Veteran Studio Exec Brings Team to Santa Monica Digital Production Studio
Executive producer Leslie Sorrentino, formerly of Animal West and The Syndicate, has joined digital production and design studio Big Block. He brings with him his production team, Flame artist Gizmo Rivera and producer Cindy Chapman, also from Animal West.nnThe move reunites Sorrentino with Big Block‘s managing director Kenny Solomon. The two are longtime business partners and were co-founders of The Syndicate, their award-winning creative design, branding and digital production studio. At Big Block Sorrentino will work closely with executive producer Pete King to develop the company’s client bases in broadcast, interactive, mobile and enterprise work. He will also promote and oversee compositing and finishing projects highlighting Gizmo’s talents, for whom a second new Flame room has been built.nnSorrentino, who is well known for cultivating and earning long-standing client relationships, has enjoyed a senior level career in the advertising and visual effects industry for more than 20 years. He has worked with top agencies, networks and studios on award-winning commercials, branded design, television, feature films and music videos.nnAt Animal West, Sorrentino was executive producer on Samsung “Living Room” directed by Jody Hill for Leo Burnett, K-Swiss “Kenny Powers MFCEO” directed by Jody Hill for 72andSunny, BlackBerry Torch “Love What You Do” directed by Henrik Hansen and Laban Pheidias for Leo Burnett Chicago and Doner’s Superbowl rebranding for Dodge Ram directed by Klaus Obermeyer. His credits at The Syndicate include the Rolling Stones feature film Shine a Light and the Clio Award-winning Freixenet “The Key to Reserva,” both directed by Martin Scorsese. nnEarlier in his career Sorrentino was director of new business at 525 Studios, the pioneering Hollywood digital post production company, and executive producer at Post Logic Studios, where he was responsible for visual effects production on the memorable Taco Bell “Talking Chihuahua” campaign for TWBA Chiat/Day.nnIn addition to his time at Animal West, Gizmo has worked at The Mill Los Angeles, Hydraulx and A52. Gizmo’s Flame wizardry and on-set experience also extend to character development for such feature films as Avatar, Wolverine and Skyline. His creative esthetic and technical integration of complex CG can be seen in commercials for Samsung “Living Room” directed by Jody Hill for Leo Burnett, TaylorMade “Green Noise” directed by Jon Huet for NYCA; Old Spice “Scent Vacation” directed by Tom Kuntz for Wieden+Kennedy; Gatorade “LaDainain Tomlinson: Re-Swagger” directed by Joe Pytka for TBWA\Chiat Day; and Audi “Boldly Designed World” and “Spring Cleaning” directed by Stacy Wall for Goodby, Silverstein & Partners.nnPrior to joining Big Block Chapman’s career spanned multiple post-production disciplines working as a producer at Animal West, Comma Music and Beast Editorial. She has worked with top advertising agencies such as Fallon, Leo Burnett, Wieden+Kennedy and 72&Sunny on campaigns for Apple, Nike, Target, Toyota, K-Swiss, Charter Communications, TaylorMade, Samsung and DirecTV.nnSolomon said, “I’m delighted to have Les and his team here at Big Block. They are a powerhouse that will further allow us to meet the growing expectation from agencies that studios can handle every aspect of their projects, from conceptual design and visual effects to live action direction and software coding. It’s definitely a value proposition for our clients, but it’s also been our experience that being able to provide all of these services contributes to a higher level of involvement and final quality.” nnSorrentino added, “I am fired up to be collaborating with Kenny again. Big Block is so ahead of the curve with a huge range of creative and technical resources and a great core dynamic. We can’t wait to offer that to our clients.”nn
nnRecent projects at Big Block include design and animation for “Peep Show,” a cheeky interactive and experiential campaign for MINI and Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners that appears on JumboTrons and bus stop video screens and incorporates a live car reveal at a Hollywood Blvd. installation. Big Block took a holistic approach to Jeep “Turn of a Wheel,” which was entirely designed and directed by their in-house talent and Ford “One of a Kind” for Y&R Canada, designed and directed by Big Block‘s creative director Mark Glaser.nnnnCreditsnClient: MINI RoadsternTitle: MINI “Peep Show”nAgency: Butler, Shine, Stern & PartnersnExecutive Creative Directors: John Butler & Mike ShinenCreative Directors: Steve Mapp & Lyle YetmannSenior Art Director: Chris ToffolinSenior Copywriter: Mark KrajannDirector of Broadcast Production: Adrienne CumminsnProducer: Lori PisaninAccount Supervisor: Candice MatthewsnProduction Studio: Big BlocknExecutive Producer: Pete King; CG Supervisor, Tom Connors; Flame Artist, Glen Bennett, Flame and Nuke Artist, Mike EknMusic & Sound Design: Squeak-E-CleannnAbout BIG BLOCKnBig Block is a digital production studio specializing in digital automotive content, VFX, design and finishing for feature films, commercials, web, gaming, mobile and enterprise platforms. Big Block provides integrated end-to-end services, from concept and design to live action direction and coding to meet its clients’ creative challenges.nnA key component of Big Block‘s focus is Big Block Interactive, its interactive and software development group, which generate new techniques to evolve and extend client brands across the creative landscape. A prime example is Drive-A-Tron, Big Block‘s proprietary driving simulation software, which precisely replicates the physics of driving in any live action or CG environment in real time 3D.nnBig Block was launched by business developer Scott Benson, executive producer Kenny Solomon and creative director Mark Glaser, whose collective experience with the production of branded content make them uniquely suited to meet the challenges of creative communication. nnBig Block is housed in the newly renovated Art Deco Ilona Building on Wilshire Blvd. in the heart of Santa Monica.nnFor more information, please call 310-954-9400 or visit: www.bigblockLA.com. Contact:Kenny Solomon Executive Producer/Managing Director Big Block 631 Wilshire Boulevard 2nd Floor Santa Monica, CA 90401 310-954-9400 Contact Kenny via email Media: Mary Reardon 310-659-0965 Contact Mary via email
“Ǝvolution” Comes Full Circle At The Chelsea Film Festival
The Chelsea Film Festival, running from October 16th through October 20th, 2024, at Regal Cinemas here in Union Square, is set to host the East Coast premiere of Ǝvolution, a thought-provoking experimental micro-short film that proves big ideas can come in small packages and in perfect circles.
In just 1 minute 16 seconds, this cinematic gem by Award-Winning Director Romina Schwedler, with original music by Argentine Composer Ignacio Montoya Carlotto, explores a cycle as old as time: life leads to progress, progress leads to destruction, and destruction, well, leads back to life. But is this vicious circle unbreakable? Ǝvolution suggests the answer is yes, unless we decide to open our eyes.
Inspired by the overwhelming number of recent events that threaten human existence, Ǝvolution, possibly the shortest film in this 12th edition of the festival, plays out entirely through the symbolism of circles, cleverly illustrating —in the blink of an eye— the repeating patterns of history, and confronting viewers with the uncomfortable truth that our so-called “progress” may, in fact, be guiding us to our own ruin.Premiering at the Regal 14 Union Square, New York City, on October 18, 2024, at 11 a.m., Romina Schwedler's micro-short, featuring Leah Young with cinematography by Alan J. Carmona, will be sure to spark conversations longer than the film itself! Forcing viewers to reconsider the true meaning of evolution, not just as a biological process, but as a reflection of our collective journey as humans.
With a string of festival appearances across the globe, including CineGlobe at CERN (Switzerland/France), Oscar®... Read More