Nunchaku’s Kasakoff Redefines Latino Culture for Kraft Mac & Cheese
Buenos Aires/L.A.-based production company Nunchaku director Nicolas “Nico” Kasakoff conducts a secret midnight KRAFT Mac & Cheese expedition in the comedic new :30 “Secret Purchase” for KRAFT Macaroni & Cheese out of Crispin Porter + Bogusky. The campaign features the two additional :15s “Realization” and “Forbidden Love” and combats the square image of stereotypical KRAFT Mac & Cheese devotees with the finesse of latin charm.
May Flux Screening Series at The Hammer Museum: Creativity in a Time of Flux
Join us on Wednesday, May 22nd for this month’s installment of the Flux Screening Series, celebrating innovative film work and the people that create them. The evening will feature an exciting array of new work including the L.A. premiere of David Shane’s hilarious new short film, “Playdate” and new music videos for David Bowie, Passion Pit, Gaslamp Killer, Benjamin Biolay, among others. Special guest filmmakers in attendance include Brian Billow, Ethan Clarke, DANIELS, Hyperballad, Ian and Cooper, Kirsten Lepore, The Lover and David Shane.
Philip Seymour Hoffman To Star in Park Pictures Feature ‘God’s Pocket’
Park Pictures Features producers Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Sam Bisbee, Lance Acord and Galt Niederhoffer were written up by Deadline upon announcement of Philip Seymour Hoffman starring in their feature ‘God’s Pocket,’ directed by John Slattery (Mad Men).
BRW USA’s The Salto Brothers’ Smooth Moves for Nissan
BRW USA, Los Angeles directing duo The Salto Brothers pave roads with a simple joyride in the stylishly visual new :30 “Bad Roads” for Nissan out of TBWA\G1, TBWA\Moscow. Produced by Standard Films for the European markets, the spot features a perfectly smooth forest road being paved instantly as a man accelerates through in a Nissan Almera.
Backyard’s Xander™ and ASICS Inspire Athletes to Chase “What’s Next”
Backyard director Xander™ is going to make you feel out of shape in his stylish and kinetic new :60/:30/:15 “What’s Next” for ASICS out of Vitro, San Diego, CA. The spot, featuring top ASICS-sponsored athletes including Olympians Lolo Jones, Bryan Clay and April Steiner Bennett, visualizes the physical and mental tenacity required of champions.
Park Pictures’ Terri Timely Delivers a Pleasant Portrait of Life on the Farm for Whole Foods
Park Pictures director Terri Timely captures fresh visuals of organic farming and clean eating to a delightful rendition of Halle Petro’s “The Green Grows All Around” in a :34 spot titled “Food from a Happy Place” for Whole Foods.
Zoic Studios Delivers Gruesome Werewolf Encounters for Netflix’s “Hemlock Grove”
Culver City/Vancouver-based visual effects house Zoic Studios delivers a dose of spine-tingling transformations from human to beast in the new Netflix original murder mystery series “Hemlock Grove” produced by Gaumont International TV. The series, from executive producers Eli Roth, Brian McGreevy, Lee Shipman, Mark Verheiden, Deran Sarafian, Eric Newman, and Michael Connolly, centers on the mysterious murder of a young woman in a Pennsylvania steel town. Zoic tapped into their experience in creating photorealistic wolves on shows like “True Blood” and “Once Upon a Time” in their work on “Hemlock Grove.” The 13 hour-long episodes are currently available exclusively on Netflix.
Nunchaku’s Kasakoff Stimulates a Vegan Appetite for PETA
Buenos Aires/L.A.-based production company Nunchaku director Nicolas “Nico” Kasakoff makes a compelling plea for veganism with the display of less than exemplary animal behavior in the new :55 “Do It Like They Do” for Peta out of Fallon London. The spot features a witty compilation of shots showcasing the strategic censoring of animal parts, convincing viewers that “Vegans have a bigger sexual appetite.”
Zoic adds Paulus Bannink to Games Division
Culver City/Vancouver-based visual effects house Zoic Studios continue to bolster their burgeoning game division with the addition of Dutch game industry veteran Paulus Bannink as Creative & Technical Director. He comes to Zoic from Sony Computer Entertainment and Guerrilla Games where he worked on the Killzone game series since its inception in 2004. His diverse experience in game development encompasses both technical development and artist roles, working to develop pipelines and also remaining nimble to adapt his creative work to already existing pipelines. Through the years, Bannink has shared his technical prowess at top industry events including Siggraph, CEDEC and GDC.
Cutting Room Amps Up the “Flash Workout” for Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Campaign
Cutting Room, NY editor Brian Sanford teams up with Light of Day Productions director Charles Nordeen to engage a fresh batch of celebrities urging kids to get active with dancing in the 2:27 music video “Move Your Body 2013″ for Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Campaign. The web video features singer Carly Rae Jepsen, UK hit boy band The Wanted, “American Idol” winner Jessica Sanchez, Eve, Bella Thorne, Blake Michael, Coco Jones, Jacob Latimore, Mindless Behavior, Perez Hilton and Madison Beer delivering an expert “flash workout” guide to Beyonce’s “Move Your Body.” The video features the celebrities demonstrating the workout with the crafty aid of colorfully animated notebook-style instructions.