Underdog Entertainment, a New York-based production company, today announced that Daniel Azarian, a director of television commercials and branded entertainment produced the opening, animated title sequence for the feature film “Circus Maximus,” which is being released today on Blu-ray and DVD by Osiris Entertainment. The film stars Kevin Corrgian (“Pineapple Express,” “The Departed”) and Mario Cantone (“Sex and the City 1 & 2”) and is produced by Daydream City Films.rnrnThe opening title sequence features animated, typewritten words appearing on a cyclorama film set, as inanimate objects related to the plot fly in and morph into the titles for each credit. The sequence uses the same kind of technique and tone one might see in the titles for a sitcom from the 1950 or 60s, including whimsical sound effects. "The animated typewritten words stem from the fact that the main character is a screenwriter," explains Azarian. "Since the film is a quirky dark comedy, I came up with the idea of using a retro aesthetic, like the stop-motion animation that was popular with the Rankin Bass Christmas specials, but with a bit of dark edge thrown in. I also was influenced by Friz Freleng’s amazing title sequence from the original 1963 Pink Panther film.rnrn
rnThe sequence was created and animated using Maxon’s Cinema 4D and composited in Adobe After Effects in full HD 4K resolution. The title sequence can be seen here: Title Sequence Videornrn”Circus Maximus” centers on the wild predicament of an established screenwriter who attempts to complete an entire screenplay within a weekend. With a pending deadline looming and multiple obstacles mounting, this uproarious comedy unfolds as the characters involved come to life in their respective stories. The film is directed by Tommy J. La Sorsa and produced by Daydream City Films. rnrnFor more information on “Circus Maximus,” visit Osirus Entertainment.rnrnDaniel Azarian recently won two 2011 Telly Awards for the Public Service Announcement “Save Lolita” which premiered at the Hamptons Conservation & Wildlife Film Festival. He also garnered three 2008 Telly Awards, including Telly’s highest honor, the Silver Award, for his futuristic-themed cosmetic spot, "Bulletproof." Daniel has directed and produced national spots for 3M’s Scotch-Brite brand and Horizon Organic. Blue-chip telecommunications firms and entertainment networks have licensed Azarian’s commercial spots for their US and international mobile networks. rnrnUnderdog Entertainment is a New York-based production company active in producing commercial spots, branded and traditional entertainment and film. Visit www.UnderdogEntertainment.com for more information.Robert Michael Underdog Entertainment 212-807-9552 Contact Robert via email
Asian World Film Festival Reveals Asian Vision Program Lineup, Snow Leopard and Bruce Lee Honorees, and Jury Members
The 10th Annual Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) is proud to announce the lineup for its inaugural Asian Vision program, which was conceived to showcase new and exceptional Asian features that have participated in major A-list film festivals and/or garnered international acclaim. The program of eight motion pictures (see list below) will be held November 17-19, 2024, with the top film receiving the Asian Vision Best Film Award. The 10th Annual Asian World Film Festival takes place November 13 - 21, 2024, at the Culver Theatre in Culver City, CA. This year’s Snow Leopard Lifetime Achievement Award, the Festival’s highest honor, will be presented to acclaimed director, screenwriter, and producer Sergei Bodrov in celebration of his remarkable 50-year career. Bodrov established his reputation as a visionary filmmaker with “Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan” (2007), nominated for the Academy Award® for Best Foreign Language Film, and “Prisoner of the Mountains” (1996), also an Oscar® nominee as well as a Cannes Film Festival FIPRESCI Prize-winner. The Snow Leopard Outstanding Cinematic Achievement Award will be presented to director, producer, and screenwriter Peter Ho-Sun Chan, one of Hong Kong’s most critically acclaimed and accomplished filmmakers. Known for his versatility and the scope of his work, Chan’s landmark films, including “Comrades: Almost a Love Story” (1996) and “The Warlords” (2007), have earned him a remarkable 233 awards from more than 400 nominations. As previously announced, AWFF will screen “Comrades: Almost a Love Story,” followed by a Q&A with Chan. Multi-award-winning actress Kathryn Bernardo will receive the Snow Leopard... Read More