We were awarded in the following categories:

• Silver Award: Around the Corner – Local TV & Local Cable – Travel/Tourism
• Silver Award: Around the Corner – Local TV & Local Cable – Visual Effects
• Bronze Award: Around the Corner – Local TV & Local Cable – Copywriting
• Bronze Award: Around the Corner – Local TV & Local Cable – Sound/Sound Design
• Bronze Award: Blue Envelope – Local TV & Local Cable – Bank (up to $500 million assets)
• Bronze Award: The Big World- Internet/Online Video – Religion Spirituality
• Bronze Award: The Working Dead Opening Credits- Non-Broadcast Productions- Misc
• Bronze Award: The Working Dead Opening Credits- Non-Broadcast Productions- Editing

The Around the Corner TV Spot won four of the eight awards. Abandon Films was hired by Access Advertising and PR to create this high-impact television spot to integrate into the overarching advertising and PR campaign that would help increase occupancy. The collaboration with Access Ad and PR created a national-caliber spot on a small budget with a very tight turnaround.

Over the course of the three-month campaign, flight usage increased by 145 percent.

The Working Dead Opening Credits also won two Tellys. It was created in partnership with the AAF Roanoke Ad Club. Also awarded was another spot created in Partnership with Access for Freedom First FCU, and an online film created in partnership with Big World Narratives.

To find out more about the Telly Awards visit: www.tellyawards.com.

Our work has won over 70 Addy, Telly, and Richmond Show awards in that time, including 25 awards this year.

Watch our reel at www.abandonfilms.com/portfolio/detail/2013-demo-reel/

The ad was developed by Access Advertising for Call Federal, who was looking for a memorable way to communicate the benefits of their mortgage programs.  Access brought on Justin Rossbacher to direct because of the comedic sensibility he has brought to past projects such as “Carpet Shoes”.  The ad, titled “Crowded House”, marks yet another collaboration between Abandon Films and Access.

Abandon Films directed and produced the project.  They were also very hands on in development.  The choice to cast Fred Lacovo for the banker was not Access’ or the client’s first pick, but Abandon Films was convinced that the dramatic actor would be perfect for this comedic role.  “They made casting decisions I never would have made,” says Tony Pearman, Creative Director at Access.  “As a result, the spot is better for it.”

Abandon Films also edited the spot.  The rough cut was almost identical to the final cut, which instilled Access with a sense of confidence in Abandon’s vision.

“Crowded House” was cast by Model Logic out of Richmond, VA and stars Fred Lacovo, Dawn Westbrook, and Joel Kin.  It was directed by Justin Rossbacher and photographed by Eric Hurt (Pillage and Plunder Studios).

We took home 12 ADDY awards at the Southwest Virginia American Advertising Awards (the local chapter),  and 5 more at the District 3 American Advertising Awards.

Locally, Abandon Films took away two of the top 5 awards of the evening, including Best In Broadcast, which went to “Around The Corner,” an imaginative, visual-effects heavy TV spot directed by our very own Justin Rossbacher.  The project included collaboration with Access Advertising (“Carpet Shoes“, “Crowded House”), as well as working for the first time with digital effects artist and matte painter Tim Matney (The Golden Compass, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice).

The zombie parody collaboration with American Advertising Federation that was shown at last year’s gala awards also took home a top award of the night.  The Working Dead, which included some amazing makeup art from our friend Alistair McPherson (Hellraiser 2) and his son Alexander, won Judge’s Choice, an award given to a project that the judges have special affinity towards.

Also winning awards was the short film A True Friend, which won Gold Addy’s for best original lyrics, and  for digital self promotion.  The Egypt documentary, Neighbors, also won a Gold for  video branded content. The Freedom First Credit Union Campaign also won.

The local award winners move on to the district level, a competitive multi-state awards show. Abandon Films won another 5 ADDYs at this level. Winners included “Around The Corner”, The Working Dead, and A True Friend. The District winner are all now on to nationals.

We are excited and honored to have received these awards this year.  Thank you to all our creative partners that worked with us on these projects and helped make them what they are.

Abandon Films

What’s a great way to introduce a character? Our Editor and Digital Supervisor, Won Novalis runs us through one of his favorite characters entrances.

The scene has purpose and focus, namely the introduction of this character.  Even and especially when not showing the character (or showing other characters) the scene maintains it’s purpose and communicates visually everything the audience needs to know about him, without a word.  It also plays very appropriately in style and consistency to the film itself.  There is mystery in the way things are revealed that engages the viewer’s imagination and keeps us working/guessing till the satisfying moment of the reveal.  Now we are ready and willing to continue the journey with him.

What are some of your favorite character entrances? Leave them in the comments.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look:

Credits

Client- Roanoke Regional Airport
Agency- Access Advertising
Production- Abandon Films

Justin Rossbacher- Writer/Director
Caleb Jackson- AD
Brad Blackburn- Camera Op/Roto
Marc Hutchins- Gaffer/Rigging
Won Novalis- Post Supervisor/Color
Tim Matney- VFX Supervisor
Jonah Guelzo- Sound Design
Adam Miller- VFX/Roto

This video is the perfect video to send to a best friend on their birthday.  Enjoy!

Justin Snyder, one of our directors, just independently released his first record project The Ordinary Things. The album has 8 original songs written and performed by Justin, as well as a host of studio musicians bringing the songs to life. Get on over to Noisetrade and download it absolutely free.

We are also giving away the soundtrack to A True Friend. This three track mini-album has the title song, “A True Friend”, as well as two pieces from the original score by Justin Snyder and Felix Weber Productions.

Let us know what you think of the sweet tunes!