Hiccup Media Rocks Music Biz With Featured Video Content For Its Biggest Acts

Working closely with major record labels such as RCA and Epic, a has become an indispensable creative resource for crafting engaging, conceptually driven video content, graphics packages and more for music’s biggest stars.

“There’s such a high demand for content today, not just music videos, but content that takes fans where most can’t go – backstage, into the recording studio or on the set of their latest music video,” Nicholas Robespierre, Vice President, Video Production at RCA Records says. “It’s the kind of content that demands a creative studio that is nimble and able do a lot of things well. Sometimes we need a live action production, sometimes we need an animation or graphics package, sometimes an edit. That’s why we’ve worked with Hiccup for nearly 7 years – they can do it all.”

Recent Hiccup music work includes a 30-minute documentary about the making of Michael Jackson’s latest posthumous release “Xscape” that recently aired on BET; a behind the scenes look at guitarist Santana’s latest music video that ties into World Cup 2014; the iconic music video “Goldie” for hip hop artist A$AP Rocky; and an array 2-3 minute promotional pieces for Gavin DeGraw, Cage The Elephant and Sleeper Agent, to name a few.

Additionally, Hiccup director John Poliquin’s work on Universal Music artist Hedley’s video “Anything” was nominated for 4 MuchMusic Video Awards, including Best Director.

Agency Mindset:
For Hiccup Creative Director Rob Simone, the primary reason for Hiccup’s success in the music industry centers on a creative agency mindset that emphasizes a conceptual approach in sync with the artists’ image, music, website, photos, etc.

“We are first and foremost a creative agency,” Simone says. “While we do amazing production and post work, we don’t come to these projects with a post or production mindset. We think like an agency, and for our music work that means looking closely at the artist as a whole and coming up with a conceptual approach that works for them.”

For Chief Creative Officer Michael Cruz, the challenge for the company’s music projects centers on tight deadlines (sometimes as little as a few days), and volume (as many as 10 different projects in the pipeline in a given month). The secret, Cruz notes, is the Hiccup workflow and a creative team that’s been refined over the years like a finely tuned instrument.

“We’ve really perfected the process,” Cruz says. “It’s not easy to work on as many music projects as we do and give each of them their own unique look and feel, especially given the deadlines and budgets, but we’ve managed to make it work, and in the process become a major player in this competitive arena.”


About Hiccup Media:
In 2006, we believed that brands were developing a need for a different type of agency. With the growing demands for video, mobile and content in general, a secondary more nimble firm was becoming more of a necessity. Hiccup Media was founded to meet that demand. We believe that broadcast work and non-broadcast work are equally important and dually essential pieces of a brand’s strategy. Therefore, we develop creative timing and cost solutions that make sense in today’s industry and we never sacrifice quality. For more info go to http://www.hiccupmedia.com.


Web Resources:
Click here to view Hiccup Media website:
http://www.hiccupmedia.com
https://www.facebook.com/Hiccup.Media

Click here to check out Hiccup Media’s recent music work:
http://vimeopro.com/hiccupmedia/music-work

HOBO Audio Captures Powerful Sonic Mood For Intense New HISTORY Documentary Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours to Live

NEW YORK, NY – While there is no shortage of media coverage surrounding the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy, few look at it from the perspective of Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours To Live, a two-hour special premiering Friday, November 22 at 10 p.m. on HISTORY® featuring audio post/sound design by HOBO Audio.

“This is not a traditional documentary – the film’s dramatic re-creations and cinematography make for very compelling viewing,” says Howard Bowler, President of HOBO. “The challenge for us was to find the best moments to amp up the tension, and conversely, to know when to let other moments breathe. This, like our other work with HISTORY, is very rewarding thanks to the quality of their productions. It’s an honor to be a part of such a finely tuned storytelling process.”

Directed, produced and written by Anthony Giacchino (based on the book by Steven M Gillon), Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours To Live is a minute-by-minute account of the final two days of Oswald’s life – his attempt to flee, his capture by the police, and the grueling interrogation by the Dallas police detectives prior to being shot by Jack Ruby – a chapter of history that raised more questions than it answered.

The production stands out as the first documentary to tell Oswald’s story by filming inside the Dallas Municipal Building, where the old Dallas Police Department was housed.  It’s also the first film to accurately portray Oswald’s interrogation inside Captain Will Fritz’s actual office.

Working with music licensed from the Extreme Music catalog, Chris Stangroom, HOBO’s Senior Audio Engineer, headed the audio mix for the film, which included sound design, audio clean up of archival footage and ADR. For Stangroom, the key to the project was finding ways to match the powerful visuals shot by Giacchino.

“The film is so inspired visually, with moody re-creations of pivotal scenes and dramatic slow-motion footage that heighten the tension,” Stangroom says. “I felt I had to raise my game with the sound.”

For Giacchino, this project represents the fourth consecutive film he’s entrusted to HOBO, and it looks like just the beginning.

“Music and sound is such a big part of any film, and HOBO has great creative sensibilities -- they never push it into cheesy, over-the-top ways,” Giacchino says. “I trust them and their audio judgement immensely.”


About HOBO Audio:
HOBO is an audio post production company dedicated to creating an exceptional listening experience. The company has earned the trust of some of the most iconic brands and companies in the world. Make yourself at HOBO.


Web Resources:
Click here for more info about HOBO Audio:
http://www.hoboaudio.com/

Click here to watch a trailer for "Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours to Live”:
http://vimeo.com/79260194

Click here for more info about "Lee Harvey Oswald: 48 Hours to Live”:
http://www.history.com/shows/jfk-specials/episodes

Music Production Library Endo Music Song “There Were Times” Heard In "Jobs" Film And Soundtrack

Endo Music, the diverse music production library known for its work in feature films, network television and advertising, has placed the song “There Were Times” in the new Steve Jobs bio pic "JOBS" starring Ashton Kutcher and Josh Gad opening August 16, 2013.

Co-Written and performed by Endo Music Founder/CEO Freddy Monday, (along with Rick Horvath and Randall H. Light), “There Were Times” perfectly captures the jangly guitars and stacked vocal harmony driven sound of 70s-era California rock. The song is featured early in the film when Jobs is working at Atari and just beginning to develop the ideas that would come to define Apple.

“The 70's vibe was always there from the beginning,” Monday says, “but when the Endo team got together on it we took it even further adding the 12-string guitar riffs and three part chorus harmonies. The mood of the song for me is a yearning for a time passed and a feeling of isolation from choices made, and it works very well in the film.”

In addition to being heard in the film, “There Were Times” is also on the film soundtrack record, which also features classics from Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, Joe Walsh, REO Speedwagon and Toad The Wet Sprocket.

Founded by Monday and COO/Composer Phil Cimino, Endo Music boasts a collective of 25 top composers and musicians that specialize in quality customized music in all genres for Film, TV and Advertising. Their work can be heard in shows ranging from CBS’ “The Young and The Restless”, USA Network’s “Burn Notice,” TNT’s “Dark Blue” and TLC’s “Toddlers & Tiaras,” as well as the upcoming film "The Bronx Bull," a prequel to "Raging Bull" opening November 2.

Additionally, Monday is an accomplished solo artist with three albums available via iTunes. His latest single “Me Are You Are Me” will be available on iTunes October 8.

“Our musical approach to JOBS was one of authenticity in the aesthetic of the life of Steve Jobs and story we were telling,” Mason Cooper, Executive in Charge of Music, Five Star Features, Pasadena, CA, says. “Freddy has amazing creative sensibilities as an artist. In addition to his great talent and sound, his music captures the authenticity and spirit of the period that we needed for the film. It worked perfectly.”


About Endo Music:
Endo Music is a diverse music production library creating high quality compositions for Film, TV and Advertising. Their creative team collectively features over 25 composers and musicians that provide original customized music in all genres. Endo also publishes a vast library of songs, cues and Instrumentals for all production media needs. For more information visit http://www.endomusic.com/.

Web Resources:
Click here for more info about Endo Music:
http://www.endomusic.com/

Click here to stream "There Were Times":
http://endomusic.com/jobs

DuArt Names Craig Gordon Senior Editor

Award-Winning Editor Brings Accomplished Capabilities to Renowned New York City Post House

NEW YORK, NY – DuArt (www.duart.com), New York City’s comprehensive video, digital media, and film post facility, announced that it has added Craig Gordon as Senior Editor

A highly experienced video and film editor, Gordon brings 20+ years of post production expertise to his new position at DuArt, with recognition industry-wide for his deep knowledge of HD and award-winning accomplishments as a creative editor. Prior to joining DuArt, Gordon was HD Specialist/Editor for Brass Monkey Post (BMP), where he edited a wide range of projects including commercials, feature films, corporate videos, promo packages, music videos, documentaries, episodic television and museum exhibitions. Before BMP, Gordon was Head of HD development and the HD project manager for Rhinopost in New York.

Gordon’s credits include a number of high-profile projects, including the Academy Award-nominated and Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner film Trouble the Water;  the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or Award-winner Fahrenheit 9/11 directed by Michael Moore; and the acclaimed documentary A League of Ordinary Gentlemen. His extensive TV portfolio includes series for CBS, A&E, MTV, History Channel, PBS and Discovery.

Craig Gordon will be available to all of DuArt’s clients, from non-fiction television to independent documentaries and more. His addition marks the latest expansion of DuArt’s complete post production offerings.

“DuArt provides all of the services and resources that clients need today,” Gordon says. “You can work here on an extremely wide variety of formats, with an experienced and dedicated in-house support staff at the ready. We make it easy for clients to produce and post produce short-, medium-, and long-term projects, and realize significant cost savings along the way.

“This is a great time to be at DuArt,” Gordon adds. “They’ve successfully transitioned from being one of the largest film labs on the East Coast, to being recognized as a premier provider of digital content services.”

 

About DuArt:

DuArt is a full service post facility in NYC, servicing the broadcast and film industries. Operating out of their 12-story building in midtown Manhattan, DuArt provides video editing, color correct, voice recording, casting, 3D editing, direction for animation, music scoring, sound design, film and audio restoration, production space, and more. Since being established in 1922, DuArt has finished thousands of the world’s most loved feature films, documentaries, festival releases and television shows.      

For more information, please visit www.duart.com.

Calabash Animation Blow-Up The Moon In Latest For Lucky Charms

Award-Winning Studio's Latest Project For General Mills Amps Up The Energy And The Creativity

CHICAGO, IL - Apparently the moon is made of Lucky Charms cereal pieces - at least it is in the fantasy world found in "Paper Moon" -- the new CG animated ad brought to life by Calabash Animation (www.calabashanimation.com) for General Mills. The spot was created by agency Saatchi & Saatchi, New York.

"With each new Lucky Charms spot we try to build on the last one, not only story-wise but technically as well," Sean Henry, Calabash Animation's Executive Producer explains. "We always want to push it creatively and come up new ways of exploring the Lucky Charms world. For "Paper Moon", we really pushed the camera movement because we wanted to keep the energy and pace high. There are few static shots. The spot is alive and dynamic throughout."

"Paper Moon" is set amid an ancient astrological ruin -- complete with Stonehenge type slabs of rock, and marble surface revealing detailed inscriptions of Lucky Charms cereal pieces. It is there we find Lucky the Leprechaun summoning his rainbow powers to create the six new moon-shaped pieces now found in Lucky Charms.

Interrupted by those kids who are "always after his Lucky Charms," the chase is on -- until Lucky stumbles and accidentally focuses his book of magic on the moon, causing it to explode and rain cereal to the delight of the kids. The spot ends with Lucky surfing a rainbow and using the book to recapture the cereal and make his getaway.

"We had a huge challenge in making the moon blow up with all these cereal bits flying out everywhere," Wayne Brejcha, Calabash Creative Director says. "We used new software plug-ins to fragment the moon's sphere and send the pieces tumbling in every direction. The camera move was poetic and dizzying, and it works dramatically."

Brejcha adds, "We painstakingly choreographed the characters to fit this constantly moving perspective and made many revisions to get it working as smoothly as possible. From the character's perspective we wanted to push the performance of the kids and Lucky to a higher level."

About Calabash Animation:
Led by Creative Director Wayne Brejcha and Executive Producer Sean Henry, Calabash Animation, Inc. (www.calabashanimation.com) is the Chicago, Il-based animation production studio, known for its award-winning cel, 3D and stopmotion animation for the advertising and entertainment industries. Calabash Animation is perhaps best known for their creative development of some of America's most beloved brand icons. In addition to working on some of today's top advertising the company has also produced several acclaimed short films. It's 2002 short ''Stubble Trouble'' was nominated for an Academy Award in 2002.

Web Resources:
Click here to view the Lucky Charms "Paper Moon" spot:
http://calabashanimation.com/dlink.php?preview=91

Click here for more info about Calabash Animation:
http://www.calabashanimation.com

Creative Credits:
Client: General Mills/Lucky Charms
Project: "Paper Moon" (:30)

Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi, New York

Animation: Calabash Animation, Chicago, IL
Animation Director: Wayne Brejcha
Executive Producer: Sean Henry

Stephen Arnold Music Launches Little Kids Rock Benefit Drive On Facebook

Sonic Branding Company Will Donate $1 by for Each New "Like" Up to $5000 Goal

DALLAS - When programs like Little Kids Rock(tm) (www.littlekidsrock.org) - the national nonprofit that's transforming children's lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in disadvantaged public schools -- work so well, people want to get involved.

That's why Stephen Arnold Music (www.stephenarnoldmusic.com), the leader in sonic branding, is spearheading a new effort to raise $5,000 for the organization.

Simply go to their special Facebook page at http://ulink.tv/ch-17, and Stephen Arnold Music will donate $1 for each new "Like" that the campaign receives, all the way to $5,000.

Simple as that. Everyone who "Likes" the Facebook page will be helping Little Kids Rock to partner with school districts. Little Kids Rock trains public school teachers in their innovative curriculum, and donates all of the instruments and resources necessary to run full-fledged music programs.

Stephen Arnold Music first found a meaningful way to give back to Little Kids Rock in 2012: They released The Six Strings of Christmas (http://littlekidsrock.org/stephenarnold.html), an album of virtuoso guitar performances where 100% of the proceeds support the New Jersey-based nonprofit organization.

Stephen Arnold Music's sonic branding has been central to the identity of such clients as Nexstar Broadcasting, Fox Business Channel, CNN, The Weather Channel, and a full 35% of all US local TV markets.

"Kids are the next sonic branders, and we want to keep encouraging them to be creative with music," Stephen Arnold, President of Stephen Arnold Music says. "The Facebook campaign is underway, and it's been a fun and easy way to get people involved. No need to write a check -- just click and we'll cover it."

About Stephen Arnold Music:
As a multiple Emmy, Addy and Promax Gold award-winning music production company, Stephen Arnold Music has over 20 years of success in delivering the sounds that make a difference to networks, television stations, advertising agencies, film studios and video game companies the world over. The company's Commanding Sonic Branding approach to music production and commitment to industry-leading service is at the core of its promise. For more information, please visit http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com.

IKA Collective Produces Powerful Launch Campaign For New FOX Thriller THE FOLLOWING

Creative Production/Post Hybrid Transforms Industrial Property into Multiple Television Stages For One-Day Shoot With Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy and 100 Additional Cast And Crew

NEW YORK, NY -- For the launch of the new psychological drama THE FOLLOWING, which marks Golden Globe winner and Emmy Award-nominated actor Kevin Bacon's primetime series debut, Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) again turned to the creative production/post studio hybrid IKA Collective to produce one of the multi-spot promo campaigns that led to the series' highly-rated premiere. IKA had previously worked on successful series launch promo campaigns for several other FOX series, including NEW GIRL, RAISING HOPE and THE MINDY PROJECT. They also produced the extravagant promo for last season's SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE premiere.

"We're proud that FOX again entrusted us with this crucial series launch," Ian Karr, Founder/Director at IKA Collective and Executive Producer on this project, says. "Launches are a huge deal -- for the networks and for IKA. Whether it's assembling an A-list team, or coming up with creative solutions to logistical and production challenges, we thrive in that high-stakes environment."

Directed by Kerry Shaw Brown and lensed by Anthony Arendt, production on the two promos (entitled "Footsteps" and "The Raven") proved especially challenging because it called for multiple, visually unique promos to be shot in just one day. That meant finding a location that not only captured the sense of urban dystopia that drives the creative, but one that also provided enough space to build a jail cell and an FBI office set.

Karr and his production team used an abandoned grain elevator in Brooklyn as the primary location for the sequence in which series co-star James Purefoy and his many followers walk through a graffiti-filled, decaying building, leaving behind bloody footprints as they walk toward a stone-faced Bacon. The other sets were built in an adjacent structure, creating a "pop-up" production studio on the Brooklyn waterfront.

"The FOX team came to us with epic creative concepts and everyone performed at their very highest level," Karr adds. "The spots turned out great and more than 20 million viewers tuned in for the premiere. It doesn't get much better than that."

About IKA Collective:
Founded by noted brand strategist/director Ian Karr, IKA Collective is more than a production company. IKA Collective is all about communicating in a way that entertains and gets results. Our facility includes a live insert stage, five edit rooms, digital color grading, graphics, compositing and audio mixing suites, allowing us to deliver great work at budgets that make sense in every medium. Recent clients include Discovery Channel, United Airlines, Hallmark Channel and Penguin Publishing. For more information go to http://www.ikacollective.com

ABOUT THE FOLLOWING:
Airing Mondays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), THE FOLLOWING is a fast-paced psychological thriller that follows a former FBI agent who is called out of retirement to track down a devious and diabolical serial killer, the mastermind behind an ever-growing web of murderers.

THE FOLLOWING is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Outerbanks Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television. The series is created, written and executive-produced by Kevin Williamson. Marcos Siega ("Dexter," "The Vampire Diaries") also serves as an executive producer and directed the pilot.

"Like" THE FOLLOWING on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheFollowing. Follow the series on Twitter @TheFollowingFOX and join the discussion at #thefollowing.

Creative Credits:
Client: FOX Television
Project: THE FOLLOWING promo campaign -- "Footsteps" and "The Raven"
(both :45s)

Agency: FOX Television, Hollywood, CA
VP On-Air Creative: Julio Cabral
VP of Production - Special Ops: Golareh Safarian

Production: IKA Collective, New York, NY
Executive Producer: Ian Karr
Director: Kerry Shaw Brown
Producer: Gary Kout
Director of Photography: Anthony Arendt

Web Resources:
Click here to watch THE FOLLOWING promo "Footsteps":
http://player.vimeo.com/video/55485711

Click here for more info about IKA Collective:
http://www.ikacollective.com
Click here for more info about THE FOLLOWING:
http://www.fox.com/the-following/

New Napoleon Group Studio Reimagines Production

 Acclaimed Company Blurs The Lines Between Pre-viz And Post With A Smarter Studio In-Tune With Contemporary Agency Needs

NEW YORK, NY - Seizing on the opportunity for growth and expansion within their industry, The Napoleon Group (http://www.napny.com) -- the leading pre-viz and post production studio led by Founder Marty Napoleon and President Douglas Miller - has created a one-of-a-kind contemporary office design and technology infrastructure. The Napoleon Group opened its new doors at 48 West 25th St in New York's Flatiron district in early January 2013.

The new space will occupy over 14,000 square feet across two floors in the former corporate offices of fashion designer Kate Spade. Featuring 8 Avid Symphony Workstations, a Vicon Motion Capture system, and a large green screen stage, the space will be seamlessly tied together with a state of the art fiber cabling.

For Napoleon Group Creative Director Ken Kresge, the real innovation is the open and collaborative space that the new office presents. Creatives can work with over 40 artists in a space that is perfectly suited to the changing nature of the advertising business.

"Over the years we've adapted to the needs of our clients and streamlined every part of our process," Kresge says. "Everything about the way we approach workflow has been tailored and customized --the only thing left was our space. It's the final piece in a puzzle we've been working on for a long time, and we can't wait the fruits of our labor with our clients."

Perry Morton, Napoleon Group's Head of Production, adds that while the company will always offer a traditional edit or animation suite for clients that prefer to work one-on-one with their favorite editor or designer, the new space takes into account the growing collaborative team based workflows now trending in pre-viz.

"Our clients are collaborating more, and we're shifting our business model to accommodate that changing dynamic," Morton says. "That means a workspace where we can put together a specific team of editors, animators and producers that perfectly suits the needs of a particular assignment."

Napoleon's new project-centric space includes:

• An acoustically designed for low noise, open seating arrangement that is dotted with numerous, "brainstorming booths" - small conference rooms perfect for idea sharing or a private conversation;

• A full-service green screen production stage, complete with a Vicon motion capture system, allowing for sophisticated animation and complex camera setups;

• An In-house software development team that will build seamless pipelines with workflow shortcuts through Autodesk Maya, Avid, Final Cut, and Adobe's Creative Suite.

For Maciej Maciak, The Napoleon Group's Director of Technology and Engineering, the new space is all about being faster and more flexible with technology resources.

"Pre-viz is unlike any other post production discipline because things change quickly and our creatives need to respond fast, and that means giving them access to all of our technology resources any time, any where," Maciak says. "It's no longer about this room being an edit suite or that one a Flame suite --the technology follows the project, the project doesn't follow the technology." 


About The Napoleon Group:
The Napoleon Group (http://www.napny.com) is the established leader of post production services in art, test, audio and broadcast. We provide creative direction and strong story telling skills to a wide spectrum of media. We bring care and craftsmanship to every project and take pride in achieving the highest quality product.

As experts in test advertising we work with you to select the right style to realize your creative concept and meet the practical needs of the brand. Whether the style is 3D, illustrative or live action, our team of seasoned professionals will ensure that your ideas earn the highest possible test scores.

In a volatile industry, trust the experience and vision of The Napoleon Group.

Waveplant Composer Joel Corelitz Blends Traditional and Non-Traditional Musical Elements For Sublime "The Unfinished Swan" Videogame Soundtrack

Recorded With A Full Orchestra, Evocative Score Perfectly Captures The Mood Of Acclaimed Game Designed For Sony Playstation

CHICAGO, IL - The new Sony Playstation 3 game "The Unfinished Swan" is all about exploring the unknown. The same is also true for composer Joel Corelitz of Waveplant Studios, whose personal creative journey with the project found him writing some 60 minutes of original music that blends traditional and nontraditional elements into a wholly original score.

"People in music often talk about film and TV scores as either being traditional or non-traditional, with non-traditional frequently being characterized as at odds with a classic, melody-based score," Corelitz says. "I wanted to create something that felt like a mix of both, a blending of organic instruments and ambient sound design that would feel fresh ten years from now."

Set in a mysterious black and white landscape that grows more colorful as the game progresses, "The Unfinished Swan" centers on a lonely 10-year-old orphan named Monroe who follows a swan that has stepped out of an unfinished painting and wandered off into a surreal, storybook-inspired kingdom. Each chapter brings surprises, new ways to explore the world, a host of bizarre (and sometimes dangerous) creatures and encounters with the eccentric king who built this empire.

Finding A Balance:
For Corelitz, who Is perhaps best known for his work in advertising and film/video installations, such as LOOM, the interactivity musical installation work for HP, as well as traditional ads for Dodge Dart, Pop Tarts and Kelley Blue Book, one of the key challenges centered on taking the game's moody narrative and composing a score that didn't sound too minor key. The goal, he says, was to use those emotions and build on them with music that also captures a sense of wonder at this strange world.

"There's a sad backstory to the main character," Corelitz explains, "and we needed to bring those emotions to the table, but it was equally important that we infuse the music with a sense of curiosity and playfulness."

With that in mind, Corelitz's score features an array of plucked acoustic instruments, such as harps, marimbas and violins, layered onto a bed of ambient sound design and ethereal synth tones. It's a blend that effectively borrows from traditional film scorers and non-traditional mood purveyors.

"As you play the game, the music is constantly evolving," Corelitz says. "It's never quite the same no matter how many times you play. The music is not just background noise, it's part of the world, it's part of how you feel, how the character feels. We didn't want those things to be separate, we wanted it to be all one experience."

Recording In Nashville:
The music was recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, TN, and for Corelitz hearing his score performed live by both a 25-piece orchestra and a simple string quartet was a powerful moment.

"Ocean Way is an amazing studio housed in a 100-year-old gothic church," Corelitz says. "Hearing my music performed by this orchestra in this studio was amazing. 'The Unfinished Swan' let me spread out creatively and flex musical muscles that haven't used in awhile. It was an amazingly satisfying project to be a part of and I'm proud of what we accomplished."


About Waveplant:
Led by Composer Joel Corelitz, Waveplant transcends classification in its design-oriented approach to composition - creating a seamless sensory experience. Fusing music and sound design, Waveplant produces audio for advertising, broadcast, gaming, film and live installations. Firmly believing that truly special projects deserve originality in every aspect of their creation, as well as the idea that being hired to work on something should never preclude the incorporation of heart and soul, Waveplant is a haven for original sound. For more information go to http://www.waveplantstudios.com


Web Resources:
Click here to hear Waveplant's score for "The Unfinished Swan":
http://www.waveplantstudios.com/The-Unfinished-Swan

Click here for more information about Waveplant:
http://www.waveplantstudios.com

Click here for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of "The Unfinished Swan" music:
http://youtu.be/H1ebugoPsP0

IKA Collective Teams With Discovery Networks On Premieres For "American Chopper" and "Deadly Affairs"

Hybrid Creative Studio Crafts Powerful Promos For Popular Shows

 From the "American Chopper" (left), and "Deadly Affairs" (right) promos, both produced by IKA Collective for Discovery Networks.

NEW YORK, NY - "American Chopper," now in its ninth season on the Discovery Channel, remains one of cable's most popular reality shows. When the network needed to promote the much-awaited new season it turned to frequent collaborator IKA Collective, the creative strategy, production, post hybrid studio led by Ian Karr. The conceptual spot, directed by Chris Stifel, centers on the rift between father and son and the rebuilding of their relationship.

Over at sister network, Investigation Discovery, Karr himself directed the launch promo for "Deadly Affairs," the new series hosted by Susan Lucci that tells real-life tales of love gone terribly wrong.

"Both of these projects are very different, but perfectly showcase the range of services IKA Collective brings to our clients," Karr says. "For 'American Chopper' we were there to support Chris's vision and delicately handle the real-life estrangement between Junior and Senior. Conversely, 'Deadly Affairs' was a project in which we were asked to pitch the creative strategy and execute it."

Tension In Orange County:
As any "American Chopper" fan will tell you, the Teutul family is a complex one, especially since the high-profile rift that saw Junior leave his dad's famous motorcycle shop, Orange County Choppers. Their fractured relationship was a big consideration for Karr, who served as Executive Producer on the project.

"This is a big show for Discovery and everyone wanted the new season to begin with an epic promo," Karr says. "We found an old airport hanger at Stewart Airport in Orange County, New York, that perfectly captured the gritty look Stifel and DP Pete Konczal were after."

Set in a dramatically lit shop, reminiscent of OCC's humble beginnings, the spot begins with audio echoes from past arguments between Senior and Junior, as we see the two enter and walk toward the center of the garage where a motorcycle sits on a table covered by a tarp. Facing each other, Senior says, "under this is where it all started." "And now we're going to rebuild it," Junior replies, laying out the story arc for this pivotal season.

The production faced numerous challenges, including shooting in a hot, leaky TSA-monitored hanger located next to a live tarmac with constant plane traffic.  In order to make the day, it was necessary to create multiple sets for simultaneous shooting.

"We pre-lit the entire spot to minimize on-set time for Junior and Senior," Karr says. "After we fired up the cameras and the guys stepped in, you could feel the electricity in the air. With such great on-camera chemistry, it's clear why the show is such a hit."

Deadly Direction
For "Deadly Affairs", the new real-life soap on Investigation Discovery that looks at love triangles gone terribly wrong, IKA's creative team pitched several concepts for the promo. "The only mandate from the network was that they wanted an ending with a twist, just like in the show itself," Karr notes. "We had to strike a balance between dark and light, entertaining the audience without minimizing the tragic nature of these true stories."

The winning concept from IKA Collective and Creative Director Robbie Chafitz, begins with a woman entering her home, walking past a mantle and walls full of happy family pictures as a warm female voiceover says, "He's the love of your life, the father of your children, the man you share your bed with." The mood then turns sinister as the wife opens the bedroom door, revealing her husband with another woman. As she raises a gun toward the fearful cheaters, the voiceover adds, "and yours is the last face he will ever see."

The spot ends with the sound of a gunshot, smash cutting to host Susan Lucci who buttons the spot by saying "first comes love, then comes marriage...and sometimes murder."

In addition to the live action, Karr photographed a series of family portraits -- wedding photos, a fun day in the park, soccer games, etc. -- that served both as props in the home and as backstories for the characters.

"This was a fun scene to create," Karr says. It's partly an homage to Stanley Kubrick. I've always loved the way he used camera placement and motion to evoke a mood.

Karr adds, "The whole spot is shot using a Steadicam. It begins with us happily following the wife around, but when we cut to the scene outside the bedroom, the camera becomes more voyeuristic and you quickly sense that something's off. Then she enters the room and we reveal she's the murderer, not the victim. Sometimes the best way to tell the story comes down to where you put the camera and how you move it."

 

About IKA Collective:
Founded by noted brand strategist/director Ian Karr, IKA Collective is more than a production company. Rather, they're creative collective of writers, producers, editors, directors, composers, digital artists, fashionistas, foodies and horror film fanatics who love to tell stories. Whether it's an ad, a network promo, a digital media project, or their own original content, IKA Collective is all about communicating in a way that entertains and gets results. Our facility includes a live insert stage, five edit rooms, digital color grading, graphics, compositing and audio mixing suites, allowing us to deliver great work at budgets that make sense in every medium. Recent clients include Fox TV, Discovery Channel, Continental Airlines, Hallmark Channel and Penguin Publishing. For more information go to http://www.ikacollective.com



Creative Credits:
Client: Discovery Channel
Project: "American Chopper" promo

Agency: Discovery Channel, New York
Creative Director/Director: Chris Steifel

Production: IKA Collective, New York
Director: Chris Steifel
Executive Producer: Ian Karr
Producer: Robbie Chavitz
DP: Pete Konczal

Post: IKA Collective, New York




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Client: Investigate: Discovery
Project: "Deadly Affairs" promo

Agency/Production: IKA Collective, New York
Creative Director/Director: Ian Karr

Post: IKA Collective, New York


Web Resources:
Click here to watch the "American Chopper" promo:
http://player.vimeo.com/video/47600307?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=dd6026&autoplay=1

Click here to watch IKA Collective's "Deadly Affairs" promo:
http://player.vimeo.com/video/47602572?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=dd6026&autoplay=1

Click here for more info about IKA Collective:
http://www.ikacollective.com

Stephen Arnold Music Releases 'The Six Strings of Christmas' Album Benefiting Little Kids Rock Charity

Virtuoso Guitar Performances of Holiday Classics Help Non-Profit Organization Provide Free Instruments, Music Lessons to Disadvantaged Public Schools

DALLAS, TX - Stephen Arnold Music, has found a meaningful way to give back in 2012: Record an unforgettable new spin on classic holiday songs, then release them as an album where 100% of the proceeds support the nonprofit organization Little Kids Rock(tm).

Rooted in the company's years of experience creating sonic branding and original music, The Six Strings of Christmas presents a welcome new way to enjoy 16 essential holiday season tunes. Each track is a virtuoso guitar performance - four, six, eight, and 12-string instruments are all represented - arranged and performed by top studio musicians and talent that work with Stephen Arnold Music throughout the year on their many demanding projects.

The result is a collection of fresh renditions of "Joy to the World", "Ave Maria," "Little Drummer Boy," "O Come Emmanuel," "The First Noel," "Auld Lang Syne," and ten more that are magical to listen to. Recorded at Stephen Arnold Music's studios in Dallas, TX, each track captures the nuanced performances of some of the world's top musical craftsmen.

Available on iTunes and CD, The Six Strings of Christmas sells for $9.99, with all proceeds going to Little Kids Rock, a national nonprofit that transforms children's lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in disadvantaged public schools. Little Kids Rock partners with school districts, training public school teachers in their innovative curriculum, and donating all of the instruments and resources necessary to run full-fledged music programs.

Stephen Arnold Music's work has been central to the identity of such clients as Nexstar Broadcasting, Fox Business Channel, CNN, The Weather Channel, and a full 35% of all US local TV markets. With The Six Strings of Christmas, the company realized it had an opportunity to make a difference through music.

"We've always had a strong belief in the power of music to positively affect the life of a child," Stephen Arnold, President of Stephen Arnold Music says. "We have the great fortune to work with these amazingly skilled musicians, and after we got to know Little Kids Rock it made perfect sense to put it all together this holiday season.

"Little Kids Rock is an all-volunteer organization that's very efficiently run - it's amazing how far they can make a dollar go," Arnold continues. "By collaborating with them on The Six Strings of Christmas, it's our hope that underprivileged kids across America will get to experience music as an anchor, and an inspirational force, in their lives."

With its highly efficient use of funds, Little Kids Rock will be able to make the most of each copy of The Six Strings of Christmas that is sold:

1 CD = One "rock band" lesson for an entire classroom of students
2 CDs = An entire year of music lessons for one student
5 CDs = One brand new acoustic guitar into a classroom
10 CDs = One brand new electric keyboard and amp into a classroom

"Music education is being stripped from our nation's public schools at an alarming rate due to budget cuts," Keith Hejna, Communications & Outreach Coordinator for Little Kids Rock says. "It's up to the adults to stand up for our children's right to rock this holiday season, and ensure that they receive music education, which is vital to their development as students and human beings.

"Stephen Arnold Music has been a wonderful partner to Little Kids Rock, supporting our mission of not only restoring, but also revitalizing music education for disadvantaged schoolchildren all across the country. Since Stephen Arnold Music is donating 100% of the proceeds of The Six Strings of Christmas, you are actually helping Little Kids Rock bring music into children's lives just by buying some for yourself."

"Our future does not lie in our children's hands," Little Kids Rock Executive Director, David Wish adds. "Our future lies in our children's creativity. We appreciate Stephen Arnold Music and all of its supporters and fans for investing in our children, and our future!"


To purchase The Six Strings of Christmas, or to help spread the word, please visit  http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com/thesixstringsofchristmas/


Web Resources:
http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com

http://www.stephenarnoldmusic.com/thesixstringsofchristmas/

http://littlekidsrock.org/stephenarnold.html

Deck The Halls (featuring Stephen Arnold): http://youtu.be/kTRNJee-JAE
Auld Lang Syne: http://youtu.be/ZMHbDF4y3q4
Ave Maria: http://youtu.be/U9DjhEqeOMM
O Come, O Come Emmanuel: http://youtu.be/yY1LuD_N5P8

Creative Agency Loyalkaspar Rebrands Screenvision

Comprehensive Project Includes New Logo and On-Screen Visual Environment

NEW YORK, NY – What would it take to get moviegoers to come to the theater early to see the pre-show entertainment? That was the branding challenge facing Loyalkaspar, the Entertainment Branding Agency led by David Herbruck and Beat Baudenbacher, when they tackled the rebrand of Screenvision, the leader in cinema advertising representing over 2,300 theaters across the U.S.

"Our over-arching goal was to create a pre-show experience that would make audiences purposely get to the theater early," Herbruck says. "Screenvision knew they had to take a more proactive look at their brand and the overall entertainment value of the on-screen presentation. We started with designing a new logo and moved from there to exploring new ways to engage and interact with the audience."

The New ‘S’:
Loyalkaspar senior designer Josh Lynne oversaw the logo design and explained that he wanted to deconstruct the letter "s" down to its most basic elements.

"We set out to explore the shape of the letter 'S' in the name ‘Screenvision.’" Lynne says, "The idea we landed on were these high-tech-looking building blocks that formed the 'S.' The look not only suited the brand, but we saw potential in using the rectangle shape to house and deliver content in a variety of ways."

That simple approach to the logo design belies the complexity of the overall on-screen look -- a richly detailed, futuristic environment replete with sleek geometric lines and vibrant neon colors, reminiscent of the sci-fi classic "Tron."

Reintroducing CMOR:
This dynamic world is overseen by the ever-present animated robot, CMOR (as in ‘see more’), who serves as the host of "Limelight" – the Screenvision pre-show featuring interactive trivia contests incorporating smart phones; the new music segment "Soundtrax"; and exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at upcoming film releases.

"CMOR was a hold-over from the old brand," Herbruck notes. "We thought he had tremendous value, both in terms of equity and functionality, but we had to give him more to do and imbue him with more personality. We came up with the concept of Limelight as this futuristic digital playground that explores."

Loyalkaspar producer Melissa August adds, "The challenge for us centered on creating a cool world where all these fun opportunities exist with CMOR as your host," she says. "To keep audiences in their seats we made it immersive and visually engaging."

About Loyalkaspar:
Loyalkaspar is an entertainment branding agency with offices in New York and Los Angeles. With an emphasis on crafting unified brand narratives through smart storytelling and an international design aesthetic, Loyalkaspar offers a full spectrum of strategic and creative capabilities from initial insight to final execution. For more information go to http://loyalkaspar.com.


Creative Credits:
Client: Screenvision
Project: Corporate rebrand

Agency: Loyalkaspar, New York
Exec. Creative Director: Beat Baudenbacher
Creative Director: Elliott Chaffer
Executive Producer: David Herbruck
Senior Producer: Melissa August

Design/Animation: Loyalkaspar, New York


Web Resources:
http://loyalkaspar.com
http://loyalkaspar.com/screenvision