two if by see

Fresh PES!

2012-03-07T14:00:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't love the quirky clever perspective on the world animated by PES? I know I do! It's been a long time coming but here is some new stop motion goodness from the filmmaker, titled "Fresh Guacamole" a follow up to "Western Spaghetti."

Creepy Crawly Underwater Creations, Solipsist

2012-03-06T14:38:00.002-05:00

Furry, harry centipedes, underwater threaded reefs, and a beautiful eerie dance of creation and destruction from Moo Studios' director Andrew Thomas Haung. I love the beautiful tactile look of the fibers, some pieces reminding me so vividly of god's eye arts and crafts at girl scout camp.

SOLIPSIST from Andrew Huang on Vimeo.

I probably should but I can't help but mention that one of my favorite adolescent poems shares in it's subject matter, from the one and only Sylvia Plath.

I?
I walk alone;
The midnight street
Spins itself from under my feet;
When my eyes shut
These dreaming houses all snuff out;
Through a whim of mine
Over gables the moon's celestial onion
Hangs high.

I
Make houses shrink
And trees diminish
By going far; my look's leash
Dangles the puppet-people
Who, unaware how they dwindle,
Laugh, kiss, get drunk,
Nor guess that if I choose to blink
They die.

I
When in good humor,
Give grass its green
Blazon sky blue, and endow the sun
With gold;
Yet, in my wintriest moods, I hold
Absolute power
To boycott any color and forbid any flower
To be.

I
Know you appear
Vivid at my side,
Denying you sprang out of my head,
Claiming you feel
Love fiery enough to prove flesh real,
Though it's quite clear
All you beauty, all your wit, is a gift, my dear,
From me.

Brand New School + Fuel TV 4-EVA

2011-01-19T14:26:00.002-05:00

Brand New School has been working with Fuel TV since it's inception in 2003. Their latest wave of branding is fresh and forward thinking without completely forgetting the past. They have rethought the station ID's by remashing a number of the previous ID's from other artists resulting in a compilation of identity that is lo-fi - full of digital noise, old and new at the same time. I love it. It reminds me of some of the original MTV ID's but with a new millennium twist. And the "surrealist Dollhouse" is well - surreal.

FUEL TV On-Air Brand Rethink from Brand New School on Vimeo.

FUEL TV: Surrealist Dollhouse from FUEL TV on Vimeo.

Grand Marnier Fun fashionable Animated commercials

2010-12-15T14:15:00.002-05:00

I love everything about this world created by Grand Marnier. Can I be a silhouette on that balcony? A part of that party? Inspired by vintage french posters, the animation style is minimal and the bold colors can't help but grab your attention.

Animators at Studio 9K9 infused life into print materials of the same voice resulting in this enticing atmospheric animated spot.

Slap Chop

2010-08-01T11:59:00.002-04:00

I file this under i can't believe it's real. yes, it got my attention. it caught my attention because i thought the playback was skipping and proceeded to watch in horror as if watching a car crash for the next 3 minutes...unreal. what do you think? obnoxious genius? or just obnoxious?

Space Invaders Invade London for Gadget Show

2010-07-27T07:21:00.002-04:00

Check out this 3d spectacle, projected on a marble arch to a crowd of onlookers in London...

Awesome movie intro: it's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World

2010-07-09T13:24:00.003-04:00

This simple line drawn 2d animated intro is about as inspiring as it can get, in my eyes. The number of scenarios imagined out of a globe, or circle, or egg, is really impressive and entertaining - it just goes to show that a great idea really goes a long way. You can see such great title sequences as Catch Me if You Can and Anatomy of a Murder all echoing the style cues from this gem.

The Future is Today

2010-07-06T10:46:00.001-04:00

July 6, 2010 and not hoverboards...

Biscuit Filmworks Brings Les Grossman back to the Screen for the MTV Movie Awards

2010-06-10T07:48:00.003-04:00

If you've seen Tropic Thunder you know that the Tom Cruise character Le Grossman was one of the highlights of the film, especially his celebratory dance moves that take us out of the flick. This year to help promote the MTV Movie Awards Les Grossman releases a slew of promos (word is also promoting his own approaching feature film) from director AAron Stoller of Biscuit Filmworks.

I love the mock of the famous Risky Business scene, also originally played by Cruise.

Brand New School Uses Stop Motion to Animate 2010 AICP Sponsor Reel

2010-06-10T07:31:00.002-04:00

Brand New School goes old school with a low-fi stop motion sponsor reel for this year's AICP awards. The team took advantage of the rich grimy streets of New York and used them as their abstract art backgrounds to illustrate the corporate sponsor titles. I just love the peeling paint and layers of old posters and graffiti they chose to use, such rich unique images that only time and exposure on the New York streets can create.

Here's the brief on the process from the Brand New School team:

Embracing Brand New School's passions for animation, photography and filmmaking, the team first created logo animations and printed those frames on individual, brightly colored pieces of paper. Then, armed with a Canon 5D, tape, and a small fleet of bicycles for transportation, they spent 5 days traveling multiple boroughs capturing the footage. "For each company's mark, we devised animations and then scoured neighborhoods in search of locations for them that would all work together," said Adolfsen. "We tried never to repeat ourselves, each time trying to raise the bar. It was like a big game, played on the walls and streets of the city." Music and mix credits for the Sponsor Reel go to the incredible talents at Stimmüng.

Ford Fiesta's Crazy Choreographed Commercial

2010-06-02T09:37:00.004-04:00

I love filmmaking that you can tell took a lot of work in the choreography and preplanning, it just reveals the art form and brain power a bit more in my opinion than something made completely in post - i guess i'm just a lo-fi type of girl. this new spot for the Ford Fiesta where signage and other ambient elements start to communicate with the driver makes me smile.

The agency responsible is super agency Team Detroit, the song is called "Janglin" from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

Get HIm to the Greek Animated spot for Adult Swim

2010-06-02T09:33:00.002-04:00

boy i have had the hardest time finding a copy of this animated spot for Get Him to the Greek that i saw late one night on Adult Swim. I love it and i'm not sure why they don't spread it around the superweb (i'm talking to you adult swim..)

All i was able to find out was that it was produced by animation studio Titmouse specifically for adult swim...check it out below. (yes i know it's via someone's iphone taping their tv but i'll replace it once a good copy surfaces i promise!)

Billboards Come to Life with the Help of Olympus and Seeded by The Viral Factory

2010-05-21T17:09:00.004-04:00

Billboard Ads come to life - your worst nightmare? Remember that Simpsons's Tree House of Horror when all of the advertising Icons were destroying the city? (just dont look- just dont look)

Well this is a lot less scary. A follow up to "The PEN Story" one year later - and super sized created from a series of stills blown up and photographed again in their surroundings with the PEN camera creating a new stop motion adventure.

for those of you interested in the origins of the story here ya go!

Toyota Avalon Travels Back in Time

2010-04-21T23:29:00.002-04:00

What do you guys think about these new retro kitsch Toyota Avalon commercials? They are part Mad Men, part vintage advertising, and part stepford wife creepy.

At first i thought they totally missed their mark, trying to be vintage but not going far enough with the aesthetic, lighting or film stocks, but the more i see them, and think about the two of them as a campaign rather than individual spots i get the kitsch factor much more and kinda really like them. I also like the idea of travel as a luxury rather than a given or a right, it's a nice change of perception. thoughts? Mr. Sandman bring me a dream?

AT&T Whisks us Into a World of Imagination

2010-04-20T22:38:00.002-04:00

How can you not look up when this sweet lullaby from Gene WIlder and our childhoods breaks through TV noise? The first time it aired i was glued to the TV, smile on my face, ecstatic that someone was using the charming soundtrack from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and intrigued by the childish drawings that sprung to life, waiting attentively for the punch line - the brand.

AT&T. I was shocked and a bit disappointed at first it didnt seem to fit but i guess that was their intention, to begin to change the perception of the brand. I'm excited to see what comes next.

The new spot is part of the "Re-think Possible" campaign via BBDO, directed by Peter Thwaites.

For those who are feeling the impulse to watch the Willy Wonka scene, here it is!

Bansky Documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop

2010-04-17T11:15:00.003-04:00

Street Art fans rejoice -Exit Through the Gift Shop, a look inside the life of art on the streets has opened in select cities, making it's way to Boston's Kendall Square Theater next week.

for those interested check out this review, some interesting insight into the film, Bansky and street art.

Meet Birdman's Tattoos

2010-04-15T11:26:00.002-04:00

Jerry Pyle over at Pictures in a Row sent me this spec project of his that I couldn't help but share. Just in time for the NBA playoffs Chris "Birdman" Andersen's tattoos come to life to talk about the excitement of the post season.

I think it's the beginning of something great - can't you see an action adventure animated series featuring these guys? It could be a great cast of characters - good stuff Jerry!

here is some more of the REAL Birdman talking about his tats for those who are interested in the inspiration.

The Pacific Opening Credit Sequence

2010-03-29T21:03:00.004-04:00

Have you been watching The Pacific on HBO? If so you can't help but be amazed at the gorgeous opening title sequence. Sketches transition seamlessly into black and white photographs and dust from breaking charcoal shards elegantly portray shrapnel and explosions in the sand.

Below is the animatic from director Steve Fuller for Imaginary forces that won the job.

The Pacific Opening Credits from Steve Fuller on Vimeo.

You can check out the finished product here on the Imaginary Forces website.

The Viral Factory's Solar Controlled Earth Hour Countdown

2010-03-24T11:03:00.003-04:00

Earth Hour is upon us once again. This Saturday the 27th residents and businesses around the world will shut off for an hour in an act to conserve energy and unite in awareness of the energy crisis world wide.

The Viral Factory produced and created a light sensitive or interactive stop motion animation with music from Hot Chip for the occasion.

The version on the Earth Hour site senses the light level via your computer's web cam and dictates the version of the story told. Check it out for yourself here: http://www.myearthhour.org/lightsoff

The YouTube version has a built in toggle light switch so that you can jump back and forth between the story lines...very cool. i love this idea and the video is really entertaining too.

Diane Birch One Take Music Video

2010-03-20T11:41:00.002-04:00

This video from Diane Birch for 'Valentino' directed by Dennis Liu of @radical.media is another great feat in choreography. Though the planning stages had to be extremely complex the end result has almost a sweet low-fi essence to it that reminds me of children performing in front of a tied up sheet for the neighborhood. The reality of the degree of performance couldn't be more different as is evident in the behind the scenes footage where the screen comes down.

Zappos.com - Powered by Puppets...err Real People

2010-03-15T12:44:00.003-04:00

How can you not love these new ads for Zappos.com via their new agency of note Boston's own Mullen? Everyone loves some good puppetry, right? and if nothing else the lo-fi aesthetic stands out amongst the flashy car commercials and highly produced sport drink ads while staying making the simple point, Zappos.com has fantastic human customer service.

for those of you interested in some more about the creative process check out this video with thoughts from the creatives at Mullen, directors, character designers, and "zappet-iers."

Jamie Cullum Cry Me a River from the House of Blues

2010-03-10T12:44:00.002-05:00

I had the pleasure of seeing Jamie Cullum perform at the House of Blues here in Boston over the weekend. One of the highlights, for me, was his amazing remix of Cry Me a River combining the original song from Ella Fitzgerald and the Justin Timberlake hit with the same name. Being a masshole i have to admit the Aerosmith cover off of Rock and a Hard Place is one of my favorite renditions of the heartbreaking Fitzgerald classic but this one is in tough competition, split into two videos below.

...and in true Two If By See style i have to share the originals for the full effect:

Pirelli Commercial Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

2010-03-08T11:54:00.002-05:00

To celebrate the historic wins for Kathryn Bigelow last night at the Oscars I wanted to share her most recent commercial work, this short film starring Uma Thurman and shot by Janusz Kaminski for Pirelli titled, Mission Zero.

and check out this peek behind the scenes for a scope of the production, the stunts, and the special effects.

OK GO Plays Mousetrap with This Too Shall Pass

2010-03-03T19:26:00.002-05:00

It's nice to see that OK GO has continued it's run of excellent, and hopefully virally successful, music videos. You remember Mouse Trap right? (the board game, not the movie) if not what about the breakfast scene from Pee Wee's Big Adventure?

Well OK Go, with the help of director James Frost (Zoo Films) and Syyn Labs created a life sized, and extremely intricate, moving chain reaction machine that in itself took months of pre-planning to create before the camera choreography was even a thought - the end result - fun. really really fun. Check it out.

Here's some trivia for you, the actual name of such a machine is a Rube Goldberg machine, a machine that achieves a simple task in an over complicated or convoluted manner.

Want to see that Pee Wee scene? You got it!

Feeding America

2010-02-25T15:29:00.001-05:00

How to create a good PSA.

1. take beautiful black and white footage of people

2. add Tom Waits

3. top off with fun creative gimmick such as reinforcing literal message with human body parts

These are actually a few years old but they were running the other day and i just liked them. They remind me of the found alphabet photos and spell with flickr. (both endless fun and inspiration, I think i might take this concept to make some DIY gifts for approaching weddings, what a good excuse to hit the city with the camera?)