Even though “The Best Work You May Never See” gallery is now in its 10th year, the positive charge still resonates for SHOOT when a spot recognized in that gallery goes on to gain wider spread attention.
In September, the Idaho Lottery’s offbeat “Twister” spot earned “Best Work” distinction and now three months later it has been nominated for an Annie Award, recognizing excellence in animation. Directed by Christopher Hinton of Hollywood-based Acme Filmworks for agency es/drake in Boise, “Twister” is one of five nominees in the TV commercial category (SHOOT, 12/7) as selected by judges from the International Animated Film Society, a.k.a. ASIFA-Hollywood. The winning spot will be announced and honored during the Annie Awards gala on Feb. 8 at UCLA’s Royce Hall.
“Twister” is a charming, tongue-in-cheek, largely black-and-white animation :30, which opens on a ringing Idaho Lottery office phone that is picked up by a female receptionist. On the line is a man who says he saw the new Twister scratcher game cards in the store, which prompted him to come up with an idea for a TV commercial promoting the Idaho Lottery’s new game that carries a $30,000 payoff.
The guy’s head turns into a light bulb, connoting the proverbial inspired idea. He explains his spot storyline to the receptionist, an ad scenario that is brought to life via Hinton’s unique brand of animation. The man with the plan explains that a dot builder, whom we see with trusty hammer at the ready, is all set to play Twister. Since he makes the colored dots on the Twister board–causing players to contort their bodies in different directions–it figures that he should be masterful at the game and a leading candidate to win the 30 grand.
But these best laid plans are scuttled as our idea man relates that a “ginormous octopus alien” arrives on scene and uses its far reaching tentacles to out-twist the now caped superhero Twister man and win the top prize. The octopus then uses the money to repair its spaceship.
The receptionist, seen mindlessly twirling her hair, says succinctly that this idea “would never make it on television” and proceeds to burst the light bulb that emerges from her ear. (The idea started with the man, apparently made its way through the phone receiver and went in one ear of the receptionist and out the other.) The guy responds, “That wasn’t necessary,” referring to the manner in which the receptionist summarily dismissed his concept.
An end tag shows us an animated version of the scratcher game piece along with the Idaho Lottery website address.
Hinton said he was drawn to the project primarily for the “creative freedom” the agency team afforded him. They presented Hinton with a basic script and then an audio recording of the voices in the phone conversation. “I put together a rough animatic based on all of that, and they accepted my interpretation, adding a few suggestions.”
The agency team that entrusted Hinton consisted of creative directors Joe Quatrone and Dennis Budell and producer Lisa Hawkes.
Netflix Series “The Leopard” Spots Classic Italian Novel, Remakes It As A Sumptuous Period Drama
"The Leopard," a new Netflix series, takes the classic Italian novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa and transforms it into a sumptuous period piece showing the struggles of the aristocracy in 19th-century Sicily, during tumultuous social upheavals as their way of life is crumbling around them.
Tom Shankland, who directs four of the eight episodes, had the courage to attempt his own version of what is one of the most popular films in Italian history. The 1963 movie "The Leopard," directed by Luchino Visconti, starring Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon and Claudia Cardinale, won the Palme d'Or in Cannes.
One Italian critic said that it would be the equivalent of a director in the United States taking "Gone with the Wind" and turning it into a series, but Shankland wasn't the least bit intimidated.
He said that he didn't think of anything other than his own passion for the project, which grew out of his love of the book. His father was a university professor of Italian literature in England, and as a child, he loved the book and traveling to Sicily with his family.
The book tells the story of Don Fabrizio Corbera, the Prince of Salina, a tall, handsome, wealthy aristocrat who owns palaces and land across Sicily.
His comfortable world is shaken with the invasion of Sicily in 1860 by Giuseppe Garibaldi, who was to overthrow the Bourbon king in Naples and bring about the Unification of Italy.
The prince's family leads an opulent life in their magnificent palaces with servants and peasants kowtowing to their every need. They spend their time at opulent banquets and lavish balls with their fellow aristocrats.
Shankland has made the series into a visual feast with tables heaped with food, elaborate gardens and sensuous costumes.... Read More