Renee Zhan of Blinkink directs this timely film for the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Austria, to draw attention to relics of the past–oil boilers, gas and coal furnaces–that many Austrians have lurking in their basements.
Conceptualized by agency Jung Von Matt, the PSA introduces us to our young protagonist Tobias who is awakened at night by ominous sounds coming out of his house’s basement, a site that’s long been a place of physical and psychological darkness.
Titled “What’s that Lurking in the Basement? (Furnace),” this piece was brought to life through live-action puppetry, intricately designed sets, humor, metal music and offbeat characters. It marks the commercialmaking debut of Zhan who’s known for his short films.
Zhan said, “I loved the original idea for this project which felt like it could become a really unique and timely film. I was really excited by the idea of using humor, metal music and Tim Burton-esque characters to spread the message of efficient energy usage and climate protection.
“As my first advertising job, I felt incredibly lucky to have worked on something that was so in my wheelhouse and which fit perfectly with my own visual language. I really wanted to push the horror elements of the film, as a way to evoke the horror and real-life threat of climate change. The innocent boy asleep in his bed, creaky stairs, the spooky basement, and the color palette bring to mind classic horror films like The Sixth Sense and Poltergeist.”
CreditsClient The Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Austria Agency Jung Von Matt Werner Singer, Andreas Kadenbach, creative director; Johanna Posch, project manager; Franziska Brunner, copywriter; Kristina Miac, art director. Production Blinkink Renee Zhan, director; Bart Yates, exec producer; Gareth Owen, producer; Emma Hanson, production manager; Adam Singodia, DP; Josh Elwell, Ashleigh Cheadle, Dik Downey, puppeteers; Patrick McGrath, set builder; Dan Broadley, Joshua Ashman, art department/modelmaker; Charlotte Duberry, puppet consultant; Andy Spradbery, puppet maker/rigger; Karolina Czyz, puppet maker; Nancy Scott, seamstress; Qingling Zhang, concept artwork; Florian Thamer, pre-viz; Pete Martin, studio manager. Postproduction Blinkink Jason Farrow, VFX supervisor; Emmy Cook, CG producer; Laurence Halstead, editor. Roto Team Digital FX Roto Maker. Color Cheat Jack McGinity, colorist.
Director Gia Coppola Teams With Mejuri For “A New York Minute”; 1st Episode Takes Us To The Grocery Store
Mejuri, known for turning fine jewelry into an everyday luxury, has partnered with director Gia Coppola (The Last Show Girl, Palo Alto) and The Directors Bureau in Los Angeles, for the first time reimagining the brandโs story as episodic content. In a series of microfilms, co-created by Coppola and premiering following New York Fashion Week, Mejuri eschewed a typical celebrity campaign and cast us as voyeurs to a group of aspiring young women--real people, not actors--at the crossroads of their adult lives against the backdrop of New York City.
Titled โA New York Minute,โ the series features five real-life friends, who include one perfectly imperfect heroine named Emma. The women celebrate ordinary moments and interactions which reveal, sometimes retrospectively, the extraordinary within the mundane. Adjacent to the brandโs own community, the 30-something year old cast includes Laura Love (Emma), Rebecca Ressler, Natalie Vall-Freed and Rozzi Crane. Mejuriโs jewelry makes an appearance as the best supporting actor.
โWhen I met with Gia and The Directors Bureau team, there was instant creative and personal chemistry and a natural alignment on the desire to push and blur the lines between marketing, storytelling, and the construct of what a โcampaignโ could be,โ said Jacob Jordan, chief brand officer, Mejuri. โGia was able to push that idea into something that truly feels new and artful, with a realism and relatability that almost feels jarring. Gia was such a perfect collaborator and partner, someone I had complete trust in to be a catalyst for Mejuriโs values of celebrating women as their truest selves. I canโt wait for us to continue to tell the next chapters of this story.โ
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