Tom Rossano and Elliot Blanchard have teamed to launch PRISM, a Brooklyn-based production company and creative studio. For its first project, the new venture created the holiday window “Peace Love Joy + Analog” for the Barneys flagship in downtown Manhattan. Mashing up traditional animation, throwback CG and vintage analog effects, PRISM crafted a visual hybrid that brought the windows alive with bold, graphic splendor.
Rossano had been executive producer at Hungry Man from its beginning and then a partner at Station Film. He has produced commercials for a variety of brands including Febreze, Burger King, BMW, Mercedes, Optimum Xfinity, Kayak, ESPN SportsCenter, Progressive and Budweiser.
Blanchard is a director who’s built his career on a foundation of animation and code. Blanchard established Invisible Light Network, an integrated creative studio where he has worked with clients including MTV, IBM, UNICEF, Vitamin Water, GE, Target, Sony, Lexus, AmEx, Pepsi, CoverGirl and Google.
Whether Blanchard is working within two or three dimensions, he morphs the role of passive viewer into active participant. This includes turning the human voice into wearable art for an event at Oracle; creating his app “VR Loops,” which allows users to make their own virtual reality worlds that can be shared via animated GIF; and creating an immersive 360 visual experience for HP, which brought thousands of Panorama Music Festival-goers on a journey through time and space in a 69-foot dome.
Rossano and Blanchard have assembled a collective of PRISM directors, artists, producers, animators, and designers, with expertise in traditional commercial/branded content, emerging technologies, VR, and live interactive experiences and installations.
The firm’s name PRISM is a nod to the diverse mix of artistic perspectives represented on the roster, which includes Blanchard, Alex Vivian, Corey Eisenstein, Darius Clark Monroe, Elise Tyler, and Julian Ungano.
“I’ve always wanted to bring live action into the mix, so meeting Tom was serendipitous,” said Blanchard. “He was coming at it from a mirror image, looking for a partner with his level of experience, but in the world of emerging technologies. We both found the missing puzzle piece.”
Rossano added, “Even with all the cutting-edge ways we have to engage consumers in this new attention landscape, at the end of the day it still comes down to story, talent and execution. A good story needs a good storyteller and no matter what type of technology comes along, this will never change. Each one of our directors has a fresh point of view and the passion to boldly go forward in pursuit of that original vision. We are inspired by them daily.”
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More