PIXEL FARM

Everyone knows that you have to be pretty darn creative to write a song. I think the most creative kind of song is a well-crafted Christmas song. Sure, I enjoy the traditional favorites like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Jingle Bells.” I won’t argue that they are both creative and inspiring. But I have to say, some of the more rock and pop based Christmas songs seem to have that extra touch of elfin magic that inspires holiday wonderment.

One example of Christmas lyrical genius comes to us via the Beach Boys Christmas Album. In it the Beach Boys proclaim in five-part harmony: “Christmas comes this time each year.” Wow. I never thought of it that way. When Elton John belts out: “Step into Christmas, the admission is free” it can’t help but conjure up crisp winter evenings by the fire with family and warm cups of holiday cheer. And who can forget how Band Aid changed the world with the non-condescending “Do They Know It’s Christmas.” Sure, half of the African continent is Muslim and doesn’t believe in Christ, but pay attention to the spirit of the lyrics. I particularly like the spiritual guidance, “Well tonight thank God it’s them instead of you.”

In my opinion, the most creative thing about Christmas is the music and for the artists who make it so colorful I say, “This Christmas I give you my heart…don’t steal it away the very next day.”

No Comments | In: Moderately Creative Ideas From The Desk Of A Business Person | tags: Africa, Beach Boys, Bob Geldoff, Bono, Christmas, Famine, George Michael, Holidays, Phil Collins, Simon Le Bon, Sting, That Dude From Spandau Ballet. | +

Pixel Farm Colorist, Oscar Oboza recently completed film transfer and color correction on the Roots’ “How I Got Over.” The following is an excerpt from Pitchfork’s review of this upcoming Def Jam release:

The breeziest thing the Roots have put forth since “Act Too (Love of My Life)”, probably, the title single from the Roots’ upcoming album is already eliciting a few jeers for loosening the reins (heard someone mention Black Eyed Peas’ sodden “Where Is the Love?”) So what if it doesn’t revisit say, the El-P-inspired spacecraft synths of “Get Busy”? The Roots are virtually taken for granted by now as evocative groove-layers. Here, ?uestlove vies with congas, a low-shimmering organ, and a gorgeous “Who’s worrying ’bout you babe” hooking you in for Black Thought’s poetic license to drop Rwanda like he’s Mr. Lif, whose own stab at this sort of Obama-softened reporting earlier this year wasn’t warm enough. For every housing crisis or Philly shooting, there’s a trope worth revisiting in Black (not bleak) Thought’s reflective mode, and these are some of his blackest thoughts in some time. But unlike those taught him “not to give a f*@%,” his group insists, “Someone has to care”; here, they’d rather worry about the streets rather than glorify them.

No Comments | In: News, Spots | | +

Pixel Farm has taken its color capabilities to a new level with the launch of our Digital Intermediate Theater—featuring Baselight FOUR—and our recent acquisition of a Baselight HD system. Additionally, our facility was recently featured on Baselight manufacturer, FilmLight’s website.

No Comments | In: News | tags: Baselight FOUR, Baselight HD, color correction, Digital Intermediate Theater, FilmLight, post-production. | +

The upcoming Motionpoems event at the Open Book featuring Pixel Farm artists Tom Jacobsen, Ken Chastain and Jesse Marks was featured on Minnesota Public Radio:

No Comments | In: Events, News | tags: animation, motionpoems, MPR, Open Book, poetry. | +

There is a certain time when duty calls: When hunger strikes, and you need to grab a burger. When the music starts, and you just got to dance. When action figures get animated, you’ve got to record some foley. Here is a demonstration of Action Figure Foley (AFF), performed on the G.I. Joe based “Freedom Force.”

“I Have The Best Job In The World” by Jesse Marks from Pixel Farm on Vimeo.

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Pixel Farm is proud to be a part of the Open Book Literary Arts Center’s upcoming Motionpoems Event. Pixel Farm artists Tom Jacobsen, Ken Chastain and Jesse Marks helped accomplished poet, Todd Boss create the Motionpoem, “The God Of Our Farm Had Blades.” The world premiere of this animated short takes place in the Open Book’s Target Performance Hall at 7:00 p.m. on October 20, 2009. Admission is free. Please visit the Open Book for more information.

No Comments | In: Events | tags: animation, Loft Literary Center, Open Book, poetry, Tom Jacobsen. | +

I think some of the most creative marketing out there belongs to the Gyro sandwich. When I walk down the street of a large city like New York or Charlotte, I always see posters in the windows of delis that picture a man or a woman holding stuffed pita bread toward camera with the word written below “GYRO.” It’s a simple message that seems to say, “If you come into this store you will be able to buy a Gyro. The message also seems to say, “You should try a Gyro because they taste delicious.” I like the sentiment and the directness of this campaign. I am a bit confused by the origin of the campaign, however. Who is paying for it? The Greek government? If so, why haven’t other governments followed the lead of this obviously successful strategy? I could easily see a German man holding out a bun with the word “SAUSAGE.” Or perhaps an Irish woman holding out a bowl with the word “STEW.” I just think it’s a missed opportunity is all.

No Comments | In: Moderately Creative Ideas From The Desk Of A Business Person | tags: gyros, outdoor advertising, pita. | +

Pixel Farm is proud to have been a part of Burger King’s new campaign to prevent hunger in America. Burger King has teamed up with Sony Pictures Animation’s new film Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs for a promotion to benefit the Feeding America charity. The film, which opens in theaters on Sept. 18, will be incorporated into the burger chain’s revamped Web site for kids, ClubBK.com. Children visiting the site can play online word games and activities featuring the characters and themes from the film, as well as watch the film’s trailer.

Players will earn crowns as rewards for their efforts, which they then have the option of giving as a donation to Feeding America, the hunger-relief charity, an appropriate response to all that food wasted that falls from the sky in the film. As more crowns are donated, players receive virtual Feeding America-themed rewards including a T-shirt for their avatar. When donations from across the entire Club BK network reach a certain level, all participants will receive a virtual reward.

This four-week campaign, launching today, includes national television and digital advertising, in-store merchandise and movie-themed toys available in BK Kids Meals through Oct. 11. Campbell Mithun is the agency.

“As part of our BK Positive Steps corporate responsibility mission, we recognize the importance of helping others and are excited to provide kids with a fun and engaging way to give back to their communities,” said Cindy Syracuse, senior director of cultural marketing for BK, in a statement. “It’s a natural way for Club BK members to put their excitement for the movie to work.”

No Comments | In: News, Spots | tags: Burger King, Campbell Mithun, clouds, corporate responsibility, hunger, meatballs. | +

Pixel Farm is proud to have been a part of a recent spot produced by Peter Mullin for Best Buy and Chickenfoot, a powerhouse rock band comprised of one time Deep Purple guitarist Joe Satriani, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer Chad Smith and Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar from Van Halen.

Creative editor, Doug Griess farmed clips from live recordings of numerous songs and behind the scenes studio recording footage to create an action packed performance of the band’s hit song, “Oh Ya.” Inferno artist Tom Jacobsen, assisted by Chad Retrum, envisioned a high contrast black and white look, adding in multiple images composited with 3D lighting and visual effects. Ken Chastain and Jesse Marks collaborated on building a 30 second track from the full-length song and added in movie trailer-like sound effects and crowd noises.

The commercial premiered during the debut week of The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien and will air again nationally in the fall. Chickenfoot’s self-titled debut peaked at #4 on the Billboard charts and has already sold over one million copies.

“Chickenfoot” — Best Buy from Pixel Farm on Vimeo.

No Comments | In: Events, Spots | tags: Best Buy, Chad Retrum, Chad Smith, Chickenfoot, Deep Purple, Doug Griess, Jesse Marks, Joe Satriani, Ken Chastain, Michael Anthony, post-production, Red Hot Chili Peppers, rock n' roll, Sammy Hagar, Tom Jacobsen, Van Halen. | +

Pixel Farm is pleased to welcome Tony Mills, a nationally recognized visual effects artist and graphics editor to the farm. Tony has worked at industry leading post-production houses including Atlantic Video, Western Images, Varitel, Modern Videofilm, Hi-Wire, & Fischer Edit/FX.

His broadcast graphics clients have included Entertainment Tonight & The National Geographic Cable Channel. Major agency campaigns have included Amazon.com for Foote Cone & Belding/SF, Ikea for Carmichael Lynch/Minneapolis, Subway & Holiday Inn Express for Fallon/Minneapolis and Target for Peterson Milla Hooks. Superbowl spots have included Primestar Satellite TV (1999) via Industrial Light & Magic and the Subway “Misunderstanding” spot (1994) for Fallon.

He is a specialist in high-definition post production workflows and an expert on several high-end compositing and editing platforms, including inferno, fire, flame and smoke.

No Comments | In: News, People | tags: Amazon, Carmichael Lynch, fcb, Holiday Inn, ILM, post-production, Subway, Target, Tony Mills. | +