The Partnership at Drugfree.org has launched a :30 PSA nationwide via DDB New York and The Colony.nnDirected by The Colony‘s David Gaddie, the spot features a teenager whose age increases and whose health deteriorates visibly during an unbroken monologue to camera. The effect was achieved through a combination of clever shoot techniques and subtle post production that leave audiences marveling.nnThe DDB brief called for viewers to arrive at the end of the spot, surprised to find themselves looking at an older, drug damaged teen, without noticing the changes as they happened. nnDirector David Gaddie says the concept provided an interesting challenge on a technical level, requiring him to deliver substantial aging and changes in appearance without using any obvious tricks. nn
nnGaddie came up with the idea of prerecording and locking the audio first so the actor could perfectly learn his lip sync. The team could then shoot many different matched passes to this audio, while the actor’s hair and makeup were altered between shots. The spot was shot in three main plates, from older to younger, and the actor’s hair was shortened between each plate, giving him a younger look. The footage was then reassembled in reverse order and seamlessly merged at The Colony‘s design, animation and VFX studio, Afterparty, to deliver a progression from younger to older and the illusion of aging “before your eyes”. nn”We were very pleased to contribute to this campaign. We started with a very clever script and a great performer in Ted Sutherland. We were also very lucky to have celebrated makeup designer Judy Chin [Black Swan] on board to build the illusion. Then we used very subtle post techniques to smooth, enhance and extend the shift in age and health.” nn
nnThe commercial was shot by New York DOP William Rexer. Digital effects were created by The Colony‘s design, animation and VFX studio, Afterparty. Sound design was contributed by Nylon Studios. nnCredits nClient: The Partnership at Drugfree.org (formerly the Partnership for a Drug-Free America)nnAgency: DDB, New YorknChief Creative Officer: Matt Eastwood; Group Creative Director: Rich Sharp; Group Creative Director: Mike Sullivan; Creative Director/Copywriter: Scott Cooney; Senior Art Director: Matt Knapp; Director of Broadcast Production: Ed Zazzera; Executive Producer: Walter Brindak; Management Supervisor: Kelly GorskynnProduction company: The ColonynDirector: David Gaddie; Director of Photography: William Rexer; Executive Producer: Angela Bowen; Producer: Zac Zimmerman; Editor: Nick CarewnnVFX: AfterpartynnSound Design: Nylon Studios nnThe Colony has offices in New York, Sydney and Shanghai.nnVisit The Colony at: www.the-colony.comnVisit Afterparty at: www.afterpartyvfx.com
Sharon Lew The Colony (646) 755-7373 x17 Contact Sharon via email
Contact:Hillary Herbst Hilly Reps Contact Hilary via email
Liz Charky Directs a Playful and Reflective Video For Henry Hall’s “Tiny Door”
Directed by Liz Charky, the music video for Henry Hall’s ‘Tiny Door’ is a playful and profound exploration of the song’s intriguing perspective on love. Silly moments and serious heartbreak are skillfully weaved together in a series of cheeky, dreamy, profound, and sometimes psychedelic scenes. “I am a huge fan of love songs that have an unusual, hyper-specific perspective on love,” says Hall. “That’s what I wanted to do with ‘Tiny Door.’ It’s about loving someone unconditionally while recognizing that love is something that isn’t always straightforward — I think that’s something we all attempt to come to terms with in our lives. I thought it was a unique yet universal detail about love and therefore an intriguing subject matter for a song. Even though the song is a ballad at its core, it still has a lighthearted sense of humor to it — that’s really portrayed well by Liz, and Ellin Aldana, our cinematographer.” Charky explains, “When I first listened to the song, I felt it was a love song full of longing with a kind of wishful melancholy. As I spoke with Henry about his intention behind the lyrics and sound, I was assured that I'd need to explore heartbreak in a nuanced way – with a degree of levity and playfulness. For me, falling in and out of love runs the full course of human expression. Love and heartbreak can be so emotionally intense and sometimes lonely, other times quite goofy or liberating. In developing the concept, I focused on both the literal and figurative ways that falling in and out of love might look like. So, you see Henry and co-star Franny Arnautou falling, flying, dancing, raging, winking, smiling, and... Read More