The Ministry of Sound last night hosted the tenth Chip Shop Awards, an event I look forward to hearing about (not that I have been to.)
It’s all tongue in cheek and I think it’s a chance to let your hair down and dive into some serious creative deviance. Often there is a serious message but often it’s naughty, topical and sometimes downright shocking. This year there was a ‘Best use of Jimmy Saville’ category!
This gem won the Chairman’s Award, and my award (for what it’s worth!)
(I stole the disclaimer below – just to let you know what you may be about to see)
Disclaimer – It should be assumed The Chip Shop Award entries do not reflect the views, policies or strategies of any organisation living or dead. In fact it has mostly been created without the knowledge of those the work purports to either promote or parody.
WARNING – SOME ADS MAY OFFEND
I can’t think of a more fitting post to go under the heading ‘Inspiration’
“Ray Harryhausen may not be familiar to everyone but to those who do know it, his name stands as a landmark in the history of a genre and cinematic art, the art of dimensional stop-motion animation. Ray made his name by developing fantastic stories and creatures based on legends and mythology and creating a unique genre of fantasy films during the 1950s, 60s and 70s that took the movie making world, and the public, by storm.”
“The world of online video changes on a daily basis. One new trend emerges only to be replaced in less than 24 hours by another viral hit. Tracking the figures of total viewers and their watching habits will help you adjust your Internet marketing campaigns. The viewing figures for January 2013 are just coming in and they show that users are embracing video even more than ever as part of their daily routines. Viewing of both meaningful content and video advertising has increased by a surprising amount.
In total, over 80% of users around the world viewed at least one online video during January 2013. The average viewing time was set at around 5 minutes, but plenty of viewers watched well over an hour of content during the month. Video ads that received the most views stayed short and to the point, with the majority of them remaining under 30 seconds in length.
(…) content with an educational, entertaining or informational slant remains the best bet for marketers looking for real engagement. Spend the bulk of your video marketing budget on useful content and stick only a small fraction of it in more obvious and direct ads.”
An introduction to Video Advertising discussing its role in marketing, adspend, the work of the IAB Council and showcasing examples of creativity in video.
I know I know – It’s all about Leveson this morning! I have listened to the depressing antics of the despicable media and also the sad tales of desperate celebrities and I thought ‘what’s going to cheer me up today?’
Another hero of mine – looking back at some of my animation work, I can see very clear references to his. I wish I had met him!
“I want everything we do to be beautiful. I don’t give a damn whether the client understands that that’s worth anything, or that the client thinks it’s worth anything, or whether it is worth anything. It’s worth it to me. It’s the way I want to live my life. I want to make beautiful things, even if nobody cares.” ~Saul Bass
Now, if any clients are reading this – I’m not necessarily agreeing with the not giving a damn bit, but I understand the meaning in this statement. I want to make beautiful things too!
One of my favourite title sequences he did below for It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World:
I knew it was coming and I think it’s for the best but that didn’t stop me from shedding a tear….
During my usual procrastinations (ahem) research! I nipped on over to my usual hiding place http://www.airside.co.uk as, quite simply, I love them. Lots of people obsess over ‘popstars’ ‘filmstars’ and the like, mine was Airside!
May 2001 – I was introduced, via my superb boss at the time, to Airside and the potty, Fred Deakin, Alex and Nat and honestly, since then they have been my inspiration.
I have followed everything they have done and have (countless times) scoured their site for an idea. In fact they have always been the first place I would look. Whether commercial work or personal I have ripped them off more than a couple of times. Christ, I even covered my first childs nursery walls with copies of the singing animal vinyls, taken straight from their Orange Playlist bumper project
Nice Weather For Ducks still makes it onto all of my playlists…
Here’s to a brand new year and resolutions and hopes and dreams!
I have a small list of achievable goals I fully intend to realise in the next few weeks / months – but seeing this video made me think of the big one!
For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to be the very best at something….. anything ??? Watch this video (while you can as it is apparently being taken off YouTube due to copyright issues!)
How wonderful would it be to find that one thing you are better than anyone else at… regardless of what it is!
Oh come on! If that didn’t raise a smile or even a giggle then you need to have a word with yourself.
I’ve edited 6 corporate videos today (OK – so they were short ones!) But it’s a sunny Sunday when I should really have been doing something more fun with my family…..
However, for a few minutes we all watched the new Muppets trailer and all had a laugh. For me, its nostalgic, for the kids, magic!
I love keeping an eye on Google for the latest doodles. I can imagine there are a crack team of researchers, animators and illustrators, waiting in the wings to get their work seen by millions, the creative world at their feet! Their latest is a simple homage to Freddie Mercury who would have been turning 65 – love it!
….again, the music isn’t my cuppa tea, but blimey I adore the real-time graphics. I bet we’ll see a lot more of this style of interactive graphics from now on!
We are full steam ahead with our Hippotizer training, for Boiling Frog The Musical, incorporating our own ideas for real-time motion graphics on stage.
(perhaps Beyonce’s was also done with the Hippotizer!!)
I wasn’t a massive fan of Bruno Mars (I am now!) but this video had me enthralled. There is a cut (Did you spot it?) but it looks to be done almost seamlessly and the sheer talent is evident.
It appears to me that a great idea and a healthy dose of talent can trump technology!
With over twenty years of corporate film-making experience and a full range of the latest equipment, VWP will work with you to capture the essence of your product, company or message from initial concept through to a finished film. We will also ensure delivery of the film in the very best format(s) for your requirements.
Your company, product or purpose is essential to the success of the film so we will take time to research and get to know your brand. We will co-develop any initial concepts you may already have and/or provide our ideas using our wealth of experience and knowledge of film.
Once a brief and a budget has been agreed, we will arrange locations, props and any permissions required. On the day of filming VWP will arrive on location early, set up our film, lighting, and sound equipment, meet any presenters and ensure they are at ease. We are a small crew and strive to cause minimum disruption, if any, to the normal working function of your company during filming.
Once we're happy we have all the required footage, we take the rushes away for post-production, editing, sound, music and animation. We will keep you updated and send frequent links to our secure website for you to check progress and enable you to make comments and amends.
