An Audi Q7 SUV whisks its way along a road in the midst of a winter wonderland. The snow covered thoroughfare runs through the middle of a forest and is littered with pine needles.
The vehicle propels the needles along, eventually leaving behind a trail of them in its speedy wake. But it’s not until the SUV arrives at its destination, a stately house decorated in holiday trimmings, that we have the proper context for the needles. The camera reveals what are the remains of an Xmas tree tied to the Q7’s roof, its branches stripped bare by the vehicles aerodynamic voyage.
“Needles” was directed by Douglas Avery of bicoastal Furlined for Venables Bell & Partners, San Francisco.
The agency team consisted of creative directors Paul Venables and Greg Bell, associate creative director Eric Liebhauser, art director Greg Wyatt, copywriter Mary Hernandez, director of broadcast production Craig Allen and producer Tamsin Prigge.
Avery’s support team at Furlined included managing director Diane McArter, executive producers Matt Factor and David Thorne, head of production Earl McDaniel and producer Matt Caltabiano. DP Toby Irwin shot the last scene of the vehicle pulling up to the house while DP Pascal Lebeque lensed the driving footage.
Editor was Bob Frisk of Phoenix Editorial and Designs, San Francisco. The rest of the Phoenix contingent included exec producer Jonathan Hinman, design creative director/motion graphics designer Matt Silverman, motion graphic designer/VFX artist Bobby Van Dyke, and VFX artist/online editor John Crossley.
Review: Director Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked”
It's the ultimate celebrity redemption tour, two decades in the making. In the annals of pop culture, few characters have undergone an image makeover quite like the Wicked Witch of the West.
Oh, she may have been vengeful and scary in "The Wizard of Oz." But something changed — like, REALLY changed — on the way from the yellow brick road to the Great White Way. Since 2003, crowds have packed nightly into "Wicked" at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre to cheer as the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba rises up on her broomstick to belt "Defying Gravity," that enduring girl-power anthem.
How many people have seen "Wicked"? Rudimentary math suggests more than 15 million on Broadway alone. And now we have "Wicked" the movie, director Jon M. Chu's lavish, faithful, impeccably crafted (and nearly three-hour) ode to this origin story of Elphaba and her (eventual) bestie — Glinda, the very good and very blonde. Welcome to Hollywood, ladies.
Before we get to what this movie does well (Those big numbers! Those costumes!), just a couple thornier issues to ponder. Will this "Wicked," powered by a soulful Cynthia Erivo (owner of one of the best singing voices on the planet) and a sprightly, comedic, hair-tossing Ariana Grande, turn even musical theater haters into lovers?
Tricky question. Some people just don't buy into the musical thing, and they should be allowed to live freely amongst us. But if people breaking into song delights rather than flummoxes you, if elaborate dance numbers in village squares and fantastical nightclubs and emerald-hued cities make perfect sense to you, and especially if you already love "Wicked," well then, you will likely love this film. If it feels like they made the best "Wicked" movie money could buy — well, it's... Read More