Thursday, February 25, 2010

Feeding America

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?)

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Art Around the World with Skype Outside and The Viral Factory

To promote Skype Outside with the help of The Viral Factory, the call has gone out to Skpe your messages to a variety of artists, from street performers and shadow artists to sculptors to recreate you messages in art. Personally, I'm waiting for the marraige proposal - c'mon! someone's gotta do it!

Check out the call for messages here:

and the first round of messages have come in, see the results here:


New Warm & Fuzzy Short from Plexi

seriously cute just because from directing collective Plexi to show off their new blog.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Experimental Films for MAC Cosmetics from We Are Plus

MAC cosmetics, a brand not particularly associated with broad advertising campaigns, has been utilizing these complex, colorful and sexy brand films to help support the company culture and style for a number of years. The films are used in a range of ways from website and in store visual material to corporate messaging, supporting the brand in a visceral visual sense that has helped to define the voice of the company.

The newest brand film, "Spring Color Forecast" is true to it's title in that it is a visual montage color study incorporating and playing with the key colors of the new spring line. Much more of an experiment in sound, color and filmmaking than an advertisement, you can see how the typical responders and target audience may not be the Cover Girl wearers of the world.

MAC Cosmetics "Spring Colour Forecast" from We Are Plus on Vimeo.

We Are Plus has been the production company of note for MAC Cosmetic's branding video for the last seven years and have amassed quiet the portfolio of work for the brand. This piece, "d'Bohemia" speaks to me with it's vintage sea side holiday aesthetic, i love the postcard writing that leads you through the story, and the subtle animation used to bring the vignettes to life.


MAC Cosmetics "d'Bohemia" from We Are Plus on Vimeo.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Outstanding Vancouver Olympic Ads

Keeping with the Winter Olympic theme i couldn't resist sharing these two spots that i love.

The first is the Coca Cola snowball fight in the Olympic village. I love the fun loving air of playing, i think it's a great light to shine on the olympics because, though it is serious competition - in the end it is all a game isn't it?





The second is this Nike spot appropriately called "Human Chain" from director Brian Beletic of smuggler and VFX from MassMarket. it reminds me a bit of one of my
all time favorite spots, "What Goes Around Comes Around" could be why i enjoy it so much. I do love the visual of needing a team of yourself to accomplish your goals, it makes me think of countless training sessions, trial runs, failed attempts and the repetition required to become a champion.


Monday, February 15, 2010

Animated Commercials of the Vancouver Olympics

Like much of the world i have fund myself glued to the Olympic coverage this weekend, more concerned with luge results and biathlons than i even knew possible, and i gotta say, where the Super Bowl spots might have fallen short i think the Vancouver Olympic Games commercials have been rather impressive. Feeling overwhelmed i thought I'd start to tackle the list with some of my favorite animated spots of the 2010 Winter Games.

To start it off, i found this spot for BBC Olympic coverage from AKA and thought it was a must see.


These spots for Diet Coke, directed by Pistachios via Blacklist and W+K are so simple, but i've been really drawn to the simple lately, with so much photoreal, and VFX skill a sweetly animated line drawing is what i find cuts through the clutter to reach me.







Honda Crosstour, i love these throwback animated spots from director Andy Hall of Elastic, though the campaign began late last year the spots are all over the Olympic coverage.




Visa "Julia Manscuso" , a lot of the Visa Go World spots are fantastic for different reasons, (the Dan Jansen spot makes me misty every time i see it) but i love the minimal hand made feel the brand went with for this animated story of drive and accomplishment.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Building the Bud Light House

frat boys - avert you're eyes, as amazing as this feat is it involves the dumping of countless cases of beer...you were warned.

as an art department girl i just love this stuff, a project where each step is a new problem to solve with a skill that you will probably never need again - but it looks so good, doesn't it?



Monday, February 8, 2010

Super Bowl 2010 Spots

Though no one spot jumped through the screen and had be laughing on the floor, but there were a few i liked more than others...

Coca Cola Sleepwalker


VW Punch Buggy


The Throwbacks...

The Griswald's


The Super Bowl Shuffle 2010

...and the original for those that need a refresher


and because i love the Simpson's and my sock monkey

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The Big Chill

For the worst of reasons we are living in The Big Chill this week. I hope for new memories mixed with the tears and really good tunes.