  
Mazda
In August, Visual Playground teamed up again with Grant Day James and Animation Director, Ian McGuffie, to deliver another TVC for Mazda- ‘M-Day’. No cars (CG or otherwise) were used in the making of this commercial. Visual Playground delivered a fast paced, dynamic spot that on all accounts was extremely successful for the client. This follows on from 'Mazda-Get on Track' and 'Mazda-Yours for the Taking' that have also been created with Grant Day James earlier this year. These spots did include photo-real CG cars, 'Yours for the Taking' had a whopping seventeen cars in one single shot! 'Mazda- Get on track' was selected as a finalist for the recent AEAF Awards in Sydney.
  
AEAF Awards - Award won!
Visual Playground was selected as a finalist for four entries in the Australian Effects and Animation Festival awards this year. 'Mazda-Get on Track' was a finalist in the commercials animation category and we had two finalists in the category for Titles, Idents and Stings; 'Sunjive Cinema Ident' and 'Letters and Numbers' Opening title sequence.
We were very excited to hear that the fourth entry:- 'Immigration Nation, the Secret History of Us ' (SBS documentary produced by Renegade factual) won an award in it’s category for best visual effects in a TV Series! Up against Star Wars Wookie Hunt, Hungry beast and Spartacus- God’s of the Arena!
  
The Renovators
Visual Playground has been busy creating Opening Titles for multiple shows in the last couple of months. August saw the launch of ‘The Renovators’, arguably the biggest renovation show in Australia.
Visual Playground won the pitch for the Opening title sequence and filmed the twenty four contestants in the renovator’s warehouse over two long days. Working alongside the Shine Australia team, the aim was to showcase the specific interests & skills of each contestant with the inclusion of textures of smoke, sparks and renovator icons. The look is industrial, metallic and shiny, a smoky environment juxtaposed with strong colours that dynamically interact with the CG particles of smoke, sparks & dust.
  
Australia’s Next Top Model 2011
Visual Playground were also lucky enough to win the pitch to create Opening Titles for Australia’s Next Top Model 2011. The idea of ‘flowing fabric’ was explored as a conceptual aesthetic, which inspires a modern and artful approach to the overall design direction. The treatment was dark and moody with sensual lighting & dramatic windswept hair. The camera work and editing is fast-paced with quick cuts, intertwined with moments of slow motion to create high energy visual impact that complements the edgy music track.
Working under the restrictions of a tight production schedule, the live elements of the opener were filmed in one day at a green screen studio space in Sydney. Through the course of the day the production team were faced with the logistical challenge of directing twenty models through a variety of individual shots and wardrobe changes. Along with the live action shoot, an asset shoot was needed to gain reference/stock footage of several flowing fabrics under different environmental conditions. All the footage was shot on RED at a high frame rate and a 2K resolution. The post process consisted of editing, keying and tracking of the footage, generation of 3D props, digital mattes, 3D cloth simulations for the fabrics, compositing and digital touch-ups to the models.
  
Lady Gaga
Visual Playground created an eye catching, edgy interstitial for the television broadcast of Lady Gaga at her Australian promotional tour.
The creative brief was to depict Gaga as an amazing artist and a positive role model. The look needed to be edgy, unexpected, creative and to feature some of the ‘little Monsters’ competition entrants who uploaded their photos to Facebook. Visual Playground delivered a striking treatment with the help of footage & images from her recent Album. The end frame is eerily striking as the dramatic full-screen black & white image of Lady Gaga comes to life with CG flowing, waving hair. |
