SHORT CUTS
Pete Kasko of Moondog, New York, edited a spot for J.Lo’s "Glow" perfume via Select Communications, New York. "Enlightenment" (:30/:15/:10 and cinema versions) features young girls shown through mist, calling out in anticipation and excitement for the fragrance. The commercial was directed by Dominique Isserman of New York-based Link Entertainment. Cynthia Clegg was assistant editor for Moondog.
Hollywood-headquartered yU + co conceived and designed the global brand identity for Sony’s new Wega plasma screen optical engine. The new branding is being used to support the launch of the Wega Engine in Japan, with rollouts in others markets, including the U.S. to follow. The package was done for Dentsu, Tokyo, Sony’s Japanese ad agency. The key element in the brand identity package is the Wega Engine motion graphics logo, executed by yU lead 3-D designer Bryan Thombs. Conceived by creative director Garson Yu and designed by Yu with 2-D designer Yolanda Santosa, the logo opens with a "V" composed of bonded circular molecules in scanline. A second "V" described in smooth, clear lines forms out of the first; the two then join to form a "W" as the phrase Wega Engine appears below. Additional yU + co credits go to executive producer Carol Wong.
Rhythm & Hues Studios, Los Angeles, worked on the production and created visual effects for Nestle Crunch’s "RocketCash," for Dailey & Associates, West Hollywood. The :30 features NBA star Shaquille O’Neal appearing on a bus stop shelter wall, querying a young man as to whether he wants "Crunchy stuff." The ad promotes Nestle’s "RocketCash" system wherein one can use the "money" to buy or win prizes by checking Nestle Crunch wrappers. Rhythm & Hues credits to go director Michael Patterson, executive producer Oliver Fuselier, head of production Kat Dillon, producer Sydney Artman, production designer/art director Walter Martishius, DP David Stockton, visual effects supervisor/lead Flame artist Tim Miller, postproduction head of production Michael Theurer, postproduction supervisor Caroline Heyward, editor Michael D’Ambrosio, assistant editor Tim Deleone, Flame artist Justin Blaustein, CGI director John Mark Austin, CGI producer Deborah Austin, and digital artists Jesse Toves and Dennis Greenlaw.
MUSIC NOTES
Top Shelf Recording, New York, composed the tracks for a package of ads promoting Castrol’s NFL Ultimate Fan Vacation. Created by Ogilvy & Mather, New York, "Touchdown," "Touchdown/Adam" and "Touchdown/Trent" feature fans celebrating in their own unique way. The commercials were directed by Chris Nelson of Ritts/Hayden, Los Angeles. Top Shelf’s Rob Hart composed the track for the commercials.
Steve Ford of Chicago-headquartered Steve Ford Music created the music for "Obit #1 Killer," a PSA for the American Heart Association via Meyer & Wallis, Milwaukee. Directed by Bob Ebel of Ebel Productions, Chicago, the :30 features a grandfather reading a story to his granddaughter. As the voiceover points out that "heart disease is still the number one killer in America," an obituary is shown over the face of the little girl: "Lisa Ann Evans, age 4, died of heart disease." Sound design for the spot was done by Tim Butler of Chicago Recording Company.
IN GEAR
Post Logic Studios, Hollywood and Santa Monica, has acquired the Quantel iQ system with nine hours of 2k storage. In addition to its feature film mastering and digital intermediate work, Post Logic also plans on expanding its HD capabilities due to the iQ’s scalable, multi-format, Resolution co-existence, openness and speed. According to Merle Sharp, Post Logic’s director of engineering, one of the deciding factors for the company’s acquisition of the iQ was its ability to perform pan-and-scans for 2k data, due to the various aspect ratios of film mastering. Most recently, Post Logic used the iQ to conform, output and pan-and-scan in high definition the upcoming Adam Sandler feature Eight Crazy Nights, and prior to that, the company did the pan-and-scans for Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams.
