CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is a nationwide organization of volunteers who represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courtroom. Chicago-based production studio www.modeproject.com.>Mode Project was enlisted to help tell the story, using animation and live-action, of an eight-year-old boy who had been abandoned by his parents and with the help of a CASA volunteer, adopted into a loving family. nnnnDuring concept development, www.modeproject.com.>Mode Project determined that the story should avoid expected visual themes and should focus on the enduring and unchanging presence of the CASA volunteer. “This project is a great example of what can happen when we are brought in at the early stages of creative development,” notes Kate Soczka, Mode’s producer. The resulting CG-intensive :60 PSA makes use of an imaginary world of paper cut-outs which places the boy and the volunteer firmly in the center of a whirlwind of court proceedings, lawyers and multiple foster homes. “Since the piece is from the child’s perspective, we wanted the imagery to have a hand-made feel that would help connect the viewer to the boy’s story in a way that was tangible and relatable,” says Stefan Draht, CG project lead. To give the story warmth and authenticity, www.modeproject.com.>Mode Project shot live-action footage of a boy in his bedroom making paper cut-outs. Subtle, real world details reflected in the 3D modeling make the transitions to live-action footage seamless. Folding CG paper cut-outs also mirror real-world dynamics, further blurring the lines between live-action and animation. nnwww.modeproject.com.>Mode Project was presented with this opportunity via design studio www.3st.com.>Thirst/Chicago on behalf of www.iamepic.org.>EPIC (Engaging Philanthropy Inspiring Creatives), an organization which helps top-tier creative talent join forces with nonprofit clients. "www.modeproject.com.>Mode Project totally made Kelly Butler’s script come to life in this incredible video hybrid that is obviously digital but remarkably analog in spirit. I love this Mode brand of innocence!" said Thirst’s founder and design director, Rick Valicenti.nnCreditsnnTitle CASA of Cook County: One Boy’s StorynnAgency: www.iamepic.org.>EPICnAgency Liaison: www.3st.com.>Thirst/Chicago, Rick ValicentinWriter: Kelly ButlernnProduction Company: www.modeproject.com.>Mode ProjectnCG Modeling and Animation: www.modeproject.com.>Mode ProjectnnDirector of Photography: Derick SmithnStylist: Pamela DawnnnMusic: The Mayfair WorkshopnSound Design: Vagabond AudionnAbout www.modeproject.com.>Mode Projectnwww.modeproject.com.>Mode Project is an award-winning production company which creates distinctive viewer experiences for the advertising, marketing and entertainment industries. Our filmmakers, designers, animators and editors provide concept-through-delivery for all platforms including television, film, online, mobile and events. We work on a project basis with any company, any size, seeking to adopt new ways of doing business to achieve results-driven, cost-effective solutions for the digital era. As a creative partner to the Obama for America Media Team, www.modeproject.com.>Mode Project received the Cannes Lions Titanium Grand Prix and the Integrated Grand Prix awards in 2009. www.modeproject.com.nnAbout ThirstnThirst is a firm devoted to art with function and serves a collection of clients whose refined and enlightened design sensibilities yield rewards in the experience of creation. Our passion for design and embrace of new technologies make for a dynamic union of imagery and inspiration. Thirst’s strategic and creative versatility continues to lead the discourse and pursue the elusive ideals of intelligence, fashion and real human presence within today’s world of communication. www.3st.com.nnAbout www.iamepic.org.>EPICnwww.iamepic.org.>EPIC helps creative professionals and nonprofits join forces, making a bigger impact on the world than either could alone. In regular intervals, we are pairing select teams of “creatives” from the ad/design industries with select nonprofit clients dedicated to education, children and families. During what we call a “creative rally,” each team creates plans, programs, and materials—on a pro-bono basis—that their nonprofit client needs to positively affect the lives of those they serve. www.iamepic.org.
Kate Soczka www.modeproject.com.>Mode Project Contact Kate via email P 312.951.5424
Liz Charky Directs a Playful and Reflective Video For Henry Hall’s “Tiny Door”
Directed by Liz Charky, the music video for Henry Hall’s ‘Tiny Door’ is a playful and profound exploration of the song’s intriguing perspective on love. Silly moments and serious heartbreak are skillfully weaved together in a series of cheeky, dreamy, profound, and sometimes psychedelic scenes. “I am a huge fan of love songs that have an unusual, hyper-specific perspective on love,” says Hall. “That’s what I wanted to do with ‘Tiny Door.’ It’s about loving someone unconditionally while recognizing that love is something that isn’t always straightforward — I think that’s something we all attempt to come to terms with in our lives. I thought it was a unique yet universal detail about love and therefore an intriguing subject matter for a song. Even though the song is a ballad at its core, it still has a lighthearted sense of humor to it — that’s really portrayed well by Liz, and Ellin Aldana, our cinematographer.” Charky explains, “When I first listened to the song, I felt it was a love song full of longing with a kind of wishful melancholy. As I spoke with Henry about his intention behind the lyrics and sound, I was assured that I'd need to explore heartbreak in a nuanced way – with a degree of levity and playfulness. For me, falling in and out of love runs the full course of human expression. Love and heartbreak can be so emotionally intense and sometimes lonely, other times quite goofy or liberating. In developing the concept, I focused on both the literal and figurative ways that falling in and out of love might look like. So, you see Henry and co-star Franny Arnautou falling, flying, dancing, raging, winking, smiling, and... Read More