Unveiled today at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the Saatchi & Saatchi 25th Annual New Directors’ Showcase featured far-flung settings and storylines–ranging from a delivery man/astronaut’s impact on a fictitious microscopic other world all the way to the sobering reality of an earthbound “hotel on wheels” for homeless people.
The latter scenario from documentary filmmaker Elizabeth Lo puts us literally on board a public bus in Silicon Valley, Calif., a corner of the world known for its innovation and affluence. However, this overnight bus shows another population in the high-tech capital of the world–the homeless passengers who ride the 24/7 bus in the dead of night so they can sleep in shelter during the 90-minute commute from San Jose to Palo Alto. The homeless pay the fare, often multiple times, to stay aboard their hotel on wheels much of the night. In fact the Line 22 bus is referred to in the region as “Hotel 22.”
Lo learned of Hotel 22 while a film student at Stanford University in Palo Alto. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 75 percent of the 7,500-plus homeless people in the Silicon Valley are not in shelters, the highest rate among the nation’s major cities.
The short film, aptly titled Hotel 22, was shot over the course of a week and edited to represent what Lo–who is currently unaffiliated with a production company–described as being “a composite night” on the bus. Hotel 22 checked her into the Saatchi Showcase as a promising new directorial talent.
In sharp contrast to the stark reality of Hotel 22, the animated short Johnny Express takes us on a trip through the galaxy along with a work ethic-challenged astronaut/delivery man. Among his packages is a microscopic parcel which has to be delivered to an infinitesimal community on a distant planet. As the delivery gent haphazardly steps about, he is oblivious to the fact that he is causing chaos on the tiny inhabitants beneath his feet.
Kyungmin Woo of Seoul, Korea-based production house Alfred Imageworks directed and animated the comedic, havoc-filled Johnny Express, which earned the filmmaker inclusion in the Saatchi Showcase.
Music videos
Music videos were prevalent in the mix of work helping to earn several directors their slots in this year’s Saatchi Showcase.
The helming team of Chandler Levack & Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux was selected on the strength of Pup’s “Guilt Trip” music video. The directorial duo is handled by Reprobates in the U.S. and OB Management in the U.K.
Charlie Robins was chosen for the Klangkarussell music clip “Netzwerek (Falls Like Rain).” Robins is with Forever Pictures, London.
Director Dent de Cuir of Caviar made the Showcase thanks to the DyE music video titled “She’s Bad.” Caviar has bases of operation in L.A., London, Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris.
Dexter Navy of bicoastal/international Partizan garnered a Showcase slot for A$SAP Rocky’s “L$D” music clip.
Factory Fifteen, the directing collective co-founded by Kibwe Tavares, Jonathan Gales and Paul Nicholls, gained Showcase inclusion for video work spanning The Bug songs “Function” featuring Manga and “Void” featuring Liz Harris (of Grouper). Factory Fifteen directed the combined “Function/Void” video short in collaboration with production company/digital studio Nexus, London.
Director Helmi took a Showcase slot for Tiga’s music video “Bugatti.” Helmi is handled by production house Division Paris.
Director Young Replicant (Alex Takacs) made the Showcase grade for Flying Lotus’ video “Coronus, The Terminator.” Young Replicant is on the roster of bicoastal/international Pulse Films.
And rounding out the music video fare was Siska’s “Unconditional Rebel” directed by Guillaume Panariello of La Planete Rouge, a production house based in France. This slow-motion video was shot at 1,000 frames per second with a Phantom Flex 4K from a car driven at 50km an hour, producing a living, dreamlike mural effect.
Rest of lineup
Maria Takeuchi and Frederico Phillips scored for their experimental project as·phyx·i·a which used the Xbox One Kinect for motion data capture.
Eric Kissack earned his Showcase slot for the western comedy short film The Gunfighter. Kissack recently came aboard the roster of bicoastal/international production company HeLo.
Ben Knight of Felt Soul Media, Denver, had his Denali, a short film on the bond between a man and his dog, resonate with Saatchi judges.
And Yvan Fabing of Matter Productions, London, earned Showcase inclusion for a Garage spring collection fashion video.
Experimental, commemorative intro
The Saatchi New Directors’ Showcase class of 2015 was revealed after the premiere of 25×25, a 25-minute film created by 25 New Directors’ Showcase alumni, each of whom was given a brief with the following requirements–create a 60-second film which ends with a prop from his or her original Showcase film. The next director in the chain is to start their :60 with the preceding director’s prop. Collectively these minute-long films connected sequentially by props form 25×25: An Experiment in Film, helping to celebrate and commemorate the Showcase’s 25-year anniversary.
The 25 directors behind 25×25 were Daniel Kleinman, Dawn Shadforth, Floria Sigismondi, Jonathan Glazer, Michel Gondry, Ivan Zacharias, Traktor, Dante Ariola, Ringan Ledwidge, Antoine Bardou-Jacquet, Carl Erik Rinsch, Noam Murro, Tim Bullock, Dougal Wilson, James Rouse, Jamie Rafn, Fredrik Bond, Philippe Andre, Jake Scott, Ne-o, David Wilson, Daniel Wolf, Ilya Naishuller, Vania Heymann and a member of this year’s class, Charlie Robins.
“The film 25×25 is a celebration to thank the amazing directors who have made the New Directors’ Showcase possible,” said Pablo Del Campo, worldwide creative director of Saatchi & Saatchi. “It is testament to the enduring influence of the Showcase on both commercial and experimental film.”
Director Jake Scott commented: “As accolades go, I think being selected for the New Directors’ Showcase was of the highest honor. When you’re just starting out and full of enthusiasm, but also self-doubt, an affirmation like this is fantastically energizing to your confidence! It’s inspiring to see the selections made each year and even a little intimidating. I still think it’s one of the most interesting aspects of the festival.”
Andy Gulliman, producer of 25×25 and Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide director of film and content, stated. “The New Directors’ Showcase has mapped the cultural and commercial zeitgeist in each of its 25 years, and how it has shifted according to the tastes and technologies of the times. The willingness of each of the 25 directors to contribute to this experiment in film for the New Directors’ Showcase underscores the value of promoting emerging creative talent.”
Saatchi & Saatchi 25th Annual New Directors’ Showcase Reel
View at YouTube here: https://youtu.be/pf9l2ty9MKw?list=PLF7d1xtygFgBXhve0zRkSpcfhFRB7GEjY
