Shorts: Edward Copestick and Adam Anthony's ‘The Maestro’

I’ve heard the BBC have been commissioning on the Canon 5D and 7D. Whether or not this is true, I don’t know. I’m not sure I even care, because I was always more interested in how the camera performed.

When the DSLR first hit the market, I spoke to a couple of DoPS. They didn’t seem keen; they thought it was a gimmick and, frankly, I agreed. The way I saw it was, if it looks like a stills camera; it is a stills camera. Seriously. It’s never going to be able to pan or go for big moves. It’s never going to give you the full film effect. But then I see something special and I think, wow, maybe I’m wrong; maybe the 5D isn’t so bad after all.

‘The Maestro’ was shot on the 5D by producer Edward Copestick and director Adam Anthony. They used a bunch of lenses (50mm, 24mm, 24-70mm and 70-200mm) and have come up with something so slick, it could double as a promo for the camera – it’s that good, and this year it’s already won 3rd place for Tropfest ‘s for ‘Best Cinematography’. The whole thing will probably drum up a little business for Canon. In fact, given that you can pick a 5D up online for around a £1.5K, this short could have everyone and their dog giving filmmaking a go.

Promo: Solidarités International 'Dirty Water'

From BDDP Unlimited for Solidarités International, 'Dirty Water' was directed by Clement Beauvais, and produced by Nicolas Lhermitte and Arthur de Kersauson. It's both poignent and stunning and marks 'World Water Day'.

Product Placement: Nescafe and New Look

Product placement; it’s been a long time coming, and Lord knows indies et all have been screaming out for the revenue a bleach bottle or can of Coke could bring in. And now it’s arrived, we’re just wondering where the chips will fall.

Placement arrived earlier this year in the form of New Look featuring in a TwoFour catwalk program broadcasting on Channel 4’s T4. It’s alleged that there were up to eight parties involved in the deal, with players tapping into a market worth £100 million. Over in ‘This Morning’s’ studios things were lower key with a Nescafe coffee maker lurking in the background. The three month deal cost Nescafe £100,000 and, overall, has been fairly understated. In fact, as far as viewing goes, you hardly notice the white Dulce Gusto; as far as media coverage goes – well that’s a whole other story. It’s been huge.

Whatever the case, Nescafe and New Look are just the beginning of product placement in the UK. The two brands have marked a floodgate of questions concerning structure and allocation of cash between the broadcaster, brand, agency and indie. It's should be an interesting time for advertising and TV, and goes without saying; product placement will turn media into a different beast. And that isn't altogether a bad thing. Seriously. It's a damn shame we weren't able to tap into this revenue stream sooner.

Cameras: PSC Minis from Panasonic and Canon

Meet the Canon XF305. It looks like a mini Z1, has an HD sensor, with 50mbs for recording. It can probably be carried in a ladies' handbag. Now, possibly – and yes, call me twee and fickle – but for this very reason, I like the look of it.

Then there’s the new Panasonic DSLR - the AG-AF101. It too, could probably fit in a purse, but frankly I don't care because, it looks, well, a bit shit. Now, I admit, I don’t know what it’s like to shoot with. For all I know, it might be ground breaking. Whatever. I just can't seem to get past its exterior. Having said that, it’s only £4k, and with it's 35mm sensor, is said to have a 35mm feel. It's also the baby brother to the Panasonic P2, and that can’t be bad.

Pop Promo - 'Sometimes the Stars', The Audreys, Ari Gibson, Jason Pamment, Luke Jurevicius of Vishus Productions

It’s all a little black and white Tim Burton, and it’s actually quite brilliant. ‘Sometimes the Stars’ from Australia’s The Audreys, was directed by Ari Gibson and Jason Pamment, and produced by Luke Jurevicius of Vishus Productions. It’s a nice little atmospheric number, which is all grey-grey-grey, and it works.

Now, it’s no bit surprise that Gibson and Pamment are essentially animators or illustrators with gaming and film experience. Their skills have crossed over well with this work. For the 2D backgrounds they used Photoshop, and the rest was worked over with good old After Effects. It’s genius and whole thing in its big grey entirety, is perfect. It’s like a mournful bliss and, you know what, I like it.

The Human League - Never Let Me Go

The Human League are back with a new freaky video for 'Never Let Me Go', and if I'm honest, I find it slightly disconcerting. Make of it what you will. 

Young Guns - Asos 'Black Jack' by Tony Mattia

Who knew ASOS could get it so right? Shot by Tony Mattia, via Action Films, their September 2010 menswear promo is spot on. It’s slick, sharp but still high street and accessible. It’s a good mix - the soundtrack, the cuts, the speed; hell, it’s damn near perfect. Other credits include producer Amber Millington; DP Dan Stafford-Clark and of course, Young Gun’s Stitches.

Chinese Cinema and Infernal Affairs

Say what you like about Chinese cinema, but me, I love it. Hell, I adore it. I think it’s genius; wonderful, watchable and fun. And yes, yes, I know that’s a huge, ridiculous sweeping comment, but seriously, nine times out of ten, stick me in front of a Hong Kong or Chinese film, and it going to get me. It’s going to have me smiling right at the opening credits. It doesn’t matter whether it’s an old school classic like ‘Fist of Fury’, a fast thriller like ‘One Night in Mongkok’, a slick wonder like Wong Kar-Wai’s ‘1946’ (What a stunning piece of work…) or something mainstream and magical like Ang Lee’s ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’; I just know, when we click play, I’m going to enjoy.

Take 2002’s ‘Infernal Affairs’ an undercover saga staring Andy Lau and Tony Leung; now I admit, it’s no masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination – but it is a nice easy watch. It’s got everything you’d want from a movie – action, a touch of romance, superb cinematography, and catchy script. With this in mind, directors Wai-Keung Lau and Alan Mak have made a solid niche with the film. In fact, it's a lot more than a niche - the movie was huge in Asia, grossing $55 million in Hong Kong alone. It also won a pile of awards, led to a bunch of sequels and was remade by Scorsese as ‘The Departed’ starring Matt Damon, a movie which Mak scripted. It’s all quite a achievement for a movie, which essentially broke no barriers. All 'Infernal Affairs' did, essentially, was stay true to form; telling a story, without pretention, in the simplest way. And that’s the brilliance of Chinese cinema. It can be spruced up and fine tuned; it can be given a script that sees blood and gore and violence and more – but somehow, there’s always a charming side to the footage, a magic, which is lost elsewhere.

TV - BBC Drama - 'Luther'

'Luther'. It’s quite the experience. Seriously, this show wipes the floor with other detective dramas. From the moody Massive Attack title track ('Paradise Circus') to the casting and cinematography (Julian Court) and direction (Brian Kirk), it's damned near perfect. It’s a big ol’ mash-up of fast shapes and blurred colours. It's edgy and fast, and dark and devilish; it's stretched and serious and sexy. It’s everything a BBC detective drama should be.

Brooker-nominated, ‘Spooks’ writer, Neil Cross has come up with a script which punches hard, leaving you with a sly smile and want for more. Everything is included here; a gritty city setting, filled with a host of characters - sociopaths and nicotine-stained officers, confused wives and puffed-up lovers - Cross has added them all. Then there’s Idris Elba, fresh of ‘The Wire’, as Luther himself. In lead, he holds the part superbly. He’s pinned down that taunt point between protector and aggressor, with with a mean kick and a few good lines to go.

So, it's all good. However, whether Cross' script will stand the test of time is yet to be seen - well, whatever, whatever, right now, this is a great terrestrial show...

Viral - W+K 'Hit the Target'; Nike, Wayne Rooney and those T90 Laser III Boots

Enjoy...

Film - Banksy 'Exit through the Gift Shop'

It was bound to happen at some stage - Banksy; the movie, the film, the documentary, the celluloid happening. ‘Exit through the Gift Shop’, 'the world's first street art disaster movie', debuted at Sundance this month, and has had everyone talking since. Produced by Holly Cushing and James Gay-Rees, and narrated by Rhys Ifans, the doc is concerned with graff by way of Banksy, and Mr Brainwash, AKA MBW, AKA Thierry Guetta – French filmmaker, voyeur of street art turned street artist, and cousin of Space Invader, (another quirky talent also involved with the movie).

Back to 'Exit through...', and according to reports, it’s all very tongue in cheek, this film; produced by Paranoid (Paramount) Pictures, with Banksy staying on the lowdown; staying out of the frame and pixellated, despite the fact that the nineties are over and everyone knows exactly what he looks like – which is, admittedly, a sensible and savvy thing to do... Well, whatever the situation with his blurred appearance, ‘Exit through the Gift Shop’ looks like a must see, especially for graff lovers like me. The film is due for British release on March 5th 2010 when you can expect, walls, paint, cans, humour and lots of highrise, hand-held action.

Commercials - Guinness 'World'

Christmas is coming and the geese are getting fat, and as if that weren't enough, all those feel good ads are hitting our airwaves. Showing on a screen near you, the new Guinness ‘World’ commercial follows in the footsteps of all those greats that came before. Think back to the wonder seen on the waves of Diagio’s 2002 ‘Surfer’ for a reminder; those black and white rolling seas, Leftfield's base, and the opening (vaguely disconcerting...) squint of an anticipative surfer - all bliss.

This time round Guinness sees a bunch of men bringing ‘a world to life’. Directed by Jonny Green and produced by Fergus Brown, the team involved includes Oscar winners DoP Wally Pfisher and set designer Grant Major, alongside Creative Director Paul Brazier and Production Designer Peter Kirkegaarde. Post took place at The Mill, with action on Flame, Maya, Baselight and XSI, pulling together this, frankly stunning work.

Movies - Tom Ford's 'A Single Man'

You just knew it would be stunning. You knew that every frame, shot, and moment would be beautifully compiled and crafted to polished perfection - that it would be sensual and sexy, serious, smooth and slick. And you’d be right. Since showing at the Venice Film Festival in September 2009, Tom Ford’s debut, ‘A Single Man’ has hit the main-strip; the reviews are out and viewers are happy.

The movie, based on Christopher Isherwood's 1964 novel, tells the story of a gay English professor tackling the day after his partner’s death. It’s not exactly cheery material, but from the reviewers’ perspective, Ford has pinned it down and done himself proud. He's since been described as ‘The real deal’; a talent to watch. Hardly surprising – this is not a man who does things in halves, and with ‘A Single man’, he’s gone all out, writing the screenplay, lining up a cool collection of talents to fill the various roles. Colin Firth takes the lead, with Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode and Nicholas Hoult in support.

‘A Single Man’ is due for UK release for February 2010.

Movies - Joe Johnston's 'The Wolfman'

You got to admit it; director Joe Johnston’s come a long way from ‘The Pagemaker’ or indeed, the eighties classic, ‘Honey I shrunk the Kids’. Bang in line with the trend for vampires and werewolves, zombies and other bloodsuckers, next year sees ‘The Wolfman’ hit cinemas worldwide. With none other than Benicio Del Toro in lead as Lawrence Talbot, son of Sir John Talbot, played by Anthony Hopkins, the whole things sounds off centre, but hey, I’ve seen the trailer and get this; it looks pretty damned good. So good, that Del Toro appears believable in his role as well, ‘The Wolfman’. Whatever the case, in ways this film has been a long time coming, and besides ‘American Werewolf in London’ can go holding the crown for wolf movies for any longer.

Promos: DJ Hero from Warp Films and Framestore

Any man in a high top and aviators is cool with me - even if he is all about CGI. Add a little sound from the the fix up, look sharp school, by way of Justice vs. Public Enemy, turn it into a lil’ something from FreeStyleGames, and you have something fast and funky and playable. Having said that, this game, 'DJ Hero', is from the 'Guitar Hero' stable, and that’s an area, which I never really got. Well, whatever, the trailer for the Play Station, X Box game, is pretty damned slick and comes courtesy of Warp Films and Framestore. The promo moves, it swings; it ducks and dives and leaves you thinking, hey, maybe these 'Guitar Hero' games have a something-something going on... Check it out for size with the 'DJ Hero' opening if you don’t believe me…

Ads - Packed with a Lil' Action; Ninja Kittens

So, Toyota has just launched ‘Buddy’ (see below), but fact is, I’m still reeling from last years' ‘Ninja Kittens’ commercial. This mad-ass 'Packed with Lil' Action' ad was originally aired in Australia for the Corolla hatchback – a car, which is, frankly, out-shined by the freaky-deaky Ninja Kittens featured in the commercial. The end product from Publicis Mojo and Exit Films’ Garth Davies, is leftfield and slick, kicking off the curved edge of cool - almost makes you want to go learn some moves. Almost. It's got humour, hissing, sardines, and more. It's just, well, damned near perfect.

Ads - Häagen-Dazs and TBWA

Häagen-Dazs has launched their first ad, ‘Melt together’, in four years. Featuring the Ukrainian National Ballet, set to a Richard Hawley track, ‘Open up Your Door’, and filmed at the Kiev Opera House. The 60-second commercial comes from TBWA, and was directed by Philippe Andre, alongside creative director Graham Capp as is part of a £3.5

Cameras - XDCAM - Sony PMW EX3

Back in May 2008 the Sony PMW EX3 was launched at America’s NAB Show. Las Vegas attendees greeted the camera with interest. They appreciated the EX3’s design; its quality in terms of undercranking, not to mention time lapse and its excellent new interchangeable lens system. Over a year on and the camera remains groundbreaking, with EX3s literally flying off shelves – and that's no big surprise; for this camera is both simple and ingenious. For a hand held, HD, non-linear XDCAM it is damned near perfect. As an upgrade to the EX1, the EX3 doesn’t fail to deliver as Sony has taken the original and turned it into something bigger and bashier. Yes, this is some upgrade, and there are no two ways about it; the EX3 is undeniably more accessible than its predecessor.

There are several additions and changes to the PMW EX3. The camera has a different structure to the EX1; it’s almost as if the Canon XL has been crossed with an EX1 in regards to shape. This has something to do with the addition of a shoulder brace, which clicks out and allows users to rest the camera securely while filming. It’s a neat little extra, and one that allows for far smoother hand held work. Another change is the viewfinder. This has been moved to the centre side of the camera, and sits as a clip off, working with, and above, the LCD screen. It’s a clever design and one that makes for straightforward use. Meanwhile, Sony has added a fantastic interchangeable lens system. Now with a ½ inch adaptor, ½ inch wide angle and long lenses can be used. It’s an inspired addition, making the camera incredibly versatile, while producing footage that’s sharp and slick, just the way you’d want it to be.

Like the EX1, the PMW EX3 records to card. 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB, will give one hour, two hours and three hours footage, retrospectively when compressed. Most laptops have a corresponding card reader, which means users can simply slip the card into their computer and download footage at a swift rate of about 20mins per 16 GB. And if you don’t have a laptop at hand, no problem; the EX3 can take the information from it’s A and B SxS card slots, and record between each. Of course there’s more, like the mirror image option that flips in the viewfinder, or the new up coming EX hard drive, but really, you’d be better off experiencing the wonders of the EX3 yourself, first hand.

Virals - BBC Poetry; The King of Blues and Byron

From Academy Films' Corin Hardy, comes a stunning new BBC Poetry viral. Shot on the notoriously sensitive Red One, the slo-mo action takes place at Camden's Koko, with The King of Blues' Itch reciting Byron's 'So We’ll Go No More A-roving’ - a work previously covered by Lenoard Cohen and Joan Baez. With post by Smoke and Mirrors, the final offering is a slick and sassy, following fast in footsteps of past virals from the Poetry Season.

Movies - 'Shutter Island', Martin Scorsese, Leonado DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley, Emiliy Mortimer and Michelle Williams

Call me a sucker for a blockbuster, but Martin Scorsese's 'Shutter Island' looks like a edge of your seat, sock-it-to-me, killer of a movie. With stellar line up including Ben Kingsley, Leonardo DiCaprico, Emily Mortimer, and Michelle Williams, the film is based on Dennis Lehane's 2003 eponymous novel, with freaky-ass action taking place on an island for the 'criminally insane' back in 1954. Shot in Massachusetts (Medfield State Hospital), Connecticut, Nova Scotia, and Boston's Peddocks Island, the film is due for release in October, this year, while more recently, distribution rights are said to have reached the $8 million slot.

Commercials - Orange: 'Alien', Wanda Productions, Publicis, and Bryan Buckley

There's a slick lil' Orange campaign coming out in France this May. The trio of ads, which includes ‘Vampires’, ‘Gladiators’ and ‘Alien’ - the later being a genius piece of work if not for the line, “And no slobbering on the bed”, alongside cutesy appearances from Babe and a juggling Stuart Little - were produced by Bryan Buckley at Wanda Productions for Publicis Conseil, Paris. He's a director I’m fond of – his work always manages to make me chuckle; Dr Pepper’s 'Emergency', aka 'Butt Naked Boy', and American Express’ 'Animals' with Ellen DeGeneres deserve all the credit get. Super hit-on on You Tube, they are superb. Well. It's not surprisingly Buckley is a bit of an award-winner; in the past the Directors Guild of America have named him as Commercial Director of the Year, while in 2006, he was ranked No. 1 in the world for award-winning commercials. There’s more but, hey, you may as well just check the ads. Enjoy...

Commercial - Adidas F50i: Spark, MJZ, 180/TBWA, Zinedine Zidane

From 180\TBWA comes the new 'Adidas F50i: Spark' commercial. Production from London's MJZ; Executive Creative Directors: Andy Fackrell, and Richard Bullock; Director Rupert Sanders; and Executive Producer Debbie Turner.

Movies - Guy Richie's 'Sherlock Holmes' Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law

Sure, hardcore Sherlock Holmes' fans were none to impressed with swing from Conan Doyle’s original tale to that of Lionel Wigram’s new novel, while others remained sceptical on the choice of Guy Richie – after all, he's had a few turkeys of late, and Mr. Holmes is no ‘Lock Stock’ character - actually wipe that; this time round it would seem he is - he just has a different kind of banter – a more ‘Queen’s English’ style. As such, it appears Richie’s time in the wildness has ended with the Warner Bros up-coming movie 'Shelock Holmes'. While the proof ultimately lies in the pudding, going by the trailer, this one looks like a sure-fire hit for those involved. Staring Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes, and Jude Law as Watson, the film is produced by a host of luminaries including Bruce Berman, Joel Silver and Steve Clarke-Hall, who recently worked on the wickedly titled ‘Lesbian Vampire Killers’.

Commercials - Coca Cola, Gremlins, Calvin Harris, Dougal Wilson, Mother, Blink and Many More

Everyone’s talking about it – and why wouldn’t they? It's nothing short of genius. Weird, wonderful, wacky and wired-out, the new coke ad, ‘The Organ Player’, from Mother is sizzling. From it’s bleached honey tones to its Calvin Harris soundtrack and top-hatted, knuckle cracking organ player, not to mention the cutesy lil’ gremlins, pied-pipering the coke drinking masses to their hilltop party-picnic, this commercial takes 'Coke is it' to a whole other level. Directed by Dougal Wilson (who apparently studied astro-physics at Durham – he's gone considerably more media since and has won Best Music Video Director at CAD a few times over) at Blink Productions, produced by Matthew Fone, with DoP Alwin Kuchler (Also Blink), and post courtesy of The Moving Picture Company.

Oniline - Phillips Cinema 21:9, Adam Berg and Stink Digital

So. Big action for Phillip’s Cinema 21:9 LCD TV, and the company’s new interactive website. We’re talking trumpets, cymbals, red carpets, paparazzi, and news teams at the ready – practically. We’re also talking some serious talent on the filming side. Enter Adam Berg and Stink Digital with ‘Carousel’, a short film, or rather ‘interactive movie’, which gives it all up for Phillip’s big, bashy, brand new LCD TV and site. And man, this short is a piece of work. Filmed as one nonstop tracking shot, the viewer is quite literally slap bam in the clowned-up, copped-up, guns and movie set action. Surrounded by interactive hot spots, 'Carousel' makes Rockstar Games' look like a little bit of unfocused fun. Still, it's altogether a different package, courtesy of Executive Producers, Mark Pytlik, Daniel Bergmann, Stephen Brierley, and DoP Fredrik Backar, and Tribal DDB, Amsterdam, it is an interactive work of art.

Awards - BAFTAs 2009

BAFTAs 2009. Royal Albert Hall. The best of British... Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, In Cold Blood, Skins, and many, many more.

Past Blast - BMW Hire Series - Tony Scott's 'Beat the Devil' with Clive Owen, Gary Oldman and James Brown

Back in 2001, BMW produced a series of short films, coolly crafted by filmmakers including Ang Lee, John Woo, Guy Richie, and Alejandro González Iñárritu. The whole thing was groundbreaking, and ultimately lasted through to 2004. During this time the series was viewed over 100 million times, while BMW sales increased by a tidy 12%.

But here's the thing; while all the films are slick and smooth and provocative, there’s one that stands head and shoulders above the rest. In fact, it’s so out there, it’s nothing short of genius. Tony Scott’s ‘Beat the Devil’, stars Clive Owen, Gary Oldman, James Brown, and Marilyn Manson. It’s fast, quirky, quick and packed with bleached palettes and speedy, twitchy, action. It is, frankly, a bona fide work of art. Pure, utter, brilliance.

Commercials - Ram Madhvani's 'Himani Pain Relief'

More Ram Madhvani. Yes I know, I’m getting obsessed, but what can I say? The man is a genius. And just for the record, I’m not alone in my thinking. This month he was bestowed with a few more awards, most notably three – two silvers and a bronze – at Goafest 2009. Seems they were impressed with his ‘Himani Pain Relief’ commercial. Check it out. You'll probably be impressed too.

Commercials - Ram Madhvani's 'Happydent White'

Great Guns’ Ram Madhvani was awarded a Bronze and Silver Lion at Cannes for his 'Happydent White' commercial in 2006. Now, white that may be eons ago, the ad is, frankly superb, and as such would be remiss to leave it the Babzoo Blog. Madhavani sits amongst Asia Pacific’s top ten directors, and in 2008 was ranked 11th in the list of ‘Most Awarded Directors’ by the Gunn Report. Enjoy!

TV - BBC 'Ashes to Ashes'

We switched on, we sat, we watched - watched in our masses, all 7 million of us, after a taste of BBC's ‘Ashes to Ashes’. The second series, staring Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes, is the even slicker follow up to ‘Life on Mars’, and attracted an audience share of 29% - which ain’t exactly bad pickings - but then again, this is a damn fine show.

Winner of the Best New Drama at 2008’s 'TV Quick Awards', the programme comes courtesy of Kudos, in association with Monastic Productions, with executive producers, Simon Crawford Collins and Jane Featherstone (Kudos), and Ashley Pharoah (Monastic) making the whole thing one big peachy, quirky eighties crimefest.