Brickyard VFX Keeps Commerce Rolling For Visa

[aurora]

Santa Monica, CA (Nov 3, 2006) - Artist-owned-and-operated visual effects studio Brickyard VFX has wrapped a :60 spot for VISA via TBWA\Chiat\Day. The spot, shot and directed by Kinka Usher of House of Usher was made possible with the help of Brickyard's talented effects and CGI teams. Broadcast and cinema versions of the spot break nationally on October 30, 2006.

The spot, "Transactional Fluidity," opens on an aerial view of a busy storefront sidewalk with two lines of customers filing in and out of a restaurant. A man enters the bustling lunchroom where, set against jazzy, upbeat music, the entire operation is in swirling, rhythmic synchrony. Numbers are grabbed from the ticket machine, orders are taken and sent to the kitchen, burgers are flipped, plates are tossed, sandwiches are assembled, sodas are placed on trays, and the line keeps moving, all in time to the music with Busby Berkeley flair. The man places his order, watches as it is prepared and bagged, and advances toward the checkout where each customer speeds through with an efficient swipe of the VISA card. But our man carries cash, and pandemonium breaks loose. The line stutters and the music stops; trays are dropped, smoothies are spilled, food crashes to the floor, and the man looks increasingly abashed as the checkout worker grimly takes his money and everyone else just stares. Finally, the transaction is completed and the man leaves, the eatery swirling back into action behind him. The spot closes with the voiceover and tag: Life takes VISA.

Brickyard VFX's Mandy Sorenson and Robert Sethi were on board during the shoot respectively as 2D Supervisor and 3D Supervisor to track and measure the set so that surfaces could easily be recreated and flying CG edibles could be matched in seamlessly. Effects on this project involved an enormous amount of 2D and 3D tracking, creating CG surfaces, building and animating CG food items as well as extensive clean-up of shots. The spot was very tightly choreographed, and the performers were trained dancers so the pacing was very accurately timed to the music which simplified lining up what was shot practically with elements added later in post.

"The biggest challenge on this project was dealing with the unknown. We really couldn¹t gauge how much post production would be needed until we had a chance to review the approved cut," said Jay Lichtman, Executive Producer, Brickyard VFX. "Thankfully our creative team was on the same page as the director and agency who executed the shoot beautifully. Our artists had a great time creating seamless visual effects that ranged from photo-real CG deli food sailing through the air to multiple-plate composites and set-extensions."

About Brickyard VFX
Located in Boston and Santa Monica, Brickyard VFX is an independent visual effects boutique specializing in top quality visual effects from 3D characters through to compositing. Completely artist owned and operated, the company was founded in 1999 to bring clients a level of customer service, craftsmanship and focus difficult to find at facilities today. Brickyard¹s problem-solving expertise on set and in the studio has been applied to model, animate, light, texture, track, rotoscope, color correct and render seamless digital effects for XM Radio, Citibank, Volkswagen, Target, Tyson Foods and many other accounts. For more information, please call Brickyard VFX Pacific at (310) 453-5722, Brickyard VFX Atlantic at (617) 262-3220, or visit www.brickyardvfx.com.

Credits:
Client: VISA Inc. USA
Agency: TBWA\Chiat\Day
Executive Creative Director: Rob Schwartz
Creative Director: Doug James
Associate Creative Director: Chuck Monn
Copywriter: Steve Zumwinkle
Art Director: Tom Gibson
Senior Producer: Mila Davis
Producer: Robert Saxon
Production Company: House of Usher
Director: Kinka Usher
Executive Producer: Nancy Hacohen
Producer: Steve Ross
Editorial/Post: Nomad Editorial
Editor: Tom Muldoon
Executive Producer: Susye Melega
Visual Effects: Brickyard VFX
Shoot Supervisor: Mandy Sorenson & Robert Sethi
2D VFX Artists: Mandy Sorenson (Lead), Patrick Poulatian & Joe Morrison
3D VFX Artists: Robert Sethi (Co-Lead) & Yafei Wu (Co-Lead)
Executive Producer: Jay Lichtman