Creepy Space Age Film for Prada: The Future Of Flesh Directed by Luke Gilford

Commissioned by Prada for their Autumn/Winter ’13 collection, Los Angeles-based writer, director & photographer Luke Gilford collaborated with Document Journal, actress Jane Fonda, and Jake Shears, formerly of Scissor Sisters, to create an chilling space-age short film, entitled The Future of Flesh.



The blog, One small seed writes "With Jake Shears’ eerie music score creating an almost sci-fi horror atmosphere, Gilford – in only just over a minute – manages to indulge us in a discourse of age, mimicry, the future and and high fashion. Faces elongated and latex as skin, the models are far from stereotypical in their aesthetic, perhaps serving as a metaphor for Prada’s new collection: typically that there is nothing mediocre or ordinary when it comes to Prada. The director also opens up the discussion of the industry moving past traditional standards of beauty, allowing room for new intellectual thought processes and denying the age-old idea of fashion being equivalent to mindlessness."





The New York Times Magazine reports that 'The eerie, evocative video features an original score by Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters and is narrated by Jane Fonda — not coincidentally, another complicated feminist icon. While the clip is not the usual terrain for Fonda, she was easily convinced to lend her voice.'


above: Jane Fonda at LACMA, 2012 (image courtesy of zimbio)

“When Jake asked me to collaborate on the video I thought, For Jake, anything. He’s so out-of-this-world creative and cutting-edge, I knew it would be exciting. I was right,” she said, describing the project as “just wild and unique and Pedro Almodovarish.”

Director: Luke Gilford
Score: Jake Shears
Voice: Jane Fonda
Wardrobe: Prada
Cast: Rosalie Gilford, Rya Kleinpeter, Peggy Noland, Renata Raksha
Jewelry: Lynn Ban

sources: One small seed,  Luke Gilford, Document Journal  and the New York Times' T Magazine

Disgustingly Cute. No, Wait.. I Mean Disgusting AND Cute. Halloween Treats Gone Wrong.

There's nothing like seeing little kids in costumes. Cute. There's nothing like seeing little kids spit out food and throw up. Gross. And in this "Halloween" commercial for Crest & Oral B, you get both. Effectively.

Directed by J.J. Adler and dreamt up by ad agency Publicis Kaplan Thaler, a panel of unsuspecting trick or treaters are tricked rather than treated when offered 'healthy' Halloween treats.

See what ensues:


The reactions are priceless:


Long Live Candy!



CREDITS
Client: Crest and Oral-B
Spot: "Halloween Treats Gone Wrong"
Agency: Publicis Kaplan Thaler
Chief Creative Officer, President: Rob Feakins
Executive Creative Directors: David Corr, Tony Gomes
Creative Director, Copywriter: George Logothetis
Creative Director, Art Director: Xavier Rodon
Executive Producer: Noelle Nimrichter
Account Team: Angela Pasqualucci, Cheryl Loo, Carine Johannes, Alex Andrial, Dani Winter
Production Company: Tool of North America
Director: J.J. Adler
Editing: Fluid Editorial
Editor: John Piccolo

"The Developer", A Beautiful Samsung Gear Spot Celebrates A Real Project by The Messi Foundation.

More and more, traditional :30 and :60 second spots from large marketers are paling in comparison to their branded content that they are calling "short films" - if you can call a two minute digital video a short film. The latest is this beautifully produced musically-inspired spot for Samsung (who also recently released "Dreams," a 2:57 minute digital short for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, that was cut down to a minute long tv commercial for air, and is shown at the end of this post).



Told from a child's perspective, "The Developer" is a musical short film by Samsung featuring world-renowned footballer and Unicef Goodwill Ambassador, Lionel (Leo) Messi, and the hit single "Royals" by hot New Zealand Pop Star Lorde.


above photo of Lorde by Simeon Patience.

The beautiful 2 minute branded content was created by Leo Burnett, Chicago and is a dramatic retelling of an actual project completed by the Leo Messi Foundation. Directed by Adam Hashemi the film has wardrobe designed by Paco Delgado, who was the costume designer for the film version of Les Misérables.



In case you didn't understand what's happening in the spot (and I'm not trying to be pedantic here), a mysterious stranger arrives in a low income neighborhood and captures the imaginations of the children who live there. He is "The Developer" and the children view him with a deep suspicion.

Together with his Samsung GALAXY Note 3 and GALAXY Gear, The Developer effortlessly masterminds a secret construction project. Using the latest in Samsung technology including Action Memo, Pen Window, Scrapbook and hands-free call capability on the Gear, The Developer orchestrates and executes his mysterious mission.

The children watch in awe. They reflect on their current situation by singing New Zealand Pop star Lorde's breakout hit "Royals," a song about overcoming her own humble beginnings.

The spot concludes with a beautiful new pitch that has been constructed in the toughest part of town. The Developer is revealed to be the world's reigning football star, Lionel Messi, fulfilling his personal mission* to help under privileged children.



The events in this story are a dramatic retelling of actual projects completed by the Leo Messi Foundation.

* The Leo Messi Foundation

CREDITS
Client: Samsung
Spot: "The Developer"
Agency: Leo Burnett, Chicago
Executive Vice President, Creative Director: Shannon McGlothin
Senior Vice Presidents, Creative Directors: Brandon Rochon, Adam Kennedy
Creative Directors: Guy Seese, Brian Murphy
Senior Vice President, Account Director: Radim Svoboda
Account Director: Benjamin Haynes
Account Executive: Cameron Zick
Senior Vice President, Executive Producer: Jen Dennis
Producer: Keith Jamerson
Vice President, Music Director: Gabe McDonough
Senior Music Producer: Chris Clark
Senior Vice President, Global Strategy Director: Huw Gildon
Senior Vice President, Strategy Director: Steven Yuan
Senior Strategist: Marton Harsanyi
Production Company: Furlined
Director: Adam Hashemi
Executive Producer: Eriks Krumins
Editing: Rock Paper Scissors
Editor: Mikkel EG
Executive Producer: Carol Lynn Weaver
Music Supervisor: George Drakoulias
Sound Designer: Gus Koven, Stimmung
Mixer: Loren Silber, Lime Studios
Music Production Support: Amber Music
Postproduction: The Mill


"DREAMS"
In case you haven't yet seen the complete cut of Dreams, here it is:


Credits for Dreams:
Advertising Agency: Leo Burnett, L.A. / Chicago, USA
Global Chief Creative Officer: Mark Tutssel
Creative Directors: Shannon McGlothin, Brandon Rochon, Adam Kennedy
Designer: Luis Farfan
Creative: Sarah Kraus
Account Director: Radim Svoboda
Account Director: Benjamin Haynes
Account Executive: Cameron Zick
Executive Producer: Jennifer Dennis
Producer: Sean Pinney
Production Company: Prettybird
Director: Roc
Editorial: Peepshow London
Editor: Andrea MacCarthur

For more information about the GALAXY Note 3 and Gear, click here.

Bewitching Promos For American Horror Story's Coven Are Spectacularly Spooky.

Two nights ago, the first real promo for the upcoming third season of the FX Network's American Horror Story: Coven began running. Preceded by five 20 second teasers (all of which are also shown in this post), the latest promo, Initiation, is the first to reveal the cast and is absolutely impossible to ignore. Beautifully shot and accompanied by an eerie rendition of House Of The Rising Sun, it is compelling enough to get just about anyone to tune into the premiere on October 9th.



The 30 second promo features stylishly dressed young women walking into a special school that we know, based upon the synopsis, will be where the young girls are sent away to learn to protect themselves from mysterious and dangerous happenings in New Orleans. Young witches Taissa Farmiga and Gabourey Sidibe are amongst the attendees.

Also in "Initiation" is Evan Peters looking on from a window in the school as Sarah Paulson, who plays Jessica Lange’s daughter this season, opens the entrance to the school.




At the end of the promo, the young witches then come upon actresses Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, and Angela Bassett.



The Five 20 second promos preceded Initiation and each are shown below:

Staircase:


Detention:


Coffin:


Stakes:


Pins and needles:


Like the previous seasons, American Horror Story season 3 will include many well known actors such as Jessica Lange, Frances Conroy, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Taissa Farmiga, Kathy Bates, Gabourey Sidibe, Angela Bassett, Patti LuPone, Emma Roberts, Denis O’Hare, Alexandra Breckenridge, Christine Ebersole, Danny Huston and Lily Rabe.



Coven, Series Premiere Wednesday, October 9 at 10p on FX.