Mill+ has produced A Journey to Hope, an original animated piece created for Fireflies West, a charity cycling group which raises funds for blood cancer research. The release of this new promo film comes ahead of the Fireflies West’s annual ride down the California coastline in support of cancer research facility City of Hope.
The film illustrates the six-day ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles using a combination of 3D and cel animation. The concept, developed by The Mill’s executive creative director Phil Crowe, VFX supervisor Tara DeMarco and Mill+ designers/directors Amy Graham and Kyle Moore, uses the riders’ physical journey as an analogy to reflect the struggle of those affected by cancer.
Crowe said, “A Journey to Hope provided an opportunity to support the Fireflies West whilst showcasing our talent in Mill+ and design. I set an open brief for the artists here in Los Angeles and had lots of brilliant ideas come in, from live action to 2D and 3D animation routes. What you see is the winning idea by Kyle and Amy, brought to life over several months of hard work with input from City of Hope and the Fireflies West riders themselves.”
EP Luke Colson said, “Words can’t express how proud we are with the final outcome of this film. The Fireflies West have been close to our hearts for a long time with many of our staff riding each year for an incredibly good, and often personal, cause. With this film, we hope to generate more interest and further public knowledge of what has become an institution in the industry.”
Now in its ninth year running, the Fireflies West have raised over $1.2 million for City of Hope.
Client Fireflies West Production Mill+ Luke Colson, executive producer; Alex Bader, producer. Visual Effects/Animation The Mill Luke Colson, exec producer; Alex Bader, producer; Phil Crowe, executive creative director/concept; Robert Sethi, executive creative director; Kyle Moore, director, concept/creative direction & art direction, lead animator, lead designer; Amy Graham, director, concept/creative direction & art direction, lead designer; Tara Demarco, concept; Lisa Tan, lead designer; Viraj Ajmeri, design, animation; Victor Duncan, Helen Hsu, design; Justin Sucara, Justin Demetrician, Clare Carrellas, animation. Color The Mill Gregory Reese, colorist; Thatcher Peterson, exec producer, color; Diane Valera, color producer; Jackson Rogers, production coordinator, color. Special Thanks for following contributors: Vanessa Cuccia, Jessica Penner, Kate Lynn Abigail, Christine Luu, Chloe Skinner, Heath Raymond, Nicholas Scarcella, Imaginary Family, Unday Records, Heard City
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Johnnie Walker wraps up the year with an inspiring campaign that is a direct and bold response to those who would question the strength of women. Created by AlmapBBDO in São Paulo, Brazil, this anthem film--“Forte São Elas” (“Strong are the Women”) starring actress Alice Braga--references one of the most iconic productions in the brand’s history worldwide:”The Man Who Walked Around The World.” Produced by Surreal Hotel Arts, directed by Lu Villaça, and featuring an original soundtrack by Cabaret Studio, “Forte São Elas” shows Braga walking as she describes how strength plays an essential role in the daily life of every woman. Whether facing stereotypes or countless other barriers, women are the masters of their own choices and stay true to their journeys. “The campaign recognizes the emotional strength and resilience of every woman who faces and overcomes obstacles every day, and boldly challenges outdated stereotypes. And when they say that whisky is too strong for women, we will tell them: it’s the women who are strong,” said Andrea Rubim, head of marketing for Johnnie Walker. [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://wp-shoot.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/19005421/Johnnie-Walker-StrongAreTheWomen-1.mp4"][/video] Read More