low, who spent four days building the chain in a warehouse (see below for a behind-the-scenes shot of the set). The final ad was shot with barely any visual effects, and includes various impressive stunts. Who knew FedEx boxes were so versatile?

Agency: BBDO Toronto; Creative directors: Peter Ignazi, Carlos Moreno; Creatives: Mike Donaghey, Chris Joakim; Production company: OPC; Director: Jeff Low.

Director Saiman Chow has just joined Blacklist for US representation and this is his first spot through them, a rather lovely animation for Ray-Ban. Agency: Marcel, Paris. Creative director: Sebastien Vacherot. Creatives: Sebastian Piacentini, Bastien Grisolet.

Chances are you might have already seen this ad for Samsung, which makes a cheeky swipe at Apple and some of the more ridiculous behaviour of iPhone fans.

Noah Harris at Blinkink directed this lovely spot for Carphone Warehouse, which shows two characters going on an epic journey in their search for a new phone. Agency: CHI & Partners. Creatives: Alexei Berwitz & Rob Webster.

Rather than create an ad campaign for their client, BGH, Del Campo Saatchi & Saatchi in Buenos Aires suggested a special new microwave product line. As the film above reveals, their machines are made with an in-built USB port so you can pick a song that will play when your food is ready. It sure beats the standard ‘beep’, and the limited edition of 1,000 machines sold so well that the BGH Quick Chef Music is going into full production in 2012. Watch the film for all the info. Exec creative directors: Maxi Itzkoff, Mariano Serkin. Creative directors: Diego Medvedocky, Ignacio Ferioli. Creatives: Guilherme Souza, Breno Costa.

We finish with two great music videos to take you through to the weekend. First up is Sean Pecknold’s beautiful animated film for Fleet Foxes.

And lastly is this promo for Friendly Fires track Hurting, directed by David Lewandowski. The film stars a lady with an extraordinarily long neck and a man with a TV for a head: what more does a great video need?

 

 

CR in Print

If you enjoy reading the Creative Review website, we think you’ll enjoy reading the magazine even more. The December issue of CR includes a profile piece on the independent creative scene in Liverpool, a major interview with Dutch book designer Irma Boom and a great piece on ‘Poster King’ Edward McKnight Kauffer. You’ll also find articles on Dentsu London, a review of the Walker Art Center’s Graphic Design: Now in Production show and a fascinating debate on the clash between design and advertising betwen Wally Olins and CHI’s Dan Beckett.

And if that wasn’t enough, the issue also includes a FREE paper toy for readers to cut out and customise.

If you would like to buy this issue and are based in the UK, you can search for your nearest stockist here. Based outside the UK? Simply call +44(0)207 292 3703 to find your nearest stockist. Better yet, subscribe to CR for a year here and save yourself almost 30% on the printed magazine.

No Comments | Tags: ,
Nov 25

Red Bull Canimation: vote, like and share now

Posted in: Uncategorized

Voting is open for the Red Bull Canimation competition aimed at finding the next generation of UK animation talent. Student and young or ‘hobbyist’ animators have entered films in the Stop Motion, Drawn and CGI categories. Now they need your votes, likes and shares

Prizes up for grabs include internships at top animation studios Aardman, The Mill and 12foot6, state of the art animation software and a chance to be featured on Channel Four as well as in cinemas nationwide.

Skyhound (Red Bull Canimation) from Chloe Rodham on Vimeo.

 

All the entries are now up on the Canimation website here. Rather than a traditional voting process, each comment, Vimeo ‘like’, view and share will be taken into consideration, according to Red Bull. “These votes will be collated and the resulting Canimation shortlist presented to the project’s panel of esteemed animation experts: James Farrington (The Mill), Merlin Crossingham (Aardman Animations), Dave Anderson (12foot6), Jayne Pilling (British Animation Awards), Tom Tagholm (4Creative), who will select the ultimate winners,” the company says.

Red Bull Fish from Jason Petherick on Vimeo.

 

Prizes will be awarded at the Red Bull Canimation Awards Ceremony at the Empire, Leicester Square in
London on December 15.

No Comments | Tags:
Nov 24

Airside to close in March

Posted in: Uncategorized

Airside is to close its doors in March 2012 after 14 years in business. The studio, which made its name originally for website design and animation, says the decision is a ‘voluntary’ one reached jointly by the founders Alex Maclean, Nat Hunter and Fred Deakin

Airside opened in 1998. In a joint statement issued today, Maclean, Hunter and Deakin say “For the record, we aren’t going bust, in fact we’re currently thriving. We haven’t fallen out with each other, in fact we’re as close as we ever were. What has happened is that after 14 years of working together, we have grown into different people with different goals. Despite all of our best efforts we can’t see a way for Airside to move forward and accommodate all of our individual ambitions. You could put it down to musical differences if you like!”

Airside founders (from left) Deakin, Maclean and Hunter when they started in 1998 (left) and now

 

Lemon Jelly Nice Weather for Ducks video, 2003

 

The statement goes on to say that “We feel that it is completely true to the unique spirit of Airside to end the company as friends and to end it on a high. We’ll be making an announcement as to our individual future plans nearer to March 2012 when we close, and there will of course be a party to mark our closing. Between now and then we’ll be focused as always creating amazing work for our clients and ourselves – this is the last chance for us to work together as Airside. Although we definitely plan to collaborate in future.”

During Airside’s 14 years it has won many awards, including a Cannes Grand Prix and two Best in Books in the CR Annual. It was one of the first significant digital studios to emerge following the dot com crash of the late 90s and quickly gained a reputation for creative excellence. The company currently has nine staff. Its Tokyo branch, Airside Nippon, “will continue to trade as normal,” the company says.

From Airside by Airside, a book celebrating the studio’s tenth anniversary

Read our feature on the company’s tenth anniversary here

Our sister title Design Week has more on the story here

UPDATE: Airside has just released this film commemorating their work over the years. Be warned: the soundtrack will probably be with you for the rest of the day.

No Comments | Tags: , ,
Nov 17

CR Annual 2012

Posted in: Uncategorized

The deadline for the next Creative Review Annual, our international showcase of the pick of the year’s creative work, is December 12. And we also have some judges to tell you about

The Creative Review Annual is our major awards scheme. It showcases and celebrates the outstanding work of the previous year in visual communications.

Each year, our panel of industry experts chooses the work that they feel represents the best of the year for publication in our special May double issue of Creative Review (last year’s shown above).

Our judges for the 2012 Annual include:

Andy Altmann, co-founder, Why Not Associates

Violetta Boxill, creative director, Alexander Boxill

James Hilton, co-founder and chief creative officer, AKQA

Nat Hunter, founder/creative director, Airside

Paul Jordan, executive creative director, Dentsu London

Greg Quinton, creative partner, The Partners

Andy Sandoz, creative partner, Work Club

Marina Willer, head of design, Wolff Olins

 

To register and make an entry today, click here.

 


 

 

CR in Print

Not getting Creative Review in print too? You’re missing out.

In print, Creative Review carries far richer, more in-depth articles than we run here on the blog. This month, for example, we have nine pages on Saul Bass, plus pieces on advertising art buyers, Haddon Sundblom, the illustrator who ensured that Coke will forever be linked with Santa Claus, Postmodernism, Brighton’s new football ground and much more. Plus, it’s our Photography Annual, which means an additional 85 pages of great images, making our November issue almost 200-pages long, the biggest issue of CR for 5 years.

If you would like to buy this issue and are based in the UK, you can search for your nearest stockist here. Based outside the UK? Simply call +44(0)207 292 3703 to find your nearest stockist. Better yet, subscribe to CR for a year here and save yourself almost 30% on the printed magazine.

No Comments | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Nov 16

I’m Business Mouse, Yeah?

Posted in: Uncategorized

Modern Toss‘s latest animated creation is a no nonsense, machine gun-toting MD. And he’s got a few mill to spend on the next big thing…

In the first über-sweary episode, Business of Leisure, BM encounters a budding entrepreneur with a keen nose for an idea.

Business Mouse is one of Channel 4’s latest Comedy Blaps.

Written & Directed by: Jon Link, Mick Bunnage
Producer: Jane Harrison
Voices: Julie Burchill, Emma Fryer, Mark Kempner, Lawry Lewin

Character Design & Backgrounds: Jon Link

Additional Artwork: Steve Campion, Charlie Evans

Animation: Le Singe Media

Supervising Animator: Tom Matuszewski

Animators: Robin Brindle, Jack Bonnington, Scott Weston

Editors: Rob Hill, Tom Matuszewski

Dubbing Mixer: Simon Couzens
B
Business Affairs: David Cuff

No Comments | Tags: ,
Nov 14

Nice work for Renault, the Meth Project and more

Posted in: Uncategorized

Here’s a round-up of the latest work that’s caught CR’s eye of late: first up, a striking print campaign for Renault from Publicis Conseil in Paris…

The posters feature groups of van fans, including chefs and builders, expressing how the Renault vans make them feel, and are finished off with the tagline ‘Renault Vans. 4 Million fans in Europe.’

Agency: Publicis Conseil. CCO: Olivier Altmann. Creatives: Patrice Lucet, Antoine Dezes Richard, Philippe Boucheron. Photographer: Frieke Janssen.

A new series of hard-hitting ads, directed by Darren Aronofsky for the Meth Project, aim to emphasise the dangers of the drug. Agency: Organic, San Francisco. GCD: Brad Mancuso. CD: Urs Ross. Creatives: Tyler Warrender, Fred Abercrombie. Director: Darren Aronofsky. Production company: Wild Plum.

Kevin Spacey shows off his acting chops in his latest ad for Amercian Airlines, directed by Chris Palmer. Agency: McCann London. CCO: Bill Oakley. Creative directors: Geoff Smith, Simon Butler. Production company: Gorgeous.

Here’s some Dallas-inspired silliness for Cadbury’s Fingers, from VCCP and directed by Simon Willows. CD: Mark Orbine. Creatives: Andy Mancuso, Ravi Beeharry. Production company: Blinkink.

KesselKramer’s latest ad campaign for the Hans Brinkner Budget Hotel in Amsterdam invites you to become the ad creative/director and submit a film for the hotel on a special YouTube channel. Now this is the sort of crowdsourcing venture that usually gets our readers hot under the collar, but here it’s meant to be funny: see the film above for a full explanation. The ads may even win you the grand total of 10 Euros if your spot gets over 1,000 views!

 

DixonBaxi and AllofUs have collaborated to create these quirky idents for new Russian 24-hour news channel Kommersant. Animation: Double G Studios. Music: Shervin Shaeri.

We finish today’s round-up with a new video. This rather clever film by Tomas Mankovsky is for Why Don’t We by Mint Julep, and features a “human Matrix rig”.

No Comments | Tags: ,
Nov 10

Photography Annual Motion Category winners

Posted in: Uncategorized

This year’s Photography Annual included a brand new moving image category, which was judged by the CR editorial staff. Winners in this category included Carl Warner’s animated short for Findus, Adam Hinton’s work for the War Child charity, Dean Chalkley’s documentary ‘Young Souls’, which looks at the contemporary Northern Soul scene, and Dave Young’s ‘Everyone has a story’.

Giles Revell’s Art Revealed project, which was used as an ident for the BBC, was awarded Best In Book.

Revell filmed the entire sequence in a two-and-a-half-foot square water tank, which was set up at modelmaking and special effects company Asylum in London. Describing the process, Revell says, “We tested for a week together. We were lookng for the right materials, inks and pigments that don’t mix so much with water.” The shoot itself took place over the course of a day, during which around ten takes were made, some of which were up to twenty minutes long.

Photographers Agent: Stella Pye, DOP: Graham Stuart, Special Effects: Asylum, Agency: RED BEE Media, Group Creative Director: Frazer Jelleyman, Creative Head: Tony Pipes, Creative: Elie Zaccour, Producer: Deborah Stewart, Editor: Gerry Lindfield

gilesrevell.com

Josh Cole also won Best in Book for ‘In Pieces’, which features Rwanda’s street dancers.

Footage for the video was shot over four days of travelling. Cole says, “Sometimes the performers just danced in the street with no music, sometimes we had a car stereo on.”

Producer: Dicken Marshall Editor: Matt Newman DOP: Luke Jacobs 2nd Camera: Sunil Kupperi Post producer: Kieve Ducharme @ Greyworks Creatives: Jay Marlow and Nils Leonard @ Grey London

joshcole.co.uk

All the elements in Carl Warner’s animated short are made from different foodstuffs.

Post Production by Andrew John Simpson, Model Making by Paul Baker at 3D Studios, Food Styling by Peta O’Brien

carlwarner.com

Adam Hinton’s work for the War Child charity showed interviews with child rape victims that had been helped by the charity. Unfortunately, due to privacy issues we are unable to show you this piece of work.

Directed and filmed by Adam Hinton, Art Directer: Paul Belford, Agency: This is Real Art., Editor: David Freemantle, Client: War Child.

adamhinton.net

Dean Chalkley’s ‘Young Souls’ documentary looked at the contemporary Northern Soul scene. The above is an excerpt, but the full film can be viewed here.

Written, Directed and Produced by Dean Chalkley, Cinematographer Benoit Soler, Editor James W. Griffiths, Sound Design & Mix Mauricio D’Orey, C.A. Smith, Music Consultants, Adrian Croasdell, Jo Wallace, Eddie Piller, Colourist Julien Biard, Casting, Amanda Ashed, Song used in excerpt: Is She In Your Town, written by Curtis Lee, Performed by Curtis Lee, Published by Rockin’ Music, Licensed by Ace Records Ltd.

deanchalkley.com

Dave Young’s ‘Everyone has a story’ features Cynthia – knitter, and member of the West Dorset Accordion Group.

podfilms.tv

CR in Print

Not getting Creative Review in print too? You’re missing out.

In print, Creative Review carries far richer, more in-depth articles than we run here on the blog. This month, for example, we have nine pages on Saul Bass, plus pieces on advertising art buyers, Haddon Sundblom, the illustrator who ensured that Coke will forever be linked with Santa Claus, Postmodernism, Brighton’s new football ground and much more. Plus, it’s our Photography Annual, which means an additional 85 pages of great images, making our November issue almost 200-pages long, the biggest issue of CR for 5 years.

If you would like to buy this issue and are based in the UK, you can search for your nearest stockist here. Based outside the UK? Simply call +44(0)207 292 3703 to find your nearest stockist. Better yet, subscribe to CR for a year here and save yourself almost 30% on the printed magazine.

No Comments | Tags: , ,
Nov 09

UK Music Video Awards 2011 Winners

Posted in: Uncategorized

Directing collective Canada picked up the Best Director Award at last night’s UK Music Video Awards, held at the Empire Leicester Square in London and hosted by Adam Buxton. Other big winners include directing duo Daniels, who picked up the video of the year award for their video for Simple Math by Manchester Orchestra.

The UK Music Video Awards are voted for by people working in and around the promos industry, so are viewed as an insider’s take on the best music video work of the year. This year saw a widening of the awards to include international winners in every category, alongside a favourite UK winner. Canada, who were profiled in the October issue of CR (read the article here), also picked up the Best Pop Video – International award for Oh Land by White Nights and the Best Art Direction and Design gong for Invisible Light by Scissor Sisters (both shown below).

Here are rest of the awards in full:

Best Pop Video – UK, in association with Music Week

Adele – Rolling in the Deep
Director: Sam Brown
Producer: Hannah Chandler
Prod co: Flynn
Commissioner: Phil Lee for XL Recordings

Best Pop Video – Budget


Cool Fun – House
Director: Prano Bailey-Bond
Producer: Prano Bailey-Bond
Commissioner: Cool Fun

Best Dance Video – UK, in association with Rudeye Dance Studios

Chase & Status feat. Liam Bailey – Blind Faith
Director: Daniel Wolfe
Producer: Tim Francis
Prod co: Somesuch & Co
Commissioner: Dan Curwin for Mercury Records

Best Dance Video – International

Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand
Director: So Me
Producer: Mourad Belkeddar
Prod co: Caviar Paris
Commissioner: Fools Gold

Best Dance Video – Budget

Eskmo – We Got More
Director: Cyriak Harris
Commissioner: Martin Dobson for Ninja Tune

Best Urban Video – UK, in association with East End Studios

Wiley – Numbers in Action
Director: Us
Producer: Liz Kessler
Prod co: Academy Films
Commissioner: Jamie Collinson for Big Dada

Best Urban Video – International

Jay Z & Kanye West – Otis
Director: Spike Jonze
Prod co: MJZ
Commissioner: Roc-A-Fella Records

Best Urban Video – Budget

Jargon VA Feat. Tinie Tempah – Disappoint You
Director: Ian Pons Jewell
Producer: Jacqueline Bender
Prod co: Studio Murmur
Commissioner: Cheese on Bread

Best Indie/Rock Video – UK, in association with 3 Mills Studios

Is Tropical – The Greeks
Director: Megaforce
Producer: Jules Dieng
Prod co: El Niño
Commissioner: Gildas Loaëc for Kitsuné

Best Indie/Rock Video – International
Manchester Orchestra – Simple Math
Director: Daniels
Producer: Gaetano Crupi Jr
Prod co: Prettybird US
Commissioner: Bryan Younce for Columbia Records

Best Indie/Rock Video – Budget


Memory Tapes – Yes I Know
Director: Eric Epstein
Prod co: M SS NG P ECES
Commissioner: David Laurie for Something In Construction/Carpark Records

Best Alternative Video – UK, in association with Smoke & Mirrors

Depeche Mode – Personal Jesus (Stargate Remix)
Director: Patrick Daughters
Producer: Matthew Fone
Prod co: The Director’s Bureau
Commissioner: John Moule for Mute

Best Alternative Video – International

Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Director: Spike Jonze
Producer: Vince Landay
Prod co: MJZ
Commissioner: Merge Records

Best Alternative Video – Budget

Matta UK – Release the Freq
Director: Kim Holm
Commissioner: Nicolas Chevreux

Best Animation in a Video

Is Tropical – The Greeks
Animation: Seven
Director: Megaforce
Producer: Jules Dieng
Prod co: El Niño
Record co: Kitsuné

Best Art Direction & Design in a Video
Scissor Sisters – Invisible Light
Art Director: Roger Bellés
Director: Canada
Exec Producer: Oscar Romagosa
Prod co: Canada/Partizan
Record co: Polydor

Best Choreography in a Video

Wave Machines – Keep The Lights On
Choreographer: Jen Irons
Director: Aneil Karia
Producer: Jessica Levick
Prod co: Magnified Pictures
Record co: Neopolitan

Best Cinematography in a Video, in association with Panalux
Adele – Rolling in the Deep
DoP: Tom Townend
Director: Sam Brown
Producer: Hannah Chandler
Prod co: Flynn
Record co: XL Recordings

Best Editing in a Video, in association with Vanderquest

Tom Vek – Aroused
Editor: Tom Lindsay
Director: Saam Farahmand
Producer: James Waters
Prod co: FMV
Record co: Island Records

Best Styling in a Video

Chase & Status Feat. Liam Bailey – Blind Faith
Stylist: Hannah Edwards
Director: Daniel Wolfe
Producer: Tim Francis
Prod co: Somesuch & Co
Record co: Mercury

Best Telecine in a Video

Plan B – Love Goes Down
TK: Simon Bourne @ Framestore
Director: Daniel Wolfe
Producer: Tim Francis
Prod co: Somesuch & Co
Record co: 679 Recordings/Atlantic Records

Best Visual Effects in a Video, in association with BEAM

Klaxons – Twin Flames
VFX: Ric Comline, Jasper Kidd & team @ Blind Pig
Director: Saam Farahmand
Producer: Ella Sanderson
Prod co: Partizan
Record co: Polydor

The Innovation Award

The Shoes Cover Your Eyes Interactive Video
Director: We are from L.A.
Prod co: Caviar Paris
Commissioner: Pierre Le Ny
Record co: Green United Music

Shown above is the straight video for this song, but to see it in its full glory, visit coveryoureyes.fr where you can interact with the video via an unusual webcam technique. Do it, it’s lots of fun!

Best Live Music Coverage, in association with BBC Motion Gallery
Tinie Tempah – Ibiza Rocks
Director: Paul Caslin
Prod co: JJ Stereo
Commissioner: Channel 4
Record co: Parlophone

Best Music Ad – TV or Online

Mark Ronson & The Business International – Record Collection
Director: Steve Milbourne & Phil Clandillon
Prod co: FOAM
Commissioner: Steve Milbourne & Phil Clandillon
Record co: Columbia Records

Best Producer, in association with Rushes
Tim Francis

Best Commissioner, in association with IMD Fastrax
Ross Anderson

Best New Director, in assocation with Locomotion
Us

Best Director, in association with Promo News
Canada

The Icon Award
Jonas Akerlund

The Outstanding Achievement Award
Barry Wasserman

The People’s Choice Award, in association with VEVO


JLS ft Tinie Tempah – Eyes Wide Shut
Director: Syndrome
Prod co: Academy Films
Commissioner: Dan Millar & Lisa Foo for Sony Music

 

 

CR in Print

Not getting Creative Review in print too? You’re missing out.

In print, Creative Review carries far richer, more in-depth articles than we run here on the blog. This month, for example, we have nine pages on Saul Bass, plus pieces on advertising art buyers, Haddon Sundblom, the illustrator who ensured that Coke will forever be linked with Santa Claus, Postmodernism, Brighton’s new football ground and much more. Plus, it’s our Photography Annual, which means an additional 85 pages of great images, making our November issue almost 200-pages long, the biggest issue of CR for 5 years.

If you would like to buy this issue and are based in the UK, you can search for your nearest stockist here. Based outside the UK? Simply call +44(0)207 292 3703 to find your nearest stockist. Better yet, subscribe to CR for a year here and save yourself almost 30% on the printed magazine.

No Comments | Tags:
Nov 04

Red Bull Canimation competition

Posted in: Uncategorized

Red Bull’s Canimation competition offers UK animation students the chance to win internships at Aardman, The Mill and 12footsix

There are separate categories for stop-motion, CGI and Drawn animation. The winner of the stop-motion category will get a month-long internship at Aardman. The CGI winner will be at The Mill for two months and the Drawn winner will be at 12footsix for the same period. The films may also be broadcast on Channel 4 and run at cinemas. You have to be in full or part-time education in the UK and over 16 to enter. The films should be no more than two minutes in length and feature the Red Bull can in some way (assets can be downloaded here).

Submitted films will be subject to a public vote via the Canimation website with the most popular going before a panel of judges including Merlin Crossingham from Aardman, Dave Anderson from 12foot6 and James Farrington from The Mill. The winners will be announced at the Red Bull Canimation Awards Ceremony at the Empire Theatre in Leicester Square on December 15. Red Bull will pay for accommodation and travel costs for finalists (plus one) to attend. It will also pay for students’ accommodation during their internships.

<object width=”550″ height=”309″><param name=”allowfullscreen” value=”true” /><param name=”allowscriptaccess” value=”always” /><param name=”movie” value=”http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=31025017&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=0&amp;show_byline=0&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=00adef&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;autoplay=0&amp;loop=0″ /><embed src=”http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=31025017&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;show_title=0&amp;show_byline=0&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=00adef&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;autoplay=0&amp;loop=0″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” allowfullscreen=”true” allowscriptaccess=”always” width=”550″ height=”309″></embed></object>

There is also a parallel Open competition aimed at non-professionals who can win kit including Stop Motion Pro, Digicel Flipbook Pro and Autodesk® Entertainment Creation Suite Premium 2012.

The deadline is November 15. Full details here

No Comments | Tags:
Oct 27

The Black Keys’ Lonely Boy promo

Posted in: Uncategorized

Shortly after we all stood around Eliza’s desk agog as she showed us the Keith Schofield Duck Sauce video (see previous post), Emma here sent round this video for The Black Keys track Lonely Boy directed by Jesse Dylan (son of Bob) as a kind of mind-palate cleanser. It features one man and his dancing skills, and it’s great:

Lonely Boy is taken from The Black Keys forthcoming album, El Camino. More info at theblackkeys.com

No Comments | Tags: