Neophyte Directors and Agents

Well...almost. Chris Jones isn't really a new director, but he accepts he has to start again on his career path (more or less). As the author of the Guerrilla Film Makers books (which are excellent), he has now shot a rather cool short film and is

On of his recent blog posts documents his initial meeting with an agent about his future, how they can help him and what he needs to think about. The video is cool to see, especially in Shepperton :)

My First Music Video - Tin Man's Emotional Response

I have finally completed a film project! Here is my first music video, shot for the English band Tin Man's next single "Emotional Response". Filmed around Norwich, the video follows Dorothy Cinders - a confused young lady who treats her shoes like the puppy she never had! If you like it, please leave a comment on the youtube page.

Jaguar's Sins - Sensual Cinematography

The cinematography and motion graphics for this Jaguar advert are absolutely amazing.

Automated Music Videos

The concept of automated music videos has existed in some form for a while. Various media players have used visualisation techniques to render a visual sequences as an expression of the music. This podcast from designer Jakob Trollback, discusses his experiments in this subject. Although it is an interest concept, it is not really an interesting video ;)

Trollback + Company is a top notch creative studio who have done some amazing work - their motion graphics work in particular impressed me.

Iron Man - An Audi Production

This evening I went to the pictures. The movie I watched was the one that everyone had told me was "the best comic book adaptation so far!!!". Sounded promising, but I've not really been that impressed by comic book adaptations, so was just hoping to be entertained for 2 hours (and 6 mins + all the ads + the trailers + those really, really annoying Orange spots). As well as being a comic book adaptation, Iron Man - tonight's "picture" - it was also a was also a was also a 126 min commercial for Audi.

Audi and Iron Man raised product placement to an all time high. Since leaving the cinema and driving home in my non-Audi car, I have ordered an Audi, had an Audi tattoo on my Audi and Audi'd my Audi in the Audi. Ooopps! Is product placement going to be the future of advertising? Audi certainly think so - and they think in the future if anyone needs to fight evil forces, they will be doing it in an Audi. In I, Robot, Will Smith's character drove around in an Audi concept car that looked very similar to their R8. In fact, it was Audi RSQ - a concept car made specifically for the movie - a first, apparently. Well, a world first if you believe their press release, alternatively you might cast your memory back a bit further to Minority Report - remember the Lexus that was featured in that film? Made specifically for the film? Not the only idea from Minority Report that influenced I, Robot!

Apparently Audi have been at it for a while - check out Ronin, The Insider, Mission Impossible II, The Mothman Prophecies, About a Boy and the auteuristic Legally Blond 2 (I am told the sequel is EVEN better!!!!!) I love ads and I love movies, but a movie trying to be an ad didn't really work for me. If anything, it made me think that Audi are a manipulative corporation, who think they can be hip by buying their way into a cool movie. I know times are tight and producers have to be more creative about where they get their sources of money, but they still need to think about taste - and not just the taste of a tasty American burger!

Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?!

Tony Kaye's Dynamo Systeme advert for Kronenbourg 1664

From the Kronenbourg website:

The new ad from Kronenbourg 1664 introduces our new product. Dynamo Systeme - a lager that gives you smaller bubbles for a smoother taste.

Shot in Prague, the ad brings you into the world of the Kronenbourg kitchen hidden within the Dynamo Systeme widget and follows the work of our expert bubble chefs as they use their culinary skills to create the smaller bubbles found in new Kronenbourg 1664 with Dynamo Systeme. Under the supervision of the Head Chef, each chef uses their individual skills to ensure that each bubble is the perfect size giving you the smoother tasting larger.

Prolific director Tony Kaye was chosen to shoot the advert as a consequence of his unique way of looking at the world. The script itself introduces the viewer to a surreal world and therefore the storytelling needed to capture this. Tony’s belief that the story must always be based on reality to ensure that those watching can relate to the idea enabled him to create the world of Dynamo Systeme and invite the viewer to experience it through his eyes.

View the ad here.

Tony Kaye Returns to Ads

Claire Beale on Advertising in today's Independent (Myths and magic of the man who puts adland on the edge of its seat) looks at some of Tony Kaye's more bizarre behaviour and talks about his recent return to directing commercials, this time for Kronenbourg 1664. I haven't seen the ad yet, but I will monitor youtube until it surfaces!

Tony Kaye's "Twister" Commercial for Volvo

Employing documentary elements, combined with strong colours reminicent of his Dunlop ad, Tony Kaye made a great commercial for Volvo with this piece.

Why Tony Scott Was Asked To Direct Top Gun

Although Tony Scott had directed the rather cool horror movie, The Hunger, it was this advert for Saab that got him the gig of directing Top Gun - one of the highest grossing movies of the 1980s. Made for Swedish car manufacturer Saab, the ad depicts a Saab 900 Turbo racing against a Saab 37 Viggen fighter jet. Excess, peach sunsets and homoerotic imagery - power-ballad-tastic!

Ridley Scott's Short Film

Before starting at the BBC, before making commercials, and before making The Duellists, Ridley Scott made a sweet little 16mm short film called Boy And Bicycle. The commentary track on the DVD for The Duellists from Ridley is a masterclass in getting going - as he quotes Nike, "just do it!"

Read more about it here.