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.
“Se7en” Turns 30, Gets A Special Restoration From David Fincher For Its Re-Release
For David Fincher, seeing “Se7en” in 4K was an experience he can only describe as harrowing. That or a high school reunion.
“There are definitely moments that you go, ‘What was I thinking?’ Or ‘Why did I let this person have that hairdo’?” Fincher said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.
He’s OK with the film being a product of its time in most respects. But some things just could not stand in high-definition resolution.
“It was a little decrepit, to be honest,” said Fincher. “We needed to resuscitate it. There are things you can see in 4K HDR that you cannot see on a film print.”
Ever the perfectionist, he and a team got to work on a new restoration of the film for its 30th anniversary re-release. This weekend the restored “Se7en” will play on IMAX screens for the first time in the U.S. and Canada, and on Jan. 7, the 4K UHD home video version will be available as well.
The dark crime thriller written by Andrew Kevin Walker and starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman as a pair of detectives looking for a serial killer was somewhat of a career-reviver for Fincher, whose directorial debut “Alien 3” had not gone well. “Se7en” was not a sure thing: It was made for only $34 million (and only got that when Fincher managed to persuade studio execs to give up $3 million more). But it went on to earn more than $327 million, not accounting for inflation, and continues to influence the genre.
Fincher has over the years overseen several restorations of the film (including one for laser disc) but decided this needed to be the last. It’s why he insisted on an 8K scan that they could derive the 4K from. He wanted to ensure that it wouldn’t have to be repeated when screens get more... Read More