Hasta La Motion!

Jeroninio Almeida, founding director of iCONGO, Indian Confederation of NGOs, has released “Ideas For Action”, a film challenging the advertising industry’s fixation on award-winning social responsibility campaigns. In 2003 Almeida and associated started the #‎Page3 and #‎FTVstyle campaign to sensitize journalists and media about paying attention to real issues and not just socialites. This year they endeavour to influence the #‎Cannes #‎LionsAward organisers to have festivals and awards more often so that advertising folks create public service campaigns with the right intent and more #‎sensitivity for social issues throughout the year.

An Open Letter To Terry Savage

Dear Mr. #‎TerrySavage,

It’s often said that the entire universe conspires to get a good deed done. Well, in the case of advertising creativity, one could say it conspires a lot more during the months leading up to the #‎CannesLionsFestival in June every year.

Which is a good thing. Because it is during this short burst of a couple of months that creative thinkers slam pedal to metal and we witness the birth of brilliant campaigns that benefit humanity. Myriad ideas that feed the hungry, educate the underprivileged, address inequalities and make the world a much better place.

That’s commendable and incredibly inspiring because these cause-related ideas are not for personal gain. These are ideas for good. Selfless demonstrations of the fact that for every social injustice in this world, there’s a copywriter and an art director who are determined to change it. The last vestiges of hope for a world consumed by commercial decay.

It’s 3 months of pure, unadulterated, cockle-warming service to humankind.

But therein lies the problem: Why should the good work stop after the Awards are given out in June? Why should the world be a happier place for just 3 months every year?

We spoke to many underprivileged beneficiaries and understood their obvious disappointment at the abrupt discontinuation of many wonderful initiatives, shortly after the ideas win a Lion. Or soon after they don’t win one, for that matter.

As head of the world’s pre-eminent creative awards festival, you can easily change that. We believe there’s a simple way to ensure many wonderful ideas impact lives positively for not just 3 odd months, but throughout the year.

Please have a look at the attached video for our suggestion. We believe you’ll find it to be a practical solution to the problem at hand.

Do let us know what you think and thanks for taking time to read through this.

Best regards,

Jeroninio Almeida

The Motion Design category is making its debut at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards show. The Outstanding Motion Design category is distinct from Outstanding Title Design Category (formerly “Outstanding Individual Achievement in Graphic Design and Title Sequences”) introduced in the 1990s. According to the Primetime Emmy Awards official entry guidelines: Motion Design is defined as the art of… Read more »

The close-up may be one of the most beautiful and conventional shots in cinema. The shot is used abundantly and is usually one of the first concepts discussed in a filmmaking course. While many close-ups share the same conventions, Jonathan Demme put a signature twist on this old and practical technique. Most filmmakers choose to employ the close-up shot during scenes of crucial dialogue–the scene cuts back and forth to the characters’ respective close ups, each character looking to the opposite side of the screen in order to mind the 180 line. This is a standard, yet effective, procedure and is seen in almost any film. On the other hand, Demme prefers to line up his characters in the center of the frame and have them look directly into the lens of the camera. As the scene cuts back and forth, the characters usually match placement and seem to be looking right at us, conveying a unique sense of urgency or poignancy. Demme’s approach to the close-up is effective on many emotional levels, and this is largely due to the eye/lens relationship. When Dr. Hannibal Lecter hisses at Agent Clarice Starling, we feel equally victimized. As Andrew Beckett succumbs to AIDS, we feel an overwhelming sensation of sympathy. These characters seem to be looking at us, and we therefore connect on a deeper level. Examining a Demme close-up out of context may seem like breaking the fourth wall, but within the film, Demme utilizes the shots so naturally and fluidly that we never leave the cinematic realm. Demme’s technique has also been copied by some of today’s most respected auteurs, most notably Paul Thomas Anderson, who has paid homage in ‘Hard Eight,’ ‘Boogie Nights,’ ‘Magnolia,’ ‘There Will be Blood’, and ‘The Master’. While Demme has gravitated away from his signature approach to close-ups in recent years, the technique was a defining characteristic of a Jonathan Demme picture from 1986–2004. Here is a look at Demme’s signature shot in seven of his feature films. Oiginally featured at: http://blogs.indiewire.com/pressplay/watch-jonathan-demme-and-the-close-up-shot-20150407 MUSIC: “Goodbye Horses” by Q Lazzarus Films used: ‘Something Wild’ (1986) ‘Married to the Mob’ (1988) ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991) ‘Philadelphia’ (1993) ‘Beloved’ (1998) ‘The Truth About Charlie’ (2002) ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ (2004) Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

I beleive that movies have a major role in shaping our personality and behavior. Especially animatied films that had a profound effect on our childhood and instilling morals that grew up with us. This is one of the reasones, in this short film, I am sticking to a message that may inspire both young and adult audience. In Reach short film, I did not only illustrate and encourage altruism, but also showed a reward given in return. http://matarawi.wix.com/matarawi#!films/cpax