The principals of design-focused production studio Leviathan (www.lvthn.com) are very proud to announce the addition of producer Lauren Shawe to their full-time staff, effective immediately.rnrn”Leviathan works in broacast, experiential and online formats, and Lauren has experience handling post-production for many legendary post houses, plus heavy VFX and interactive experience as well,” said Chad Hutson, Leviathan’s executive producer. “It’s really rare to see that combination in a producer. When we tried her out on her first project, we saw right away that we needed to have her on the team.”rnrnMost recently, Lauren was the senior VFX producer for New York City’s Smoke and Mirrors. Her reputation and credits soared in that position over the past three and a half years, by virtue of her expert handling of industry-leading talents and post-production challenges of the highest order. Drawing also from her previous four years as a freelance producer for Final Cut New York, Cut + Run, Lost Planet, and Transistor Studios, Lauren’s project credits include the American Express commercials directed by Wes Anderson and M. Night Shyamalan, the celebrated 2008 "You Are Powerful" spot from Mother London and Amnesty International, McGarryBowen’s 2010 iPad launch spot for Verizon, last year’s stunning black-and-white spots for Delta from Wieden+Kennedy, music videos for The Dead Weather and La Roux, and numerous short- and long-form productions for director Spike Lee, among many others.rnrn
rnThis YouTube Playlist presents many of the projects Lauren has contributed to over the past few years.rnrnBefore moving to NYC in 2003, Lauren was the project manager for design studio twohundredtwelve, where she contributed to the front-end design for orbitz.com and several other high-profile web sites and launch events. Posts as a producer for Leapnet and Black Dog Interactive followed her earlier work as an assistant producer for Taproot Interactive Studio, where she contributed to many innovative consumer- and business-focused CD-ROM titles and websites. rnrn"When I decided to move back to Chicago, I had to do a lot of research on the industry as I was unfamiliar with post/design/graphics world here," Lauren said. "I went to a lot of informational meetings, talked to old friends and met some new ones, and Leviathan kept coming up. I was instantly impressed with the caliber and creativity of their work. It was exciting to think that I could be involved with an emerging company, which had developed such a great reputation in a short time. They are doing creative, innovative and technically challenging work, which is really exciting. Everyone here is really great at what they do and I feel like I learn something new every day."rnrnAbout LeviathanrnLeviathan is a design-focused production studio specializing in the creation of large-scale visual experiences across all media. The emerging studio’s leaders are champions of breakthrough design and branding who draw from experiences earned within the world’s leading digital agencies, production companies, VFX and motion studios. Also leveraging the talents of extraordinary storytellers, software developers, producers and artists, Leviathan develops cutting edge content that maximizes the greatest capabilities of today’s media platforms, from broadcast to experiential installations. Since launching in 2010, the studio’s collaborations with agencies, brands and leading filmmakers have resulted in sensational projects across all markets and industries, and its strategic alliance with V Squared Labs further reinforces its leadership role in large-scale experiential event production. To learn more about Leviathan, please visit www.lvthn.com, or call executive producer Chad Hutson at +1.312.878.1500.Pioneering The Visual Narrative: Bobola Oniwura’s Impact on Nollywood’s Cinematic Evolution
Nollywood is in the middle of a visual revolution, and at its core is Bobola Oniwura, the mastermind behind some of the industry’s most striking cinematic transformations. Oniwura is a pioneering colorist whose unique approach to film aesthetics has set new standards for how Nigerian stories are told on screen. From the gritty realism of King of Boys: The Return of the King to the vibrant energy of A Tribe Called Judah, Oniwura’s work has become synonymous with a new era of cinematic excellence, one where color grading is no longer an afterthought but a defining narrative tool. The film industry in Nigeria known as Nollywood has grown into one of the most prolific cinematic powerhouses in the world. Producing thousands of films annually, it ranks alongside Hollywood and Bollywood in terms of output. Once characterized by rapid, low-budget productions, Nollywood has undergone a remarkable transformation, embracing higher production values, diverse storytelling, and international recognition. The industry’s films now command global audiences, made possible by platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, and receiving acclaim at major festivals. This evolution has been fueled by creatives like Oniwura, who are redefining the post-production technical standards of Nigerian films. His impact extends beyond the color suite. Drawing on his background in Architecture and user experience research, Oniwura approaches color grading with an acute understanding of audience perception, crafting visual experiences that enhance storytelling, evoke emotion, and immerse viewers in the rich textures of Nigerian culture. His ability to merge technical precision with artistic intuition has positioned him as one of the most sought-after colorists in Nollywood... Read More