A visual and audio feast...

N.A.S.A. (North America/South America) launched a new music video for their Brazilian funk/hip hop track “Whachadoin?” (feat. Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santigold & Nick Zinner) in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The music video is also timed to build anticipation for the group’s tour of the USA, “N.A.S.A.’s Intergalactic Circus”, in August.


The Whachadoin? video was produced by Argentine visual artist/director Jimena Oddi (art work and concept) and director Jorge Jaramillo via Squeak E Clean productions, with producers Susan Applegate and Tito Melega, director of photography Santiago Mellazini, cameraman Andres Martin, after effects artist Bruno Coni Wuilloud, assitant Cecilia Soloaga.

N.A.S.A. is largely the work of Squeak E. Clean and DJ Zegon. The Apollo space program being the main inspiration for this project, pushing the boundaries of visual and musical exploration.”

© 2009 Spectrophonic Sound under license to Anti- Records

N.A.S.A. "Whachadoin?" (feat. M.I.A., Spank Rock, Santogold, & Nick Zinner)

Squeak E. Clean Productions
ART & CONCEPT - Jimena Oddi
DIRECTORS - Jimena Oddi & Jorge Jaramillo
PRODUCERS - Susan Applegate & Tito Melega
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY - Santiago Mellazini
CAMERA - Andres Martin
AFTER-EFFECTS - Bruno Coni Wuilloud
ASSISTANT - Cecilia Soloaga

N.A.S.A.'s debut album "The Spirit of Apollo" hit the shelves 2/17/09 on Anti-/Spectrophonic Sound.

Whether we realise it or not we all have a few rules that we follow, consciously or subconsciously. The trick is to realise what works for you early on in the game and move forward...


A quick note before we begin - you can hear samples of Elli's music at the end of the article and download desktop images.

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With so many artists in the music arena falling wayward and going off the edge, what keeps you grounded?
I'm not THAT grounded, but what keeps me more grounded than I would be if not proactive about it, is: (1) deliberately choosing to and as much as possible working only with very effective people, (2) focusing in as much as possible on taking one step at-a-time, and (3) working as needed on my own issues, either alone or by getting help (coaching, training and exchanging with people with whom I can learn or who help people expand in personal growth). The internet is an enormous resource for tools, contacts and recommendations, and I take advantage of the embarrassment of riches which appears on my radar everyday.

More specifically, while now launching my second jazz-vocal CD, I work with a proven team of promo people and completed production with the same wonderful engineer with whom I co-produced the first CD. Working with people you trust is very important, then following up personally as best you can. Twitter is a site on which I particularly enjoy connecting, getting the word out about my CD and performances and sharing other information. To get and keep my perspective, I speak with my new manager who has many years of experience and a very proactive approach. With her help, I regain a degree of patience when things aren't zooming forward the way we'd prefer due to the economic state. As far as the big-picture view goes, I'm sure that the music "world" will, as always, evolve new ways for professionals to move forward. I hope to be one of those who capitalizes on these and am taking my baby steps in the mean while.

What are your creative Rules for Life: Something that you have set in stone and will not stray from?
I strive to become less and less rigid and fixed in my viewpoints. This applies to my music -- in which I'm relatively improvisational -- career and to life in general. However, what I'm most stubborn about is being with/working with only the most proactive, creative and positive people I can no matter what the area. When I sense or it becomes obvious that the fit with someone isn't working, I let it go and find others with whom there's a better match; it's important to know when to "cut your losses." Everyone is more productive and a lot happier in the collaborative process and in any relationship when they agree on basics, have similar energy or attitudes or all of the above. Though I can't always be as picky as I'd like, when possible I make choices based on those criteria and trust my gut.


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You may also want to read the following articles covering Elli's life:

Elli Fordyce – Still very cool
Elli Fordyce – In the light she dances...
Elli Fordyce – What's your type?
Elli Fordyce – No More Blues
Elli Fordyce – Inspiration
Elli Fordyce – Change

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Free Wallpaper Images

On behalf of Elli - download your desktop wallpaper images by [clicking here]

Available in the various screen sizes. If there are any particular screen sizes that would suit you more then leave a message and I'll arrange it for you...

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Useful Links

Elli Fordyce's Website: www.ellifordyce.com
You can follow Elli on twitter @ElliFordyce
Management: Redwood Entertainment [see artists page]

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CD and samples available from | iTunes | CD Baby | Amazon | Napster | AmieST |


Certain images are provided and owned by © 2009 Elli Fordyce |
Desktop images and text created by R27 | © 2009 R27 Creativelab

Yasmin Ahmad, 51, celebrated filmmaker and executive creative director of Leo Burnett Kuala Lumpur, passed away this weekend. Ahmad died from a cerebral hemorrhage on July 25, after suffering a stroke two days earlier during a media presentation at local broadcaster TV3 in Kuala Lumpur.

Ahmad was born on July 1, 1958 in the Malaysian town of Muar. After graduating from Newcastle University in England, she went on to work brief stints in banking and at IBM before beginning her advertising career as a copywriter at Ogilvy & Mather. She joined Leo Burnett Malaysia in 1993 as joint creative director and eventually moved up to become the agency's executive creative director.

Ahmad was also an active blogger and regularly posted her musings about life and news about her work until near the time of her death.

She directed and wrote six films, including 2004's Sepet, a romance between a Malaysian girl and a Chinese boy, which earned awards in France, Malaysia and Tokyo.



Her latest feature was the 2009 Talentime, about a talent competition and love story between an Indian boy and Malay girl, and before her death she was working on two new films.



In the ad community, Ahmad is perhaps best known for her charming commercials for Malaysian oil company Petronas.

First, the acclaimed ‘Funeral’ spot from earlier this year.



‘Family’ - it’s less of a tear-jerker than ‘Funeral’, focusing on the relationship between father and daughter, but a great story nonetheless.



‘Tan Hong Ming’, the famous ad for Petronas that won Gold at both Cannes and the Spikes last year,



Chinese New Year back in 2001



AirAsia



If you know of any more work by Yasmin Ahmad, please feel free to leave a comment and link below.

With so many channels available to view these days on freeview and satelite most of the shows utter tripe, in my opinion. Thank good there are a few channels still investing in their identities. Those short bursts of personality between the shows giving us a small indication of what each channel is trying to offer. These caught my eye a week ago and while I highlighted on my r27 posterous site, I think they deserve another shout.

If there any other idents out there new or old that you think need to be recognized, leave a comment of why you like them so much and a link. I'll create another identity highlight section after we have a few worth showing.

“Imagine Greater” is new message: SciFi.com
For now here we go with the SyFy Channel.













Also read: How to broaden a tv audience – why Sci-Fi has become SyFy

BranitVFX is a CGI visual effects company based out of Kansas City. Below is a recent spot BranitVFX completed in June for Bernstein Rein Advertising.

As you will see, this is an entirely CGI spot. BranitVFX used photo modeling techniques adding dimension to real studio photographs of a Big Mac and the the fries. The fry box, Dr. Pepper, ice, bubbles, smoke, straw, environment, etc are all entirely CGI.

The real reason to do this spot as CGI was to be able to choreograph the camera move in limited time and budget.




Also of Interest:

World Builder: A strange man builds a world using holographic tools for the woman he loves. This award winning short was created by filmmaker Bruce Branit, widely known as the co-creator of '405'. World Builder was shot in a single day followed by about 2 years of post production. Branit is the owner of Branit VFX based in Kansas City.




Branit|vfx 2009 Show Reel - A compilation of recent CGI work.




Branit|vfx 2008 Show Reel - This is the television, feature film and commercial work.



Branitvfx - Kansas City, MO

Twitter: @BranitVFX
Facebook: Branitvfx

Ever had the feeling of your life flashing before you? Chris Milk has put together a great short film doing just this from birth to, well you know where it ends. He has captured the moments and pace so well that its easily comparable to your own memories, to a certain point in your life of course. I like to think I got a few years left in me...



Quicktime version
chrismilk.com/42/

Main Site: Click here

Produced for the 42 Second Dream Film Festival
Beijing China 2009
42x42.com

Written and Directed by Chris Milk
Produced by Samantha Storr
Associate Producer Brad O'Connor
Music Chris Milk
Photography Chris Milk
Editor Livio Sanchez
Production Designer Matthew Holt
Wardrobe Stylist Lydia Paddon
Makeup & Wardrobe Molly Paddon
Production Assistance Jason Baum
Production Assistance Clint Caluory
Telecine Dave Hussey
Sound Design Eddie Kim

Shot entirely on Lensbaby Lenses and Canon 5D Mark II SLR Camera

Makoto Yabuki - Japanese, works as a director/ art director at Tokyo, Japan. He started his career as a visual designer in 1997, and joined TANGRAM.co.ltd at its establishment in 2003 as director. His artistic range is expansive; among his recent works are "scope", "MANAKAI", and "CONFINE(S)". His works have been presented in film festivals such as SIGGRAPH, onedotzero, artfutura, ARS Electronica.

Yet another lovely piece of abstract work by Makoto Yabuki. Beautifully capturing a tranquil meditative feel throughout the sequence. Accompanied by a soft sensual soundtrack.

AS ONE from makoto yabuki on Vimeo.

VIEW MAIN SITE

This is one of those people who you could listen to for hours, calm, thougthful and a very inspiring approach to work and life. At the grand old age of 92 I'm sure he has seen a few things. Listen and enjoy.

I.M. Pei discussing Louis Kahn.



I. M. Pei FAIA, RIBA Founder
Ieoh Ming Pei was born in China in 1917, the son of a prominent banker. At age 17 he came to the United States to study architecture, and received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from MIT in 1940. Upon graduation he was awarded the Alpha Rho Chi Medal, the MIT Traveling Fellowship, and the AIA Gold Medal. In 1942, Pei enrolled in the Harvard Graduate School of Design where he studied under Walter Gropius; six months later, he volunteered his services to the National Defense Research Committee in Princeton. Pei returned to Harvard in 1944 and completed his M.Arch in 1946, simultaneously teaching on the faculty as an assistant professor (1945–48). Awarded the Wheelwright Traveling Fellowship by Harvard in 1951, he traveled extensively in England, France, Italy and Greece. I. M. Pei became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1954.

In 1948, William Zeckendorf invited Mr. Pei to accept the newly created post of Director of Architecture at Webb & Knapp, a real estate development corporation, resulting in many large-scale architectural and planning projects across the country. In 1955 he formed the partnership of I. M. Pei & Associates, which became I. M. Pei & Partners in 1966, and Pei Cobb Freed & Partners in 1989. The partnership received the 1968 Architectural Firm Award of the American Institute of Architects.

Read More at Source

Thanks to Chris Rossi for introducing this to me.

A great explanation of how you should approach any given project/client. I've heard on many occasions that "I should think outside the box" but they don't always mean that or need that. What they do need is a logical approach and solution to a given problem.

Brent from Starving Designer will now explain...



Check out Starvingdesigner.com

Evan Roth photographed more than 2,400 graffiti tags in Paris and then cataloged the images by letter.


The site shows a selection of tags each containing one of the ten most used letters to illustrate the wide range of styles. Graffiti Taxonomy is a graffiti-based study in which characters are isolated from a collection of graffiti tags that were photographed in the same geographic region.

Todd Vanderlin built a tag visualizer for all of the graffiti photos taken for the study. The visualizer show the relationships between the letters within the tags. You can investigate the letter down to its location in the original photograph. The project was a blast to work on. The exhibit looks amazing, congratulations Evan!

VIEW PROJECT HERE

Graffiti Taxonomy: Paris, 2009 from Evan Roth on Vimeo.

VIEW PROJECT HERE

Client: The Cartier Foundation
Agency: Spill.net
Production: Robert F. Houlihan
Development: Todd Vanderlin
Artist: Evan Roth

Great visuals and use of water colour textures in these Ads by Shell.

Shell: Fuel Economy


Shell: Performance: V Power

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Ad Agency: JWT London
City/State/Country: London, England, UK
Group Creative Director: Jasper Shelbourne
Art Directors: Andy Huntindon, Martin Smith
Head of Production: Dean Baker
Assistant Producer: Jack Bayley

Production Company: Stardust Studios
City/State/Country: Bicoastal, USA
Director/Creative Director: Alan Bibby
Live Action Producer: Rich Kaylor
Director of Photography: Brian Newman
Executive Producer: Mike Eastwood
Head of Production: Beth Vogt
Senior Producer: Greg Heffron
Assistant Producer: Ryan McRee
Editor: Andrew Borin
Designers: Aaron Mauer, Julene Bello, Oliver Schroeder, Danny Ruiz, Dustin Lindblad, Bryan Louie
Storyboard Artist/Illustrator: Glenn Urieta
3D Modeling/Lighting/Animation: Mark Rohrer
Tracking: Weichieh Yu
2D Animators/Compositors: Tim Regan, Tonya Smay, Marco Giampaolo ,Rick Malwitz
Roto: J Bush, Ghazia Jalal, Kristian Mercado, Jordan Harvey, Carlos Rosario, Mattaniah Yip, Tiffany Germann, Howard P. Cabalfin, Constance Conrad, Thomas Horne

Telecine Company: The Mill
City/State/Country: New York, NY, USA
Colorist: Damien Van Der Cruyssen

Music Company: Publisher: Warner Chappell
City/State/Country: London, UK
Composer: Alison Goldfrapp and William Gregory

Final Mix Company: Jungle Studios
City/State/Country: London, UK
Mixer: Owen Griffiths

Animation for the horror genre. Creative studio Nathan Love and Perspective Studios hope to expand this trailer into a feature film, videogame and/or graphic novel.


Watch trailer: click here

STORY
Lauren Indovina: Nathan Love’s background in edgy, blood soaked character stories like “Rabbitard,” combined with an ass-kicking body of high end CG makes you guys a perfect partner for Blood Trail. Can you tell us a little bit about how you were approached with the project?

It’s funny—a few weeks before this project came to us, we started talking about our next dream-job… something that we had never done before: ultra violent and really gory. Then, out of the blue we were approached by Perspective Studios. They asked us to design and produce a trailer for a feature length script called ‘Blood Trail.’ The initial concept was to create an engaging piece to help sell screenwriter Matt Cochran’s vision of horror. They definitely came to the right place.

How much creative license was given to Nathan in developing the story and the style?

Perspective gave almost complete creative license on this one. They basically introduced us to Matt and said, “Have fun.” Working with Matt was awesome. Originally, he wasn’t sure which approach to take: live-action/mo-cap, or straight-out animation. One thing was clear though, he wanted it to be unique. We were able to convince him that a very stylized, hand-animated approach would really make this piece exciting, intriguing, and powerful.

The collaboration between screenplay writer Matt Cochran and Nathan Love seems to have been an important one. How has working with a writer been helpful to a character animation-based story studio like Nathan?

Working with a writer was like having a map to your destination—in having Matt’s ideas to follow, we were able to concentrate on the characters’ designs and really nail their personalities. He spent years working on the screenplay and developing the world of Blood Trail, so he had a clear idea on where it should go. The structure gave us more room to focus on formal issues of film-making, artistry, and kick-ass animation. Source Article.

Storyboards and Development






More at source

The stunning Citroen GT concept car, designed by Polyphony Digital, stops traffic as it cruises the streets of London.

60 second version of the new driven spot courtesy nike and lance armstrong. part of the "it's about you" campaign.



Nike and the Lance Armstrong Foundation joined forces in an integrated media and grassroots campaign featuring Lance Armstrong, world-class athletes, celebrities and survivors, in a call-to-action to join the global fight against cancer. The campaign, “It’s About You,” includes a TV commercial, “Driven” and a collection of digital short films featuring inspirational cancer stories.

Athletes to be featured include Jon Lester, Sanya Richards and LaShawn Merritt, as well as actors Patrick Dempsey and Evan Handler, and other cancer survivors including three-time Iditarod winner Lance Mackey and Sean Swarner who is the first cancer survivor to summit Mt. Everest. (source)

The new Levi's America "Go Forth" commercial features the American poet Walt Whitman and lines from his 1888 poem "America". The new Levi's campaign launches in time for the Fourth.



Client: Levi's
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, Portland
Executive Creative Director: Mark Fitzloff, Susan Hoffman
Creative Director: Danielle Flagg, Tyler Whisnand
Copywriter: Julia Oh, Rudy Adler
Agency Executive Producer: Ben Grylewicz
Agency Producer: Jeff Selis
Production Company: Anonymous Content
Director: Cary Fukunaga
Executive Producer: Danielle Peretz
Line Producer: Joe Mandarino
Director of Photography: Darren Lew
Editorial Company: Joint Editorial, Rock Paper Scissors
Editor: Elliot Graham
VFX Company: a52
VFX Supervisor: Pat Murphy
Sound Mix: Eleven Sound
Poem: America
Poet: Walt Whitman
Music Artist: Final Fantasy
Song: The CN Tower Belongs To The Dead

An album site with interactive visualizations of books. This microsite for Singapore-based band Concave Scream's newest album, "Soundtrack for a Book," lets users manipulate visualizations of classic books, adjust colors and create wallpapers. My first response at seeing this was of Aaron Koblins work for Radiohead.

It's all very entertaining and clever, let's face it we're in an age where data visualisation will only increase whether you like it or not. Whether that be crime figures of a particular area to the latest polls. All of which help communicate complex data for our Simple Minds (and thats another band don't you know...) You could find yourself on these sites a little longer than you had originally planned, no not because your browser (IE version something or another) has locked up but simply because you'll enjoy playing with the data.

In Radiohead's new video for "House of Cards", no cameras or lights were used. Instead, 3D plotting technologies collected information about the shapes and relative distances of objects. The video was created entirely with visualizations of that data.






However back to 'Soundtrack for a book'. It marks the band's first attempt at producing a fully instrumental album devoid of any vocals. It consists of nine tracks seamlessly stitched together to form one continuous flowing soundscape, aurally invoking a rollercoaster ride of emotions. This detour of an album was born out of the band's curiosity and keenness to explore and discover new grounds. If music is a journey, then this album is certainly an attempt to encapsulate that feeling.

'Soundtrack for a book' is packaged in recycled pre-owned storybooks which are individually numbered. Each book is unique and no two are alike, emphasizing the band's wish for the album to be experienced on a personal, heart-felt level.



Go to the Main Site.

'Soundtrack for a book' is produced by: Concave Scream & Philip Wong
Recorded and mixed by Philip Wong & Concave Scream at Soundberg Studio. Sept 2008.
masterde by Roger Seibel at SAE Analog & Digital Mastering Services. Oct 2008
Written by: Pann - Guitars / Sean - Guitars . Dean - Drums / Wan - Bass
Design and artdirection by Kinectic Singapore

Fine Art Limited Edition Giclee Prints - The Official Posters Set of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games


The official poster is one of the most coveted collector’s items of the Olympic Games and has had a place in history starting with the first Games poster in 1912.

The Vancouver 2010 official poster represents both the beauty of the Host Region and the spirit of Canada’s Games. Cropped within the shape of a maple leaf, the bold Vancouver 2010 graphics are inspired by Canada’s cultural and environmental diversity as well as the energy and spirit of the Canadian people.

For the first time in history, both the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games official posters are represented in a unified manner; when displayed together, the two halves of the maple leaf join to create a whole.

Created by hand using paint and mixed media prior to digital composition, the techniques employed to produce the original piece of art complement the modern and dynamic style of the Vancouver 2010 graphics... read more

The Official Poster of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games


The Official Poster of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games


The Vancouver 2010 Official Souvenir Program.


A Path of Northern Lights: The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays, Collector's Edition



Main Website: vancouver2010.com

Client: Vancouver 2010
Designer: Ben Hulse

syn·es·the·sia syn·aes·the·sia (sĭn'ĭs-thē'zhə)

A condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualization of a color.

A sensation felt in one part of the body as a result of stimulus applied to another, as in referred pain.

The description of one kind of sense impression by using words that normally describe another.

Synesthesia from Terri Timely on Vimeo.

Check out Main Site here.