This comedy commercial introduces us to a guy out on a date trying to impress a young lady–but his oily skin does him in as a body builder approaches their table at a restaurant and lubricates his body by touching the gent’s face. Clearly for his next date, the guy had better use Ponds’ Men (Unilever) Lighting Oil Clear lotion.
Alex J. Morsanutto directed the spot, which is being broadcast in Southeast Asia while also gaining exposure on social media channels. The job was produced by Silvermine Productions with production services from Yangon Streetlight Company and Paragon Pictures Animations for agency Genero.
Connecticut-based indie filmmaker Morsanutto (unaffiliated with a production company) was awarded the job, getting the gig based in part on previous work for beauty product company Kiehl’s that was in the same stylized comedy realm. Morsanutto executive produced and directed, hiring a local production company in Yangon, Myanmar. The project had its challenges given the fact that Myanmar is a third world country and the film infrastructure there is a lot smaller in comparison to North America.
Morsanutto traveled to Yangon with cinematographer Sam Cutler-Kreutz and had three days prep before the one-day commercial shoot. The local production company and local agency helped source name talent since the commercial was going to be broadcast on TV in Myanmar.
Morsanutto directed the piece without a hitch by using translators and bilingual producers to help communicate with the background talent and crew for the cinematographer.
Postproduction had its own logistical challenges in workflow between the U.S. and Asia but Morsanutto and colleagues were able to finish the broadcast commercial in Burmese–as well as an English-language version.
CreditsClient Unilever/Pond’s Men Lightning Oil Clear Agency Genero Production Silvermine Productions Alex Morsanutto, director; Sam Cutler-Kreutz, DP. Production Services Yangon Streetlight Company, Paragon Pictures Animations Editorial Sascha Taylor-Larsen, editor. VFX VHQ Media Color Asteroid Hues Sound Design & Mix Bob Barito
Top Spot of the Week: EHRAC, Animation Studio NOMINT Depict Life “In Limbo” As Families Search For Loved Ones
This animated film titled In Limbo depicts the journey of a heroic woman protagonist representing the countless families in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe (where Chechnya is situated) searching for their forcibly disappeared loved ones. Utilizing theatrical elements, the film highlights the unnatural disruption caused by enforced disappearances and delves into the profound trauma these families endure. It emphasizes their long battles with the domestic authorities as they seek answers. The film also underscores the vital role of community support in helping these families cope and continue their fight for answers, serving as a compelling call to action for justice and human rights.
Through intimate storytelling, In Limbo raises awareness of the ongoing uncertainty that leaves families in a perpetual state of limbo, unable to find closure.
Directed by Afterman--the animation duo consisting of Tsvetelina Zdraveva and Jerred North--and created and produced by London-based animation studio NOMINT, In Limbo was commissioned by the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC).
In a joint statement, Zdraveva and North shared, “Our film takes place on a theater stage, highlighting how such tragedies are far removed from ordinary life,” they continued. “The stage is circular, resembling an artificial, perpetually spinning obstacle course, with a target—the red tail lights—just within sight yet never within reach, symbolizing the family’s never-ending quest for justice.”
“We used a limited primary color palette to contrast the two worlds all families are pulled between. Minimalist compositions of starkly silhouetted characters and environments create the ominous atmosphere of a deeply painful and... Read More