Archive for July, 2007
Nicolai Fuglsig
Nicolai Fuglsig, born 1972, started his photographic carrier at the age of 16 at a local Danish newspaper.
In 1994 he entered the Danish School of Journalism in Denmark, where he attended the four year education as a photojournalist.His graduate project, a press book entitled Muslumovo, won widespread international acclaim and was also awarded a prize for the best overseas photojournalistic work by the largest Danish Newspaper, Jyllands Posten.
Subsequently Nicolai Fuglsig received the World Press Photo 1999 1st Prize in the category “Nature and Environment Stories” for the Muslumovo Story and was given the ICP Infinity Award by the International Center of Photography, New York and the Kodak Young Photograher Award. Continuing his development as a photographer and visual story teller Nicolai Fuglsig began experimenting with video and soon came to realize that moving pictures hit a nerve in him.
Whilst on assignment for a Danish newspaper in Kosovo, he bought a digital video camera from an airport and recorded the events he witnessed, which resulted in the documentary film “Return of the Exiled” which was aired both on Danish National Television and Danish Cinema. Film took Fuglsig deep into the heart of war-torn Kosovo, following the exile of numerous ethnic Albanian families from their homes to refugee camps. Scenes of human tragedy (both on film and stills) are interlaced with nightvision and street-to-street footage leading up to the anguished return of the exiles to their ruined homes and dead brethren. Soon after this, he was one of a small number of directors chosen by Levi’s to make short films.
His film on Voodoo is an extraordinary insight into the world of voodoo. Filmed in Haiti, it is not for the faint hearted, but its combination of extraordinary images and ability to tell a story make for a fantastic journey into an unknown world.
In 2002 he was chosen for the Saatchi & Saatchi “Hottest New Directors Showcase” at the Cannes Advertising Festival. He more recently won a Silver Arrow at the BTAA awards, and two D&AD Awards in London for Audi “Bull”.
Fuglsig has succesfully transferred the strong visual style of his still photography into living pictures with commercials and documentaries. Fuglsig is currently devoting himself to the motion picture realm, directing music videos and spots for The Dansih Red Cross and Politiken.
Victor Garcia
Spanish director Victor Garcia joined MJZ in 2000 and immediately made a name for himself with his whimsical and elegant Mercedes Benz “Aaooga” commercial for Merkley Newman Harty. “Aaooga” snapped up the 2001 AICP Best Visual Style Spot, as well as receiving a nomination for Outstanding Commercial at the Primetime Emmy Awards.
Garcia works in the style of the European auteur filmmakers, taking projects from inception through editorial; collaborating on the concepts with agency creatives. He frequently cuts spots himself and works hands-on with the visual effects.
Garcia’s sophisticated European style and innovative use of special effects has earned him numerous awards, including a Merit Award from the Art Directors Club for his BMW spot; 2 Silvers at the International Automotive Awards; a Clio and an AICP award for Best Original Music Spot for his Mercedes Benz “Better” commercial in 2002.
Craig Gillespie
Born in Australia, Craig Gillespie moved to the United States when he was 19 years old to attend the School of Visual Arts in New York City where he studied illustration, graphic design and advertising. An internship at J.Walter Thompson soon led to a decade-long career as an agency art director with some of New York’s most prestigious advertising agencies. At DMB&B Gillespie won a Silver Pencil for his work on Burger King and a Silver Lion at the Cannes International Advertising Festival for his work on Pepsi at BBDO. But it was while working at Ammirati Puris & Lintas that he decided to trade in his award-winning career as an agency art director for an award-winning career as a director.
Beginning with the H&R Block spot, “Worried about Bill”, that depicts a man gone crazy from the pressure of filing his taxes, Gillespie’s rise has been meteoric. (Creativity magazine recently described him as “a major commercials funnyman with a future.”) More dark comedy work for H&R Block, followed by character-driven spots for Citibank, Chevy, Budweiser (“Whassup?!”), Holiday Inn Express, Honda and SBC Communications have earned Gillespie America’s highest advertising honors (two One Show Gold’s and a One Show Silver) as well as some of America’s most prestigious commercial accolades, including recognition by the AICP for his Citibank “Delivery Room” commercial for Best Talent/Performance. He has also earned a Clio, a British D&AD, a London International Advertising award and a Communication Arts award, all for campaigns that cause audiences to laugh and wince with recognition at Gillespie’s offbeat, performance-driven spots that draw on the fragility of our humanity. Known for reality-based performances, Gillespie has earned the respect of many of his colleagues who appreciate his sharp comedic sense, strong casting skills and dedication to talent to get the performances he needs, resulting in what can only be described as the unexpected.
Gillespie, who Boards Magazine calculates is one of the top 10 directors worldwide, has been twice nominated by the Directors Guild of America (DGA) for Best Director in 2002 and 2003.
Ikea – Lamp
Title: Lamp
Client: IKEA
Agency/Location: Crispin Porter + Bogusky/Miami
Creative Director: Alex Bogusky
Associate Creative Director: Paul Keister
Art Directors: Mark Taylor, Steve Mapp
Copywriter: Ari Merkin
Sr. Agency Producer: Rupert Samuel
Production Company: MJZ
Producer: Vince Landay
Director: Spike Jonze
Director of Photography: David Zander, Rodrigo Prieto
Editor: Eric Zumbrunnen/Spotwelders
Composer: Ren Klyte/Mit Out Sound
Sound Designers: Malcolm Fife, Misa Kageyama/Mit Out Sound
A woman unplugs her desk lamp and puts it outside on the curb. A brisk wind blows, and a cold rain begins to fall. As the old lamp gets drenched, a new lamp can be seen in the woman’s apartment, warm and safe.