The Mill NY was commissioned to do the OFFF opening titles this year, and took the opportunity to debut their integrated design and animation team. The languid journey they take us on through the forty-five titles for this years OFFF conference displays the immense potential this new division of the Mill has, especially considering the production resources they have at their disposal.
Mill NY staff Jeff Stevens (Design Director), Boo Wong (Senior Design & Content Producer) and Colin Pearsall (Executive Producer/Content) were all kind enough to answer a few questions about this piece and the new division of the Mill.
Splicing up biological elements and reforming them to create brand new species to illustrate the beauty that results from the exchange of ideas at a conference like OFFF is splendid and must have been a joy to work with as a theme…or at least that’s my take on it. Regardless, what led you to your concept and how did you go about developing it?
Jeff Stevens: The original, over arching concept was strength vs beauty and the affinity that each has for the other. At the same time, I wanted to create something that was abstract yet ‘seemingly’ natural. So, creating an environment that was underwater mixed with air began to take shape. Texture was important to me, so when Kim began illustrating, the contours and rawness of materials started to create a landscape and pattern for all of our characters. The best part was that nothing needed to be real. We could have suggested more reality but I think the blend of species, environment, and biomechanics perfectly summed up that affinity I was looking for.
More of the interview here
OFFF (International Festival for the Post-Digital Creative Culture) Opening Titles
Premiere: June 26
www.offf.ws/
The Mill NY
www.themill.com
Alistair Thompson – Managing Director
Angus Kneale – ECD
Colin Pearsall – EP/Content
Jeff Stevens – Design Director
Kim Dulaney – Designer
Rob Petrie – CG Lead
Boo Wong – Senior Producer
Moss Levenson – Editor
Fall on Your Sword – Music
Henryboy – Sound Design
Weston Fonger – Sound Mix
3D
Tom Bardwell
Ian Brauner
Jeffrey Dates
Tony Jung
Christopher Kujawa
Michael Panov
Joshua Merck
Ruben Vanderbroek
James Williams
Stanislav Ilin
2D
Emmett Dzieza
Marco Giampolo
Melissa Graff
Bashir Hamid
Lu Lin
Gigi Ng
Doug Purver
Jeff Robins
Gap Yossanun
Tim Haldeen
Brian Sensebe
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