New In Manila Zine

Hey, it’s been awhile but anyway, I just wanted to plug this new project of mine: an online zine called New In Manila

It’s basically a zine where I try to cover various scenes of the Manila design and art scene. You can check out some of the features we have right now like Manila Design Week and the Versus 2 Exhibit which was held in Alliance Francaise De Manille.

We Have Moved!

CLICK THE IMAGE!

Honda Cog Ad: Isn’t It Nice When Things Just Work?

Simple ad by Honda…. or is it?

Updharmadown’s New Video – Taya

One of the best bands to come out in the local scene, Updharmadown. They have developed a unique sound which I would say is distinctively Updharmadown. I thought the first album, Fragmented, was one of the best I’ve heard in a while. I’ve only heard bits of their 2nd album, Bipolar but from what I’ve heard so far, it seems like another topper. 

I like this new video from them, it’s a great use of what I think is, stop motion and light graffiti. The video for a song from the 2nd album called Taya. I’m not sure who directed it, but a quick google search gives me the following info, some insights from the director himself, Nicolo Reyes:

I have always been inspired by the play of light. In my past videos for Up Dharma, the use of light has strongly influenced my concepts. From the band’s first single, “Maybe”, I played with the idea of silhouettes against colored dancing lights. With their next single “Hiwaga”, I tried to convey the emotion of loneliness and isolation in deep space though the use of strong primary colors: red, blue, green, and yellow. Now for their new single “Taya” from their new album Bipolar, I wanted to push the concept of using lights a bit further. Given that their new album has a totally new sound and feel to it, I wanted to give their video a new look and feel as well.

Their new single “Taya” is a lot more edgy and analog in their sound. Visually, I wanted to translate these elements. The song, first and foremost, became my inspiration. In this day and age of CGI and visual effects, I wanted to take a step back from all of this. To push my concept of light play, which I have traditionally used, the idea that came to me was to make the band literally “play” with the lights. The idea for this concept came in a sort of eureka moment while I was in Japan and saw a group painting with light. So by then using an old film technique known as stop motion photography, I could bring the lights to life and let the band have fun with them. All the effects were done live and on camera. This gave the video a very raw and choppy feel that blended perfectly with the song.

To bring this idea to life, was ambitious to say the least. I have to give full credit to the team (ISK PRODUCTIONS) for going though this journey with me. It took months of planning, 3 test shoots, 5 long nights of production, and over 5,000 photographs. In the end, I hope the video and the song will give an old sense of awe and amusement to a new generation of viewers.

Here’s the video:

Directed by: Nicolo Reyes

Producer: Toti Dalmacion
Director of Photography: Pong Ignacio
Production Manager: Zig Marasigan
Editor: Jogs Garcia
Head light painter: Marco Ortiga
Light Painters: Gino Nacianceno, Vicky Velasco, & Mei Tayengco
ISK Productions 2008 

Thanks to Pelicola.tv for some of the info and video.

New York School Of Visual Arts: THINK Campaign

Cool, cool stuff. Always on your feet, thinking. While eating, thinking, While drinking, thinking. Even while taking a dump, thinking. Think harder! 

Created by KNARF, a US-based advertising agency, for the New York School of Visual Arts. Strategically placed in areas where people are most contemplative. It’s an interactive campaign that encourages whoever sees it to use and write on it. Awesome.

Advertising Agency: KNARF New York, USA 

Creative Director: Frank Anselmo 

Art Directors: Jeseok Yi, Frank Anselmo

Copywriters: Frank Anselmo, Jeseok Yi

Photographer: Billy Siegrist

*EDIT: I noticed that I’ve been using cool & great so much, I can’t help it. So much neat stuff out there. I’m trying to do some neat stuff in my own way, so hopefully I will have something worthy to post.

New Adidas Campaign: March Is A Brotherhood

For those that follow basketball religiously, y’all know what March is all about. Forget the NBA for a minute. It’s March Madness baby!

March Madness aka THE BIG DANCE, the term to describe the NCAA basketball championship tournament. 65 teams, one game each, you lose, you’re out.

Last year’s tournament was awesome, with the Kansas Jayhawks taking the big W over the Memphis Tigers. Mario Chalmers, now playing for the Miami Heat, hitting the clutch 3 to send the game into OT, winning over eventual NBA first pick Derrick Rose. This year shouldn’t disappoint.

In support of this event, Adidas came out with a new campaign. Again, in line with their Basketball Is A Brotherhood campaign, they put out videos of KG, Josh Smith, T-Mac and Dwight Howard, all of whom skipped college (love the irony), to represent their selected college teams. The videos were “candidly” shot, with the each player, save for KG, mocking the choice for the previous player/s. Funny stuff!

Oh, and T-Mac, should really stop doing these promos and get himself correct on his health.

Here’s the official press release, along with the videos: Coming off a year that featured three adidas teams in the Final Four, including eventual champion Kansas Jayhawks, adidas looks to take Brotherhood one-step further for the 2009 NCAA Tournament by bringing current NBA stars to the locker rooms of top-ranked college programs. Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, Tracy McGrady and Josh Smith are featured in four videos entitled “March is a Brotherhood”, sharing their admiration and respect for the college game. Although these players leaped the college ranks, they are now reflecting on the purity of the game and celebrating the NCAA basketball brotherhood. For the Tournament, adidas Basketball is also introducing the Mad Clima – a new court shoe designed to keep adidas’ elite schools lighter and cooler during crucial tournament play. The new design offers ClimaCool technology to keep players lighter and cooler during NCAA tournament play. The “March is a Brotherhood” program and product collection launches today.

Shepard Fairey Speaks Out!

Shepard Fairey has been under the spotlight for the past year or so. Initially with his work on the Obama HOPE poster and how the image became the unofficial campaign image for Obama, which appealed particularly to the younger and more internet-savvy demographic. And lately, for the “fair use and appropriation issue” where the Associated Press threatened to sue Fairey, who used a photograph that an AP photographer took and turned it into the Obama HOPE image.

Shepard Fairey first came to fame through his early Andre Giant Has A Posse/Obey Giant campaign where he also appropriated an image of wrestler Andre the giant into posters and stickers, which later on evolved into the Obey logo. He also branched out to doing t-shirt and apparel through his brand, OBEY. He is also involved in graphic design & illustration as well as developing marketing campaigns.

You can read more about the issues in the following links below:

AP alleges copyright infringement of Obama image

Stanford Law School’s Fair Use Project and Durie Tangri File Lawsuit against The Associated Press on behalf of Obama Hope Artist Shepard Fairey

You can hear his side of the story from this interview with NPR here.

A Hate Post On Pop!

Psyche!

This isn’t really a hate post but it is related to pop. Pop can mean a lot of things, but the pop here, I figure is more in line with it’s musical reference, with pop equating to what is popular or mainstream. Or for some people, selling out.

As much as I support underground and less mainstream stuff as much as possible, whether it be clothing, music, art or simply culture, sometimes being POP has a lot of great advantages as well.

I thought of this while I was watching the VH1 Storytellers show featuring Kanye West. Now Kanye is as POP as they come and while he still appeals to some of the underground/independent scene, he’s mostly shunned. Even so, the show, visually was awesome. Great use of lighting, excellent sound quality and best of all, visually exciting with all the kick ass screens and stage set-up that he had.

My point being, I’m a visual guy and I love great design. And while being independent is cool because you get to do what you want without necessarily being dictated by something bigger than you. There’s only so much resources you have and thus at times, it may limit what one is capable of. It’s actually a two-pronged coin, sometimes some of the best and most creative shit I’ve seen is a result of not having enough resources, which forces an artist, designer, performer, whatever, to make do what’s available and that shit forces your hand and unknowing brings out the best in the person. But  then again, there’s so much more you can do with more resources, especially when it comes to things that are heavily visual.

This line of thought is applicable to most of the visual arts and I guess it’s really situational and up to the person whether he chooses to stay independent or decides to go pop. Some people work best with the former while other thrive on the big stage, opting for the latter.

FUC..THANK YOU!

I heard this over the weekend and I thought the copy and delivery was excellent. Funny shit, give it a listen.

Introducing: Doctor Manny Pacquiao

Okay, this is some next level breaking news!

Manny Pacquiao was just awarded an honorary doctorate in human kinetics by the Southwestern University in Cebu.

SAY WHAT?!

That’s right, read ‘em and weep. It’s now Dr. Manny Pacquiao! Apparently his success in the boxing world makes him the perfect example of great human kinetics. Human kinetics as described by an article I read is and I quote, ” Human Kinetics is a study on sports, fitness and health. It aims to provide a dynamic environment that supports academic excellence in sports, recreation and physical activity through inspired teaching, creative research and and meaningful achievements.”

Man, don’t get me wrong. I’m a fan of what Manny has done in the field of boxing, but seriously, all this hero worship is a bit much no? Many times, he has been touted as a National Hero, a savior and inspiration to the poor. Are we that desperate to find our modern day heroes that we resort to Manny? Can’t we have any of those NGO volunteers? Or those who really have an impact in changing lives? I can accept the OFW being touted heroes for their sacrifice, but sorry Manny, as much as I like you as a boxer, you’re no hero. Maybe someday you can, but presently. No. But I digress.

To be fair to Manny, although he wasn’t able to finish his secondary schooling (or highschool as we call it here in the Philippines), I give him props for taking the Department of Education exam to acquire his highschool diploma. And supposedly he’s now trying to finish his degree in some school. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that he really took and passed that exam and not just because he is the Pacman.