Directed by Die Antwoord’s Ninja, the story he conceived with band-mate Yolandi Visser for "Alien" shows the South African group continuing to push the boundaries of what a music video can be.
JAMM was brought on to bring Ninja's grotesquely beautiful vision to life, with the goal for the VFX to create something never-before-seen yet authentic-feeling, a creature transformation which could exist within the pages of National Geographic.
Shot in Detroit, the video features Yolandi as a hoodie-wearing, insect-resembling alien whose non-citizen status forces her to trawl the streets alone. When she catches a glowing centipede-like creature and eats it – ravenously – a metamorphosis begins, starting with a webbed cocoon that begins to grow and glow around her.
CG Artist Zak DiMaria led the JAMM team through the cocoon FX simulation, the most challenging aspect of the VFX process. Incorporating references from the natural world, we made a custom digital mold that could evolve, with delicate threads of webbing that would grow down the contour of the alien's body.
Another exciting aspect for this project was creating a photorealistic centipede with the wings of a damselfly, led by Animation Supervisor Stew Burris. Additionally, JAMM created the CG opening titles featuring the neon-lit insect encircling the Die Antwoord logo and song title. The sequence sets the mood for the entire film, a bizarre visual feast enhanced by the JAMM team's attention to detail.
ZEF FILMZ 2018
SPW CreditsDirected by: NINJA
Story by: NINJA & ¥O-LANDI
Alien Girl: ¥O-LANDI VI$$ER
Human Girl: SIXTEEN JONES
Conceptual Designer: AARON BECK
Cinematographer: ALEXIS ZABE
Editor: LEO SCOTT
Practical VFX: JASON HAMER
VFX: JAMM
VFX Supervisor: Andy Boyd
FX: Zachary DiMaria
Animation Supervisor: Stew Burris
CG Artist: Brian Burke
Lead Flame: Patrick Munoz
Production Coordinator: Justine Pregler
Executive Producer: Asher Edwards
Additional VFX: BIG LAZY ROBOT
Costume Designer: GABRIELLE DERSIGNY
Titles: LERI!
Sound Design: HITEK5000
Music: DIE ANTWOORD ft.The Black Goat
Special Thanks to RON CASTELLANO and the City of Detroit
The Undeniable Voice of Art
Creative Growth, the first organization dedicated to supporting artists with developmental disabilities, has teamed up with creative marketing company, John McNeil Studio to unveil its new brand. Representing 50 years of elevating the work of artists with disabilities within the arts community, Creative Growth’s new brand campaign includes a new identity and logo, new positioning, brand film and a redefined strategy centering on the ‘undeniable voice of art.’ Creative Growth’s evolved brand is at the forefront of a shift towards art that stands for the inherent reveal — the power of artistic expression to bring understanding and connection to us all. The brand’s new expression includes unobtrusive color and design choices that purposely don’t compete with the voice of the artist and instead, serve as a container for the art to have a voice of its own. Executive Creative Director, Gerald Lewis of John McNeil Studio explains “We needed to create a powerful, distinctive voice for the brand. But, it couldn’t compete with the voice of the artists because in the end, the art has to speak. It had to be simple, honest and genuine, in line with the mission of Creative Growth. Artists will spend 30 years making work, honing their craft and following their voice inside this space. We wanted to celebrate that. So, while the mark, the brand, is simple and honest, it’s also expansive and energetic.” Kicking off the new brand campaign is a short film capturing the voice of artist William Scott as he walks through downtown Oakland and enters... Read More