
Sunday, 4 June 2006 | Levent OZLER
1st Avenue Machine and MTV "Transform" Japan for Video Music Awards

MVAJ 30s web.mov ( 15MB ) - Viewed 1402 times
Design and visual effects studio 1st Avenue Machine recently gave portable music a new meaning as part of a campaign for Japan's 2006 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs). The company added futuristic bio-tech enhancements to the island nation's MTV generation as a reminder of the event.
Accompanied by a pop-friendly techno beat, the spot begins in a messy bedroom as a young man wakes up to find that he has been biologically altered. Removing his sheets, he discovers round speakers adhered to his torso. To reveal a mini-epidemic, the camera moves to the streets to expose a string of young adults spontaneously gaining audio appendages. From turntables to synthesizers, the new accoutrements are greeted with immediate awe but are quickly accepted as the new hosts take delight in the new devices.
Feeding into Japan's fascination with the bizarre and unusual, "Transform Japan" is a seamless blend of live-action and CG, with the CG done right over the actors versus over an animated model. Shot "guerilla style", Serge Patzak and Arvind Palep (1st Avenue Machine) ran the streets of Tokyo shooting any and everything as potential footage for the spot. Building a harmony between the organic and technological, 1st Avenue Machine creates a subspecies of musically advanced homo sapiens in the MTV spot.
"Transform Japan" gave 1st Avenue Machine a chance to work with Chris Clarke of Warp Records, known for single handedly redefining the world of left field electronica. The results of this teaming experiment with the idea of musical and human evolution as well as providing commentary on the continuing assimilation of technology and man.






Client: MTV Japan Title/Length: 60s/ 30s
Production Production Company: 1st Ave Machine Director: Arvind Palep Exec. Producer: Serge Patzak Japan's Producer: Masumi Soga
Advertising Agency: Kessels Kramer Creatives: Jennifer Skupin, Tyler Whisnand Strategy: Engin Celikbas, Chris Barrett Producer: Ellen Utrecht
Visual Effects Company: 1st Ave Machine Technical Director: Dan Gregoras CG Director: Arvind Palep
Music Production Artist: Chris Clark Name: Warp Records Track: Frau Wave
About 1st Avenue Machine New York City-based 1st Avenue Machine is a design company with strong capabilities in live action and 3D animation integration. The new Company services clients in the broadcast, music video, feature film and advertising arenas. 1st Avenue Machine is represented by Patricia Claire, ּpatricia claire coּ.
1st Avenue Machine: http://www.dexigner.com/directory/detail/7440/
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