Epoch Films has produced a series of three dry-humored ads for the mobile banking platform Current. Each film delivers on the promise of Current’s mission: moving you forward, never holding you back. Director Matt Swanson cleverly illustrates this point in a myriad of ways with increasing absurdity and quick delivery.
Swanson uses playful commentary, deadpan delivery, and visual gags to poke fun at the outdated practices still in play at traditional banks. This spot titled “Hacks” shows two chefs remarking on the nonsensical brutality of credit fees while pulverizing meat and chopping up food.
Credits
Client Current Stuart Sopp, founder, CEO; Adam Hadi, VP, marketing; Steve Peck, head of brand creative; Kinda Loughran, sr. copywriter; Cyrus Coulter, creative director; Niki Polyocan, executive producer; Vincent Fileccia, sr. designer; Michael Hastings-Black, brand strategist. Production Company Epoch Films Matt Swanson, director; Melissa Culligan, exec producer; Ritu Paramesh, producer; Damian Acevedo, DP; Oscar Almengor, 1st AD; Maria Fernanda Contreras, production designer. Casting Good People Casting Production Services Company Flo Films Susan Neill, exec producer. Color Grade Rare Medium TV Ayumi Ashely, colorist; Heath Raymond, exec producer. Editorial & Finishing Mackcut Mike Leuis, editor; Cam Pazol, assistant editor; Dylan Anderson, producer; Gina Pagano, exec producer; Joe Miller, Flame artist; Sam Shaffer, mixer.
FCB Health New York, an IPG Health company, and SAFE Project have joined forces to create “The Snowball,” a short film that spotlights winter as a common catalyst for dangerous increases in alcohol consumption. In collaboration with creative studio LOBO, “The Snowball” combines a compelling visual metaphor with cutting-edge animation and a haunting soundtrack from Billie Holiday.
As millions embrace “Dry January,” the onset of colder, shorter winter days still leads to an uptick in alcohol misuse, which can lead to liver cirrhosis and other medical maladies and dangerous consequences for one’s life. Speaking to casual drinkers, “The Snowball” visually illustrates how anyone is at risk of becoming addicted to alcohol during this time of year when external climate variables can lead to excess consumption, even if the drinker does not immediately realize it.
Making good on the metaphor, the film follows one man as a quick liquor run gradually devolves into a full-blown addiction as a snowball gradually grows beside him, engulfing his whole life and eventually causing his demise. Set to the tune of Billie Holiday’s “Everything I Have Is Yours,” the film’s pathos is drawn from the sonic integrity of Holiday’s original recording maintained in the sound design as well as the singer’s tragic battle with substance abuse.
This entirely animated film was created using a hands-on, collaborative process rooted in traditional animation techniques, with every aspect of the artwork creation, design, and craftsmanship crafted entirely by human hands. AI-driven tools and processes were brought in during the animation rendering stage, helping the film achieve a distinct visual style that would have been difficult to achieve through... Read More
