Vodafone TVC

Sorry - it's not exactly breaking news, but I have been meaning to post about this ad for some time... it's a TV commercial for Vodafone that's been on air for a few months now... and it's so Melbourne in every way... I love it!

The ad features Flinders Lane, including one of my favourite CBD cafes (Journal), a little bit of St Kilda - with a glimpse of Luna Park in the background, a very 'Secret Life' style rooftop party in a typical Elwood art deco apartment block, the sun setting through hazy palm trees in St Kilda, and another very typically 'Melbourne' terrace house.

Also... love the casting and the wardrobe styling. The hero actor is so perfectly cast - so real, and again, he seems so typically Melbourne!

Somehow this ad has truly captured the feeling and attitude of this beautiful city... Don't you think?

Or maybe I've just been seduced by the really cute music? (that's 'Because I do' by Scottish band Pearl and the Puppets...)

Interview - Willy Karl Beecher

Motion graphics for the MADC Awards 2008 by Willy Beecher

Title sequence for the AFI awards 2007

Willy Karl Beecher is an incredibly talented Melbourne designer, and also a great friend of my partner Gordon. If you live in Australia and own a TV, it's more than likely that you've seen Willy's incredible work at some point... but you probably haven't spared a thought for the process and expertise required to create the stunning motion graphics he is responsible for!

Willy is a design director whose varied portfolio of work includes branding, art direction, graphic design and motion graphics for film, TV and commercials. Amongst other things, he designs and creates the superimposed graphics and effects you see in so many commercials and title sequences. It's work that often blends so seamlessly into the viewing experience, that you mightn't always notice just how involved this design process is!

Willy's clients over the years have included Adidas, the AFI awards, Herald and Weekly Times, Nissan, Mio and Village Cinemas. Willy also lectures in Illustration, Design and Motion Graphics at RMIT in Melbourne.

Please take a moment to watch Willy's incredible showreel below... Its like, WOW!

Tell me a little about your background - what did you study and what path led you to what you're doing now?

As far back as I remember I have been interested in art, all through school it fascinated me. For me I could think of no better way to indulge my time than simply create things. Through secondary school I discovered an aptitude for Art and Design and focused my studies primarily on these.

I studied Industrial Design at RMIT Melbourne starting back in 1989, and although I loved illustration and concept development during this course, I found it too engineering and technically based. I managed to complete 2 years over 4, yet couldn't find the passion I needed to complete the course. I've spoken to many people that have had similar experiences, and I suppose when I lecture it gives me a sense of empathy towards my students.

After a soul searching 2 year break, I returned with a vengeance to study Electronic Design & Interactive Media, again at RMIT. During this course I discovered my passion for moving image and I focused almost entirely on Graphic Design and Animation. In 1995 the course was still evolving, we were on the eve of the internet boom and the lecturers encouraged whatever crazy ideas you could develop. For me this was perfect!

On graduation I was employed as a designer for a graphic design firm, JM Artworks. This was a small but wonderful place, where the Creative Director encouraged everyone. It was a hectic and crazy environment but we had so much fun, a madhouse of designers and artists. I would often be struck on the head by a flying Elmo. I stayed on for about 2 and a half years.

In late 1997, and with some luck I landed a job as a Designer for a boutique animation company called Planet X Studios. Here I trained as a Design Director. I was surrounded by animation and broadcast experts and was educated to follow extremely high standards of production. Working mostly on TVCs and film graphics there was NO margin for error, and the pressure was constant. Planet X was great because I learned professional skills, not only in design but in management, and business.

Following this I started YenBrand with Adam Rankin. We were a boutique Motion Graphics and Branding consultancy. We had reasonable success but after 2 and a half years we parted ways to pursue alternative careers.

Since this time I have worked for myself.

motion graphic for Desktop Magazine 'Create' awards

What are some of your projects/clients that we might be familiar with?

I work with such a variety of brands that I rarely get bored, its great. I work on Television Commercials, Branding, TV Identities and Corporate Projects. Some you may be familiar with: The AFI AWARDS for 2007, branding and concept design for a series of AMP commercials, a HONDA TVC spot, Corporate Branding videos for SIEMENS, Adidas and an interesting one recently was Design Direction for Optus / "Hot Hits" a teenage music and celebrity show on Mobile Phones. Currently I'm working on Design for a series of retail TVCs for Nissan.

Title sequence for the AFI awards 2006

You work closely with film directors and agency to achieve the polished motion graphics we see on TV commercials. How much creative freedom do you have when determining the 'look' of this commercial work?

I'm very fortunate and grateful that I'm given lots of freedom to develop creative. I never work alone though and I must credit everyone involved, especially the producers that work behind the scenes with the admin and scheduling.

For me it's vital that I receive enough time from clients to develop animation. There is a process I insist on where proper briefings, storyboards, style frames and Animatics come first. Most clients understand the importance of this to achieve the "look". When everyone is in agreement, projects rise to the top in quality.

Motion graphics for the Defence Department TVCs

Which designers, artists or creative people are you inspired by?

I'm going through an introspective period regarding this, its because there is so much wonderful work, I'm simply overwhelmed.

Perhaps its also a realisation on how small we really are. Even so creatives like these inspire me to tears:

Theo Jansen

Pleix
Michael Fakesch - Designing Sounds
Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa
Film director Martin Scorsese
My friend Marco Palmieri
Universal Everything
Mato Atom

Where else do you find inspiration? (books, magazines, the web, travel, film etc).

I'm fascinated by beauty in so many forms, including music, but especially the magic of nature. I often turn to nature for colour schemes, patterns and movement. The Planet Earth DVD series with David Attenborough, The Jelly Fish enclosure at the Melbourne Aquarium, or the Butterflies at the Melbourne Zoo, Simply Brilliant!

Poster for the Loreal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2005

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

Because I work on contract my days vary considerably. Although I do work on an hourly basis, I may do a week of 12 Hour days, after which I may have 4 days off. I'm very conscious of my health and train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 4 times a week. My girlfriend, puppy and I also often retreat to the country, natural environments are a rejuvenating experience.

Willy's portrait of his partner, Ellie

What are you most proud of professionally?

Cultivating great professional relationships that last, and being hired as the generator of creative vision.

What's the best thing about your job?

Creating wonder and magic, seriously!

And the worst?

People that don't understand the value of the creative process. I believe design must be taken more seriously in this country, valued at early stages of education. We are all surrounded and intrinsically involved with design. Whether we like this or not, from tangible products to TV, the clothes we wear, books, film, cars, buildings, interiors, the list goes on. Having an educated perspective on universal design principles increases the quality of your life experience.

What would be your dream project?

I've worked on many dream projects, but in 2009 I'm aiming to acquire contracts from the US market.

Identity Design for TV Networks like NBC, CNN, Discovery and Feature Film Title Design.

Concept work for MRPPP in Melbourne

What are you looking forward to?

More travel and buying a house!

What's on your 'to do' list this week?

Getting my Tax sorted, I also have a BJJ Jiu Jitsu tournament coming up, so I'm training hard.

Melbourne Questions –

What/where was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

Actually it was the Lorne pier seafood shop. We ordered Coffin and Smokey Bay Oysters, so fresh and wonderful!

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Sleeping in :)

Melbourne's best kept secret?

There is a brilliant old school Italian grocery store in Moonee Ponds called Russos Meats. It's on Holmes Road. They have incredible home made salami and sausages, recently I ordered a home made Prosciutto. Its hanging in the store with my name on it. It will be ready in December, Yum!

Interview - Matt Cotter

Star Wars 3: Revenge of the Sith (2003) - Sculptor. Carving of Polystyrene circular couch, and large figurative sculptures (polystyrene).

Matt Cotter is great at a lot of things. What he's particularly great at is making intricately detailed sculptures, props and scenery out of all kinds of materials - he can render amazing textures onto surfaces to make them appear ancient or other-worldly, he can carve polystyrene into any shape imaginable and then coat it so it's strong and smooth, he can sculpt in clay and build in timber and metal... He's worked on films like Ghostrider, The Matrix and Star Wars, and on various other projects including the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony.

He also plays drums in well-known Melbourne band Even. Which means on top of being a talented artist and a great props/model maker, he is also partially famous.

He's also an extremely modest, super-nice guy who smiles a lot and rides around town on a cool little cream-coloured Vespa. (Actually I think the Vespa belongs to his girlfriend).

Anyway, check out some of Matt's amazing work below and read on for his interview! :

Matrix Reloaded/Revolutions (2001-2) Set dressing, scenic painting and texturing.

Canterbury Leagues Club dragon feature wall - carved urethane, sand coating.

When Good Ghouls Go Bad (2000) - Sculptor. Clay modelled, plaster mould, cast in fibreglass.

Ghostrider (2005) - Senior Sculptor. Polystyrene and urethane angel statue on a steel armature.

Sydney Olympics (2000) - Senior Sculptor. Fish sculptures - Polystyrene, plastic, poly-filler.

Ghostrider (2005) - Senior Sculptor. Carved polystyrene and urethane over a timber frame.

Matt's travel sketchbooks

Interview!! -

Tell me a little about your background - what path led you to what you’re doing now?

In a nutshell: Bummed around in my early 20s, then completed a B.A. in Fine Arts (Painting) at RMIT. Worked for 5 years building, sculpting, and painting the Myer Christmas Windows, before a (non-career related) move to Sydney. Scored a job sculpting and constructing various pieces for the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, then jumped ship to work as model-maker on Star Wars Episode II. Worked on films and various other projects in Sydney and Melbourne for the next 5 years: sculpting, painting, and model-making, before giving teaching a crack. Taught secondary Art and Materials Technology for 2 years, decided it wasn’t quite my cup of tea, and have recently returned to more creative pursuits.

Can you list some examples of projects you’ve worked on, and which companies/clients/productions you have created props or models for?

I’m currently building a 2 metre tall miniature model palace for a television series, The Elephant Princess, for Jonathon M Shiff Productions. Lots of nice little fiddly bits. At a company in Sydney, Di Emme, I worked as a sculptor on various projects, including an elephant sculpture for Taronga Zoo, and I’ve been employed as a sculptor, model-maker, prop-maker, and scenic painter on various films including Star Wars Episodes II and III, Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions, Stealth, Ned Kelly, and Ghostrider.

You’ve had a varied background – you’re a musician, you’ve been a high school teacher, as well as working on some very high profile feature films… how do you juggle these various creative roles and do they complement each other well?

Luck’s played a part, I reckon. Sometimes I think I was born with a horseshoe up my arse! There have been occasional clashes between work and music, but most of the time it seems a job finishes just as a tour, or recording or whatever is about to start. And fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective) my whole career has been casual employment, so I’m not really burning any bridges by saying ‘no’ to jobs if I’ve got something else on. Not sure how they complement each other: they’re both creative but very different. Though there is some obvious link between arty-types and muso-types, but buggered if I can tell you what it is.

How do people find you? Do you have an agent? Do you ‘market’ yourself? Do you worry about not having work?

Good question. The job I’ve got now: got NO idea how they found me. Probably should ask. Just got a phone call out of the blue last year. Most jobs I get either through having worked with the people involved on other projects, or through showing my folio. I check up on the Film Vic website occasionally, as well as Artshub and Screenhub. Don’t have an agent, though have been meaning to look into it. Don’t market myself as such: recently got a Flickr site, and listed myself on the Film Vic website. And, yes, I do sometimes worry about not having work: gotta pay the bills after all. That’s why I tried teaching, really.

Are there any particular designers, artists or creative people you look up to or are inspired by?

For sculpting the human form, Michelangelo’s still the duck’s guts. What that bloke could do with marble… At work I owe many people big-time for helping me learn the ropes: most of what I know I’ve learnt on the job. Also, love my painting: call me old fashioned but Van Gogh and Monet are the only two painters to have put a lump in my throat.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

Generally start by planning. I’ve learnt over the years not to jump straight into a task. And deadlines are always a concern, so you want to be as time-wise and efficient as possible. If you have the luxury, you may be able to juggle boring tasks with fun ones, clean ones with dirty ones, that sort of thing, to keep it interesting. Some times it’s just ‘work’, though, and you’ve got to slog through it.

What are you most proud of professionally?

Probably a sculpture I did for an American telemovie When Good Ghouls Go Bad, of the actor Christopher Lloyd. The body’s a bit dodgy, but I think I nailed the head. Such a characteristic face, and I LOVE modelling in clay.

Where do you find inspiration?

Nature, mainly. Vast landscapes, tiny insects, love it all. I could show you the most tedious slide show of photos I’ve taken over the years, tree bark, rocks, stuff that’d bore you to tears, but I could stare at ‘em for hours.

What's the best thing about your job?

The variety. Any given day I could be constructing in timber or metal, carving polystyrene or urethane, modelling clay or plasticine, mould-making and casting, or painting.

And the worst?

The toxins, both to myself and the planet. Just about every material I use is toxic. Hate to think what’s pumping through my system at the moment. As for all the stuff I’ve made that’s ended up as landfill, it’s quite shameful.

What would be your dream project?

A commission for an original artwork, I guess, painting or sculpture. With commercial work you’re trading some of your creative satisfaction for cash, so to be paid for doing exactly what you want would be tops.

What are you looking forward to – professionally or personally?

The band I play drums with, Even, are about to release their 5th album and commence tours of Australia and the UK. Love travelling, love playing.

Melbourne Questions –

What/where was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

Kake Di Hatti on Lygon St. Brunswick. Great Indian. Been my fave for over a decade.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

On the front porch flicking through The Age and sippin’ coffee.

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

Hmm, don’t know many secrets. For inner-city types there’s a nice little park at the end of Flockhart St. Abbotsford, just down from the Terminus Hotel, on the Yarra. Feels a bit ‘country’.

Thanks Matt!

ps) I also love Kake Di Hatti! I'm embarrassed to say I eat takeaway from there probably once a week. Highly recommended!