DRAWINGS COME TO LIFE FOR UPS UPS’ ongoing “Whiteboard” campaign out of The Martin Agency, Richmond, Va., takes on a new dimension with its latest batch of spots as the drawings on the whiteboard–penned by on-camera spokesman Andy Azula, The Martin Agency’s creative director on the UPS account–come to life. For example in “Conveyer Belt,” one of five new commercials recently debuting on air, we see conveyer belts moving on a U.S. map. When Azula expands this to a global map, assorted new conveyer belts are put into motion worldwide. Then the UPS logo drawn by Azula is turned as if it’s a knob, causing the speed of the conveyer belts to increase. The campaign also introduces other characters into the Whiteboard world.
“We feel the new work retains the ‘Whiteboard’ equity for UPS–allowing us to describe complex systems in very simple ways,” said Azula. “But this year we’re able to take on even more complex problems as the whiteboard comes ‘alive’ and other characters appear talking about issues many UPS customers face–then we get to illustrate the solution.”
The campaign is designed to send customers to the microsite, ups.com/whiteboard.
The five new :30s–“Conveyer Belt,” “Pallets,” “Paperless” “Air Freight” and “Signatures”–were directed by Henry Lu of bicoastal/international Moxie Pictures. The DP was Jesse Green.
Editor was Kim Bica of bicoastal Lost Planet, with visual effects from Ring of Fire, Santa Monica.
COMPASS CHARTS COURSE TO EFFECTS OSCAR The Golden Compass proved worthy of the golden statuette, a coveted Oscar, for best visual effects. While effects studios around the world were involved in the film, four lead artisans on the feature received Academy Awards last month: visual effects supervisor Bill Westenhofer of Rhythm + Hues Studios, Los Angeles; effects supervisor Ben Morris of Framestore CFC, London; special effects supervisor Trevor Wood; and the film’s overall visual effects supervisor Michael Fink.
The Oscar comes on the heels of The Golden Compass, which was directed by Chris Weitz, earning best visual effects honors at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards. Also earlier this year in the U.S., Rhythm + Hues won a Scientific and Technical Academy Award for the development of its fluid simulation tools which were featured in the daemon death sequence of The Golden Compass, as well as assorted other movies….
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Chris Willoughby has come aboard Irvine, Calif.-based Shelter as a partner and lead editor. At his new roost, he wrapped a Del Taco spot, “Annoying,” for agency Brainsaw in Tustin, Calif. Willoughby’s past affiliations include post house Space Division and new media firm ARTiFACT, both of which he co-owned. He also founded editing/design company Two Headed Monster. Over the years Willoughby has cut commercials for such clients as Coca-Cola, Nike, Apple and adidas, as well as music videos featuring Michael Jackson and Madonna, among others….Tiffany Kosel has been promoted to creative director at Crispin Porter+Bogusky, which has offices in Miami and Boulder, Colo. She originally joined the agency in ’02 and has turned out notable work for Burger King, the American Legacy Foundation, MINI and Victoria’s Secret. She now heads up the American Express OPEN account…..
