Reel Opinion: Mark Denton

For the third instalment of our increasingly popular 'Reel Opinion' feature we've delved into production and secured the musings of a (very busy) director and MD who needs no introduction.

Mark Denton
Director & MD Coy!
President of Creative Circle

Fortunately, I’ve been a bit busy lately and even though I watched these ads over a week ago, I’ve only just written the review. So it’s already a good test of just how memorable they are.

Here goes:

PETA 'Pusher'

Agency: The Cricket Club, New York

Production: Japanese Monster / Boy Genius, Venice CA

Director: Scott Corbett

I like this one:

From what I remember, it opens on the exterior of a high security prison as a fat bloke dressed in white walks alongside the perimeter fence. His progress is intercut with images of the inmates who are not normal prisoners but hybrid chicken men, part human, part rooster. It’s all very dark and disturbing and when our white-suited gent finally makes an appearance we see that it’s Colonel Sanders of the fried chicken fame. The viewer is then invited to visit the kentuckyfriedcruelty.com website. Luckily, unlike the shop, you don’t have to be off your face to go there.

Washington Lottery 'Birds'

Agency: Publicis, Seattle

Production: Sticks + Stones, Santa Monica

Director: Jerry Brown

The second one was quite unforgettable too, but unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. This is an idea that probably looked better on paper than it did in reality. It’s all about the joy you experience when you win the Washington Lottery. They dramatise this by taking flightless birds like a chicken, penguin and emu up on a hang-glider to experience the ‘thrill’ of flying.
Sadly, the birds look like they aren’t enjoying the ride and I imagine that vast sums were spent in post painting out the resulting poo.

Sensoa 'Out of the Closet'

Agency: TBWA, Brussels

Production: Caviar, Brussels

Director: Frank Devos

The plot is something about the fictional first gay man describing his life story. To describe this as ‘hamfisted’ is an insult to people who have hams instead of fists.

COI 'Knife Crime: CCTV / Lecture'

Agency: RCKR/Y&R, London

Production: Sonny, London

Director: Guy Manwaring

I watched a couple of commercials in the same campaign designed to help stop knife crime. It’s a serious subject that’s rightly had a lot of media coverage recently. In these spots we see CCTV footage of an everyday street scene where someone ends up getting knifed and a lecture showing slides of horrendous knife injuries. The ads go on to explain that if you carry a knife you’re more likely to get stabbed. They’ve probably done loads of research to back up this strategy. I can’t help feeling that a lot of youngsters might be tempted to ‘tool up’ because it looks so dangerous out there.

Honda 'Jump'

Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, London

Production: Knucklehead, London

Director: Johnny Green

A load of sky divers jump out of a plane, link up and form car part shapes. While we cut to shots of a man driving a Honda. The climax is when the skydivers form the logo. Unfortunately, it’s every bit as good as it sounds. Surprising really, coming from one of the sexiest agencies in the world and one of the most exciting directors around at the moment. It probably cost a few bob too.

Oh well, back to work.

NewsReel 18.07.08

As always, please send any news and press releases to sam@thereel.net and we'll do our best to include it here.

Rushes Soho Shorts Festival 2008 is almost here

The 10th Rushes Soho Shorts Festival is sure to be the talk of Soho when it begins next Wednesday 23rd July. The full programme has been announced and can be viewed here. As official media partners The Reel will be going along to a number of screenings and events so get in touch if you'd like the inside track or simply someone to tag along with.

onedotzero deadline extended

The deadline for submissions to the onedotzero 'Adventures in Motion' Festival has been extended to 31 July 2008.

The international festival tour launches with onedotzero_Buenos Aires in September '08, onedotzero_Ch in Zurich in October '08, reaching London in November '08 with a three day event at the BFI Southbank followed by an extensive global city tour.

onedotzero is looking for the most innovative and visually adventurous moving image work from all over the world. It's free to submit, and entries from all levels, including work by students and up-and-coming talent are welcomed; music videos, motion graphics, animation, motion typography, generative / processing, narrative shorts, documentary, experimental works, street art in motion, interactive, installations and live audiovisual work will all be considered. This year's theme is 'Citystates', an engaging exploration of city life, people, places and spaces.

For more info go to:

http://www.onedotzero.com/submissions

Shammasian Brothers are real Mc-Coy!

Ex-Therapy co-owner Mark Denton’s 5-month old start-up, Coy! Communications, has added the fifth director to their roster. Multiple award-winning duo The Shammasian Brothers, who were with Denton at Therapy, have impressed with recent work for US Soccer through Element 79 and been signed to William Morris in Los Angeles, leaving the door wide open for a move into Hollywood.

Hussey joins Ebeling

Nick Hussey has joined The Ebeling Group as Executive Producer in London, to run operations in the UK and Europe.

The animation specialists, with major directors represented worldwide, are looking to use Nick and his British colleagues to spread the word of the New York based production company further afield. Hussey, previously at Nice Shirt Films in the UK, is joined at The Ebeling Group by a new addition to their roster of directorial talent: young Parisians UFO. To view their work click here

Rudy, Rudy, Rudy, Rudy

Rudy Taguri is to join Therapy Films as their new sales rep. Having progressed through the ranks from receptionist to head of sales at 2am, Rudy will be able to utilise her extensive industry contacts and inject fresh perspective and ideas into Therapy at a time of change. Therapy Films’ MD Barry Hughes said, ‘Rudy is a great addition to the team. She’s joining at the right time and will be a key asset in defining our future.’

Wanda-ful directors

Martin de Turah, an artist and graduate of the Danish Film Academy, who has already gained international recognition with music videos for the likes of Roysksopp and Kanye West and a lovely Ikea spot, is to be represented in France by Parisian production company Wanda. Joining him at Wanda is Mike Long, who will be represented Europe-wide by Wanda. Long started his career agency-side with Leo Burnett Chicago, moving behind the camera in 2006.

Short and Sweet still going strong

Since our NewsReel has settled into its regular Friday slot we've found it difficult to keep tabs on what's been going on at Short & Sweet, London’s only weekly short film evening. However, from now on we'll endeavour to inform you of what's going on at the showcase for short films, music videos and animation from around the world. It's still a FREE event with two venues each week, so there's no excuse not to check it out.

Next week’s directors include:

Nick Ahlmark
Big Red Button
Sil Van Der Woerd
Vanessa Caswill
Javan Ivey
JO Lawrence
David Cooke
Adrew Kotatko
Tak

EVERY MONDAY NIGHT IN BRICK LANE
Cafe 1001, 91 Brick Lane E1 6QL
Films start at 19h30

TUESDAY NIGHT @ THE AKA BAR WEST END
18 West Central Street WC1A 1JJ
Films start at 19h30

Straight 8s come to London

As part of the Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival, 25 Straight 8s a night are to be shown at the Curzon Mayfair & The Renoir over the course of three nights starting Monday 28th July. That’s 75 three-minute masterpieces all edited in-camera. If you were not fortunate to see the 13 that premiered in Cannes, they’ll be shown along with the four that were shown on Channel 4 in May…wow, that’s a lot of numbers - the only number that’s missing is the number free – tickets are (aptly enough) £8…plus £1 booking fee.