Hyper-Realistic Soundscapes, Add Tension and Dimension to Ironic Storyboards
Sonixphere, a global resource for everything connected to music and sound, literally had a blast teaming with Olson Agency, Minneapolis, and Optimus/ONE, Chicago, adding complex sound design and music to a pair of slice-of-life spots for US Bank that position the bank as a sure thing in a world rife with risk. nnHyper-realistic soundscapes, created by the award-winning team at Sonixphere, add another dimension to the action raising the tension level within the storyboards. Original music at the back ends of both spots punctuates the irony-injected dialog and provides an upbeat ending. Airing nationally, the campaign depicts two bold US Bank customers who have high-risk jobs, but take no risks when it comes to their banking.nn”Sonixphere really helped these spots come to life,” says Vince Beggin, Group Creative Director for OLSON. “The sound design is very authentic and layered, and the music brought a whole new edge to the work.”n n”The creative team from Olson was very specific with what they wanted,” says Sonixphere CEO and Creative Director Greg Allan. “Our creative conversations inspired our perfectionist sound design team to create a theater of the mind by heightening the sonic reality throughout the spots through digitally-enhanced, authentic sounds that were meticulously detailed out by our lead sound designer David Van Slyke, who is based in L.A.”nnThe sonic wizardry created for U.S. Bank by Van Slyke, known for his long-running work on CSI, as well as trailers and feature films,includes an assortment of customized explosions for “Concert,” and industrial sounds for “High Rise,” all of which add impact and a sense of realness to the viewer experience.nnIn “Concert,” a producer pauses during a pyrotechnics rehearsal, looks into the camera and states, “I don’t like excitement while plumes of flames and geyser-like sparklers detonate behind him. Sonixphere created an epic feel to the storyboard by creating a series of sonically-enhanced explosions that were synchronized with the fireworks, and then layered in ADR background voices and multiple reverbs for energy.nn”When the music kicks in over the slow-mo shot at the end,” explains Allan, “we combined real sounds with slow-motion sound design to release the tension that builds throughout the spot.”nn
nnIn “High Rise,” the sister spot to “Concert,” a steel worker strides across an I-beam suspended high in the sky. Sparks from a blow torch sizzle up towards his feet as he says “I don’t like risk,” adding, “US Bank has shown me safe is the real thrill.” nn”The creative brief from the agency was to transform the predominantly VFX action of this spot into a super-sized real setting and ramp up the tension through the sound design,” says Allan. nn
n nVan Slyke elaborates on their approach. “Using sound design to simulate the feeling of height in the construction scene was very important to our clients,” he says. “By layering in city sounds, construction realism, and winds, we created the feeling of openness. We also enhanced the industrial sounds– like the pile driver – to make them resonate throughout the city below.”nnThe sound design team also detailed out many implied off-camera construction sounds to keep the industrial sounds consistent throughout the entire spot.nn”We reinforced the sonic branding of the campaign by making the spots musically consist Contact:
Greg Allan Sonixphere Creative Director Contact Greg via email
Contact:Media: Ro Lawrence Ro Lawrence PR Contact Ro via email
“ฦvolution” Comes Full Circle At The Chelsea Film Festival
The Chelsea Film Festival, running from October 16th through October 20th, 2024, at Regal Cinemas here in Union Square, is set to host the East Coast premiere of ฦvolution, a thought-provoking experimental micro-short film that proves big ideas can come in small packages and in perfect circles.
In just 1 minute 16 seconds, this cinematic gem by Award-Winning Director Romina Schwedler, with original music by Argentine Composer Ignacio Montoya Carlotto, explores a cycle as old as time: life leads to progress, progress leads to destruction, and destruction, well, leads back to life. But is this vicious circle unbreakable? ฦvolutionย suggests the answer is yes, unless we decide to open our eyes.
Inspired by the overwhelming number of recent events that threaten human existence,ย ฦvolution, possibly the shortest film in this 12th edition of the festival, plays out entirely through the symbolism of circles, cleverly illustrating โin the blink of an eyeโ the repeating patterns of history, and confronting viewers with the uncomfortable truth that our so-called โprogressโ may, in fact, be guiding us to our own ruin.Premiering at the Regal 14 Union Square, New York City, on October 18, 2024, at 11 a.m., Romina Schwedler's micro-short, featuring Leah Young with cinematography by Alan J. Carmona, will be sure to spark conversations longer than the film itself! Forcing viewers to reconsider the true meaning of evolution, not just as a biological process, but as a reflection of our collective journey as humans.
With a string of festival appearances across the globe, including CineGlobe at CERN (Switzerland/France), Oscarยฎ... Read More