In this spot, a Lotto winner donates a sizeable portion of her jackpot to help monkeys at a sanctuary, turning a zookeeper-type into the manager of a five-star resort for primates, constituting part of a campaign from AMV BBDO, London, which shows hilariously over-the-top ways to splurge one’s Lotto winnings.
We see gorillas, chimps and/or orangutans getting full body massages, jet skiing, going ape on a golf driving range, even hot tubbing.
Directed by the Traktor collective from production house Partizan, the spot was advanced by the visual effects acumen of Framestore, London.
Framestore’s creative director, Mike McGee, provided on-set supervision to offer creative and technical solutions that complemented the directors’ vision in what was a complex VFX project completed over a short schedule. McGee then oversaw the VFX process back in Framestore’s headquarters to ensure high-end results were delivered on time.
“Monkey Sanctuary” was filmed using performers dressed in orangutan, chimpanzee and gorilla suits. Framestore’s 3D team, led by Simon French, created and animated face replacements for the chimp and orangutan by stamping animated faces over the actors’ suited faces to make for more exciting and realistic expressions. This started with modeling and texturing faces to match reference supplied by the directors and then matching the fur from the suits to create a seamless and convincing blend. Traktor wanted performances that reflected natural, anatomical monkey behavior rather than anthropomorphic expressions. So the 3D team combed natural history footage for references and matched them to the actors’ performances, mimicking how a real-life creature might behave in this scenario. The gorilla’s face was animatronic and so only required some augmentation in 2D, with the VFX team adding life to its eyes and expression to its brows. Face replacement work was blended in by finessing hairlines.
Lead animator Nigel Rafter, said: “Because we were working with monkey suited actors, we didn’t have a blank canvas. This meant we had to create realistic facial expressions that matched the actors’ performances. Once we’d established some basic subtle snout and mouth movement, the process just flew along. The next difficulty was in getting the rig to handle extremes: everything from a stretched pout with curved and puffed lips, to chewing mouths. But we managed to overcome these problems with a bit of 3D ingenuity.”
Biscuit Filmworks Signs Director Aerin Moreno For Her First Commercial Representation
Biscuit Filmworks has added Aerin Moreno to its directing roster for her first career commercial representation. Moreno’s visual style is rooted in dynamic storytelling, infectious choreography, and female-driven pop culture narratives.
Known for her high-energy music videos, Moreno has repeatedly collaborated with pop sensation Tate McRae and has also worked with artists including Tyla, Madison Beer, Sofi Tukker, Nessa Barrett, Marina, Damiano David, and Tinashe. Moreno’s ability to connect with artists, establish trust, and navigate each collaboration with care has been key to her success in the music video realm. Moreno brings this same creative energy to advertising, working with brands seeking to connect with audiences in fresh and meaningful ways.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Moreno fell in love with film at a young age and graduated from UCLA Film School. She quickly made a name for herself in the music video industry, standing out for her ability to direct and edit projects, and her intuitive sense of narrative pacing. In addition to music videos, she has also helmed short films like Lotusland and Grandma’s Fall From Heaven, both of which explore themes of identity, relationships, and resilience with emotional depth and striking visuals.
“The power of pop culture constantly excites me,” said Moreno. “It has such a lasting impact, especially on young people, and I love being a part of that. Delivering what an artist wants, pushing it a little further, and capturing the essence of who they are is my passion. When considering who to partner with, I kept returning to Biscuit because of the way they champion bold, creative visions.”
“Aerin has a remarkable understanding of cultural currency,”... Read More