SHORT CUTS
A52, Los Angeles, provided visual effects for a Broadwing :30 entitled "IP Love." The ad, created by Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulous, Boston, features actor and 1960s icon Dennis Hopper talking about how Broadwing "built the world’s first all-optical network." Hopper ends the semi-rant with "This is their love child, man." A52’s Simon Brewster was Inferno artist, Scott Johnson and Ben Looram were Henry artists, Liz Roewe was executive producer, and Susan Thurmond and Jessica Stockton were producers. Freelancers Marla Carter and Ali Leventhal worked on the rig removal. The commercial was directed by Mehdi Norowzian of bicoastal/international Chelsea Pictures.
New York-based Black Logic directed and completed visual effects for Datek Online’s "Built to Trade" (:60/:30), via Bozell, New York. Directed by Black Logic’s Michel Suissa, the direct response ad features Datek CEO Ed Nicoll as spokesman in a virtual CG world. Black Logic credits also include executive producer Karen Stewart; producer Michele Dunn; DP Kevin Jones; and visual effects artists Patrick Ferguson, Cari Chadwick and Brian Benson.
IXL Digital Video Group, New York, caused heads to spin for Pizza Hut and BBDO New York. "Head Turn" (:30) features Penn & Teller proving that Pizza Hut Stuffed Crust is "the one and only pizza you can eat backwards." In "Knives" (:30), Teller survives a barrage of flying steel cutlery aimed at him by Penn. Credits for iXL go to senior visual effects artist/Flame artist Doug Dimon, Flame artists Lynn Gelmann and Sheldon Smith, and executive producer Robin Horlick. Both commercials were directed by Jesse Dylan of bicoastal Straw Dogs.
MUSIC NOTES
Jun Mizumachi of Howard Schwartz Recording (HSR), New York, created sound design for the Partnership for a Drug-Free America’s "Huffing," via the Wolf Group, New York. Mizumachi, who also acted as music producer on the PSA, utilized a Synclavier, Sherman Filter Bank, Filter Factory, Korg Triton synthesizer, Nord, and software including Metasynth, GRM tools, and Peak to create sounds which are dark and ominous. HSR’s Kevin O’Leary mixed the track on an SSL console, with Steve Rosen as engineer. "Huffing" was directed by Robert Hales of bicoastal Mars Media.
Cuppa Joe Music has expanded its music and audio mixing facility. The Dallas-headquartered firm now encompasses four suites and has purchased three SSL 96-input Axiom consoles, and four 48-track Fairlight editors. All suites are capable of all Surround formats, including 7.1, 5.1 and Dolby Surround. Cuppa Joe has also embarked on a new venture: producing and recording new musical artists. Among the company’s first signings to the new division are Dallas-based Afro-Cuban jazz band Norte De Havana, Alabama country band Drive South, and rapper ACE MC.
