Culver City/Vancouver-based visual effects house Zoic Studios illuminates branded content in a big way for AT&T in the new, large-scale web series “Daybreak” out of BBDO, produced by RSA Films, LA.  The final of five, 10-minute webisodes broke last week on the primary site as well as the supporting microsite and iPhone and Android app.  The series was executive produced by Tim Kring (Heroes, Touch) and directed by John Cassar of 24 fame. Led by the vision of the BBDO creative team including Senior Creative Director David Carter,  EPs of Content & Development Julian Katz and Nicholoas Gaul and Creative Director/Art Director Danilo Boer, Zoic’s contributions include animation and visual effects work throughout the series and title sequence as well as visual effects animation work for the smartphone app features in the series.  BBDO’s point man on the series, CCO David Lubars, was also behind BMW’s wildly successful branded films produced years ago.

Zoic Creative Director Simon Mowbray led the creative team to craft a design around the historically symbolic dodecahedron.  The shape, that has held mathematical, philosophical and spiritual significance for centuries, provided a wealth of reference material for the team to draw inspiration.  Notes Mowbray, “Both the dodecahedron and an ancient geometric pattern called the ‘flower of life’ are integrated into the design of both the title sequence and the visual effects.  Subtle details like the elements of lens flares being ten-sided and the light beams in the finale being created by a dodecahedron source were used to subtlety but unmistakably weave the dodecahedron motif throughout the show.”

Zoic’s Tony Meister crafted the VFX and Animation for the series’ unique title sequence

The Zoic team executed the color grade and particle effects for the dodecahedron in both Chapter 3 and Chapter 5.  Additonally, Zoic also crafted the lightning, particles and explosion for the exterior New York seen in Chapter 5.  Additionally, the Zoic team was responsible for the execution and animation of the Jack Boxer Image Recognition Graphics, designed by BBDO, seen in the specially created iPhone and Android app that delivers an immersive experience to audiences beyond the webseries.
The online show follows the story of Ben Wilkens, who finds himself at the center of a global conspiracy. When he discovers a dodecahedron, an “ancient and powerful object,” he quickly learns that he must restore the object to its rightful place so that humanity will be able to make its next evolutionary leap forward.

Imaginative and mysterious lighting of NYC for “Daybreak”

“Daybreak Episode 1” opens on a pulse-quickening car chase and shootout: two men, one our hero the other a tech-savvy driver, are being pursued by a police cruiser. In a frenzy, the driver demands our hero hookup his phone with a “Jack app” to transfer essential information. We don’t yet know what any of this means, but know it’s a matter of life or death. As the bullets begin to fly, we cut to the opening title sequence; an artful, Zoic-created graphical tribute to the series’ title and creators. Post-title sequence, the story of a recently deceased physicist’s son unfolds, revealing early on that this son harbors secrets that could change, or ruin, life on earth as we know it.

About Zoic Studios

Zoic Studios is a visual effects company based in Culver City, California, which creates computer-generated special effects for film, television, commercials and video games.

“Visual Evolution” is their mission: to evolve the story, art, and technology of the moving image, and through this evolution, broaden the audience for everything they work on.

Zoic’s accomplished artists and producers understand story, process, technique and relationships. Their team has a proven track record of success in a range of media including episodic, film, commercials and gaming. Masters in the fields of 3D, Compositing, and Production Management, their elite reputation attracts additional talent and encourages a strong work ethic. Zoic’s relationships with its clients are deep and long lasting. The company is known for results-driven excellence in all endeavors.

Credits:

Spot Title: AT&T Presents “Daybreak”
Client/Production: BBDO/RSA Films

Concept: BBDO
Series Producers: Tim Kring & Jules Daly
Screenplay By Raven Metzer

Agency: BBDO NY
Chairman & CCO: Dave Lubars
Executive Creative Director: Greg Hahn
Senior Creative Director: David Carter
Senior Creative Director/Copy Writer: Adam Reeves
Creative Director/Art Director: Danilo Boer
Executive Producer of Content & Development: Julian Katz
Executive Producer of Content & Development: Nicholas Gaul
Interactive Executive Producer: Clemens Brandt
Interactive Executive Producer: Joe Croson
Associate Executive Producer: Emily Cohen
Client: AT&T

Production Company: RSA Films
Director: Jon Cassar
EPs: Jules Daly, Tracie Norfleet, Tom Dunlap
Producer: Dylan Massin
Producer, 2nd Unit: Jan Wieringa
Director of Photography: Curtis Wehr

Visual Effects Company: Zoic Studios
Executive Creative Director: Loni Peristere
Executive Creative Director: Chris Jones
Executive Producers: Gina Fiore & Eric McCasline
Head of Production: Barbara Genicoff, Ian Unterreiner
Producers: Jennie Burnett, Cally Morton
Post Production Coordinator: Lori Talley
VFX Supervisor: Simon Mowbray
Main Titles Art Director: Tony Meister
Lead Flame: Simon Mowbray
Main Titles Motion Design: Marcos Vaz
Flame: Renee Tymn
3D Supervisor: Andy Wilkoff
3D Lead: Mike Kirylo, Brian White
3D Generalist: Christina Murgia
Tracking: Caleb Pennypacker, Michael Maker, Randall Cormier
Compositors: Nick Guth, Kyle Spiker, Bob Homami, Michael Dobbs, Elizabeth Mclelland, Matt McElroy
Roto/Paint: Matt McElroy, Andrea Hernandez

Editorial/VFX/Post: BUTCHER editorial
Editors: Dave Henegar, Ray Daniels, Teddy Gersten, & Chris Scheer
Assistant Editors: Kelly Hanson and Dustin LaForce
Smoke Artist: Zac Dych
EP: Rob Van
Post Supervisor: Chris Ott
Producer: Christina Neferis

Interactive Production Company: North Kingdom, Stockholm
Creative Director: Marcus Ivarsson
Producer: Mia Berggren

Colorist: Clark Mueller, Incendio