Leading production and post-production house Optimus announced today that ONE at Optimus has expanded its directorial team with the hire of innovative director Otto Arsenault.
“ONE is unique because it’s a production company built out of a post-production house. This is parallel to how I got my start in the industry and is one of the many reasons this union has been such a great fit. I’m excited and honored to be part of the team,” said Arsenault.
Arsenault established his post-production roots while at Southern Illinois University through his work on alt.news 26:46, a syndicated, PBS program that won five regional Emmy Awards. After migrating to Los Angeles, he co-created PlasterCITY Digital Post – one of the first non-linear post-production studios in LA. He then transitioned his focus to production, collaborating on a feature length music documentary and directing several music videos. His work on Matt and Kim’s “Lessons Learned” garnered him the 2009 MTV Music Video Award for Breakthrough Video and MTV U Woodie for Best Video.
“Otto’s strong grasp of concept coupled with his unique visual storytelling skills makes him a perfect complement to our director stable here at ONE,” said ONE at Optimus Executive Producer and Managing Director John Noble. “We are thrilled to have him on board and look forward to utilizing and enabling his exceptional talents.”
Arsenault’s diverse background gives him a unique perspective on production. “It’s always important to build off your foundation; I look at production differently because I understand what can be achieved in post,” he commented.
Otto’s first project with ONE is a :30 TV spot for an international liquor brand through Markham Unlimited Miami, Fla. His unconventional music video for Greg Laswell’s “Take Everything”, shot in one take completely in reverse, resonated with Markham and complemented the agency’s vision for the spot, in which the story unfolds in reverse. The international commercial will begin shooting in Miami in early October.
“Otto’s keen sense of composition and framing, which he elegantly displayed in the Greg Laswell video, was instrumental in helping ONE win this new project,” stated Noble.
Arsenault’s creative touch has gained recognition with MTV, Spin, Pitchfork, MySpace, Silhouette Film Festival, Barcelona Int. Shorts, Bova Image Festival and most recently the 2010 Advertising Community Shorts Program. Additionally, the “Take Everything” music video was selected to screen at the upcoming Vimeo Festival & Awards.
About Optimus
Optimus is a leading post-production and production house with offices in Chicago and Santa Monica. A true one-stop shop, Optimus offers a full suite of creative services, including production, editing, film transfer, color correction, visual effects and design, audio mixing and finishing. With ONE, the company’s live-action production arm, Optimus offers all production services, from shoot through post, under one roof – a singular, streamlined creative-driven machine. For more information, please visit www.optimus.com and www.oneatoptimus.com.
