In this spot directed by Ben Cronin of Untold Studios, we meet Gerry, a photorealistic Canada goose, who selects an alternate means of migration–parting ways with his flock and opting for luxury as a passenger on an Emirates airliner. We see Gerry enjoying a four-course meal while watching "The Goose the Bad and the Ugly" on an Emirates flight, before waving at his flock who pass by the window.
Untold director and creative director Cronin said, “I loved this script instantly and knew it was an endearing story to tell. Our VFX team did an amazing job bringing Gerry to life, especially as CGI birds are incredibly difficult to get right! We had a lot of fun making this spot and we hope everyone enjoys its playful spirit.”
The VFX team at Untold pre-vised the entire spot before shooting. Filming mostly clean plates, with 3D printed and taxidermy goose stand-ins, the team then went to work on crafting the CGI geese. The project showcases a range of techniques from water simulation to matte painting as well as careful compositing to seamlessly integrate the CGI elements into the live-action plates.
Credits
Client Emirates Richard Billington, SVP brand & advertising/corporates communications; Yasmine Saade, global brand & content manager. Production Untold Studios, London & Los Angeles Ben Cronin, director; Josh Davies, exec producer/producer; Ben Burdock, production manager; Simon Richards, DP. Editorial Gorilla TV Matt Chodan, editor. VFX Untold Studios Sophie Harrison, exec producer; Lauren Oldfield, producer; Amir Bazazi, VFX supervisor; Alex Kulikov, compositing supervisor; Chloe Dawe, creature supervisor; Geraint (Gez) Wright, animation lead; Jack Harris, Alex Doyle, Lewis Pickston, Justin Braun, Christian Baker, VFX lead; Joe Kane, Shariq Altaf, Clement Petellaz, Vlad Pascanu, Matteo Antona, Kim Eja Felicia Petersen, Henry Affonso, Harry McCusker-Bland, Seung Ho Henrik Holmberg, VFX artists. Color Untold Studios Julien Alary, colorist.
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
