Do you worship the tools of your trade as much as ballerinas worship their pointe shoes?

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If you’ve been reading the blog you know by now that I love dance, the artform and the people that make it happen. A few years ago I was working at Ballet Hispanico and overheard a conversation amongst dancers that concluded with the following quote: “whether or not we get love, fame or money, one shall always worship the shoes.”

What are the tools of your trade that no one understands, that no one knows about? And, are you worshiping them with attention and care?

The story of ballet shoes, from the factory to the stage. Filmed on location at Freed of London & the New York City Ballet. Client: New York City Ballet Director + Editor: Galen Summer Producer: Kristin Sloan Director of Photography: Hillary Spera Sound Mixer: Guillermo Pena Tapia www.unionhz.tv www.galensummer.com www.nycballet.com

Pointe Shoes
​The story of ballet shoes, from the factory to the stage.
​Filmed on location at Freed of London & the New York City Ballet. 

Director + Editor: Galen Summer
Producer: Kristin Sloan
Director of Photography: Hillary Spera
Sound Mixer: Guillermo Pena Tapia

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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.

The Art of Film & TV Title Design: PBS Off Book

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I feel like the latest episode of PBS Off Book was made just for me. I love opening title sequences, full of amazing technical, storytelling and design elements that elevate the work they precede. One of the very first posts I made here was on title sequences. Most recently there was a post on the opening credits for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Along the way I have also shared A Brief History of Title Design created by the fantastic Art of the Title and the must-see visual history lesson on The Title Design of Saul Bass. 

The credits are often the first thing we see when we watch a great film or TV show, but the complexity and artistry of title design is rarely discussed. Creators of title sequences are tasked to invent concepts that evoke the core story and themes of the production, and to create a powerful visual experience that pulls the viewer into the film's world.

“When everything falls into place, and becomes part of your experience of the show, that’s when design becomes filmmaking, and storytelling.”
 - Peter Frankfurt 
The credits are often the first thing we see when we watch a great film or TV show, but the complexity and artistry of title design is rarely discussed. Creators of title sequences are tasked to invent concepts that evoke the core story and themes of the production, and to create a powerful visual experience that pulls the viewer into the film’s world. In this episode we hear the stories of some of the most inventive people working in the field, including the creators of the iconic Mad Men sequence, the hilarious Zombieland opening and “rules” sequences, and the stirring end credits from Blue Valentine.


Featuring:

Peter Frankfurt and Karin Fong, Imaginary Forces
Ben Conrad, Logan
Jim Helton, Blue Valentine
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Previously:

Tattoos: Pop Portraits, Japanese Traditional, American Eclectic
Art In The Era Of The Internet: The Impact Of Kickstarter, Creative Commons & Creators Project
Animated GIFs: The Birth of a Medium
Off Book Series One: The Complete Series

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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.

Tattoos: Pop Portraits, Japanese Traditional, American Eclectic

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It seems that no matter how far we advance into the digital age, our bodies remain a place where we want to express ourselves. In this episode, we talk to three tattoo artists of differing styles.

Continuing the great episodes from PBS Off Book here is their exploration of the world of tattoos. 

It seems that no matter how far we advance into the digital age, our bodies remain a place where we want to express ourselves. In this episode, they talk to three tattoo artists of differing styles. Vinny Romanelli embraces pop culture, tattooing detailed portraits of entertainment idols, Kiku works with the traditional Japanese form, and Stephanie Tamez embodies an eclectic mix of influences, with the occasional use of nice typography. 
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Previously:

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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.

Berliner Philharmoniker: Instruments From The Inside

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These posters have been making the internet rounds all week. They are spectacular, one of those instances where I find myself thinking I wish I dreamt them up when I was marketing orchestras. They remind me of a passage from Claudia Shear’s Blown Sideways Through Life, where she recounts being a model for a painter and feeling like she was “part of the art, as it happened.” 

The campaign was created for the chamber orchestra of the Berliner Philharmoniker (check out their Digital Concert Hall, another great idea). 
CLIENT: Berliner Philharmoniker
AGENCY: Scholz & Friends Berlin
PHOTOGRAPHER: Mierswa Kluska
ART DIRECTOR: Björn Ewers
COPYWRITER: Mona Sibai
CDs: Michael Winterhagen/ Nils Busche
Find more images visit Art Director Björn Ewers’ Behance portfolio. 

 

 

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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.

Animated GIFs: The Birth of a Medium - PBS Arts: Off Book

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GIFs are one of the oldest image formats used on the web. Throughout their history, they have served a huge variety of purposes, from functional to entertainment. Now, 25 years after the first GIF was created, they are experiencing an explosion of interest and innovation that is pushing them into the terrain of art.

Recently I shared the complete first series of PBS Arts: Off Book. They’ve returned with a second series and the first episode explores the history of the GIF. I have to admit I find the Cinemagraphs shown and the whole concept behind them to be clever visual art. 

GIFs are one of the oldest image formats used on the web. Throughout their history, they have served a huge variety of purposes, from functional to entertainment. Now, 25 years after the first GIF was created, they are experiencing an explosion of interest and innovation that is pushing them into the terrain of art. In this episode of Off Book, they chart their history, explore the hotbed of GIF creativity on Tumblr, and talk to two teams of GIF artists who are evolving the form into powerful new visual experiences.

Featuring:

Patrick Davison, MemeFactory
Topher Chris, Tumblr
Pamela Reed and Matthew Rader, Reed+Rader
Jamie Beck and Kevin Burg, Cinemagraphs
 

(via Off Book)

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Antonio Ortiz

Antonio Ortiz has always been an autodidact with an eclectic array of interests. Fascinated with technology, advertising and culture he has forged a career that combines them all. In 1991 Antonio developed one of the very first websites to market the arts. It was text based, only available to computer scientists, and increased attendance to the Rutgers Arts Center where he had truly begun his professional career. Since then Antonio has been an early adopter and innovator merging technology and marketing with his passion for art, culture and entertainment. For a more in-depth look at those passions, visit SmarterCreativity.com.