SHORT CUTS
Edgeworx, New York, finished three independent films at its digital postproduction facility. Brian Sloan’s Bumping Heads, Angela Robinson’s D.E.B.S. and Miles Kahn’s The Tool were all shot in high definition and posted in 24P at Edgeworx. The facility’s postproduction chores included graphics, color correction and finishing. Previously, Edgeworx had worked on the indy films The Kid Stay in the Picture, Blue Vinyl and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Anthony Marinelli of New York-headquartered Steel Rose Editorial cut four spots for The Wiz for the Wolf Group, New York. "People," "Sunday Circulars," "Product" and "Policy" all feature spokesman Michael Collins introducing viewers to "The New Wiz." Marinelli cut the commercials on the Avid, assisted by John Marinis. Ken Alvarez of sister shop Splash Design, New York, conformed the campaign using Avid DS. Skip D’Amico of bicoastal The Artists Company helmed the spots.
Click 3X, New York, produced a :30 for New York University using computer animation to show how its School of Continuing and Professional Studies helps busy students connect and "put it all together." "Connect the Dots," conceived by New York agency Seiter & Miller, represents NYU students as points on a vast grid. Lines animate to connect one person to the next, as a voiceover details their interrelations. As more people connect, the grid grows larger and more complex. Ultimately, the camera pulls back to reveal the grid marks the outline of New York’s Washington Square Arch. The arch becomes a solid and takes its place in NYU’s logo. Click 3X director/designer Susan Armstrong worked with lead animator Jim Collins in choreographing the animation. Their work included making a trip to Washington Square to photograph the real arch so that the animation could be matched to its detail. Armstrong also performed the compositing on the ad, which included several layers of computer animation to suggest that the grid goes on endlessly.
MUSIC NOTES
Composer Paul Riggio of Big Foote Music, New York, gave a fresh twist using a hip-hop beat to "Deck the Halls" for Coca-Cola’s holiday :30, "For Everyone." The commercial–created entirely from shots of Coke bottles, caps and other Coke-related items–was directed by Michael Schrom of Michael Schrom & Co., Long Island City, N.Y. Riggio was given the narrative of two alternating female voices and traditional stock music of "Deck the Halls" to sample. Using Emagic’s Logic software for digital audio and MIDI production, Riggio proceeded to filter the melody, chop it up and make it his own. Once he established a sound and tempo, Riggio time shifted elements of the carole to work with his tempo. He employed AutoFilter Logic plug-in to give a "wa" sound to the woodwind arrangement, then chopped it up to create a syncopated feeling, and added sampled drum kits and synthesizers. The ad was created by McCann-Erickson, New York. Additional Big Foote credits included sound designer Matt Hauser and producer Paul Seymour.
Fluid, New York, created sound design and sound effects to Young & Rubicam, New York, for Red Fusion’s "Last Drop," a Dr Pepper beverage. The :15 features sound design by Fred Szymanski, who used Pro Tools with a Mac G4, DSP Capybara 320 and a Yamaha 02R digital mixing board in the execution of the ad. Kevin Smith of Backyard Productions, Venice, Calif., directed.
IN GEAR
Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Company, Secaucus, N.J., has announced that its industry-standard D-5 HD multi-format/multi-standard mastering VTR–the AJ-HD3700–has been enhanced with new capabilities that make it a universal, international mastering recorder. The AJ-HD3700A VTR can record and playback both 625 PAL and 525 NTSC D-5 cassettes, as well as D-5 tapes from all previous versions of the VTR. It also provides full resolution 4:2:2 digital 10-bit component recording with 74.25 MHz (Y) and 37.125 MHz (Pb/Pr) sampling in HD formats to assure the picture quality of high-end applications. Additionally, the AJ-HD3700A can record and play back 1080/23.98p and 1080/24p HD formats.
Visual effects/editorial/transfer company Command Post Toybox West, Vancouver, B.C., has acquired Quantel‘s newest Resolution co-Existent editing and effects system, eQ. The HD nonlinear editing system allows 1080/24p, standard definition and DV in the same timeline with no rendering. The eQ also features the Henry and Paintbox effects and compositing capabilities, which includes tracking, color correction and title generation. Toybox West is a division of Command Post & Transfer Corporation. Its other divisions include visual effects shop Toybox, Toronto; Medallion-PFA Film-Video-Audio, Toronto, a film, video and audio services house; audio post arm Manta Sound, Toronto; and AlphaCine Motion Picture Laboratory, Vancouver.
