"The Developer", A Beautiful Samsung Gear Spot Celebrates A Real Project by The Messi Foundation.

More and more, traditional :30 and :60 second spots from large marketers are paling in comparison to their branded content that they are calling "short films" - if you can call a two minute digital video a short film. The latest is this beautifully produced musically-inspired spot for Samsung (who also recently released "Dreams," a 2:57 minute digital short for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, that was cut down to a minute long tv commercial for air, and is shown at the end of this post).



Told from a child's perspective, "The Developer" is a musical short film by Samsung featuring world-renowned footballer and Unicef Goodwill Ambassador, Lionel (Leo) Messi, and the hit single "Royals" by hot New Zealand Pop Star Lorde.


above photo of Lorde by Simeon Patience.

The beautiful 2 minute branded content was created by Leo Burnett, Chicago and is a dramatic retelling of an actual project completed by the Leo Messi Foundation. Directed by Adam Hashemi the film has wardrobe designed by Paco Delgado, who was the costume designer for the film version of Les Misérables.



In case you didn't understand what's happening in the spot (and I'm not trying to be pedantic here), a mysterious stranger arrives in a low income neighborhood and captures the imaginations of the children who live there. He is "The Developer" and the children view him with a deep suspicion.

Together with his Samsung GALAXY Note 3 and GALAXY Gear, The Developer effortlessly masterminds a secret construction project. Using the latest in Samsung technology including Action Memo, Pen Window, Scrapbook and hands-free call capability on the Gear, The Developer orchestrates and executes his mysterious mission.

The children watch in awe. They reflect on their current situation by singing New Zealand Pop star Lorde's breakout hit "Royals," a song about overcoming her own humble beginnings.

The spot concludes with a beautiful new pitch that has been constructed in the toughest part of town. The Developer is revealed to be the world's reigning football star, Lionel Messi, fulfilling his personal mission* to help under privileged children.



The events in this story are a dramatic retelling of actual projects completed by the Leo Messi Foundation.

* The Leo Messi Foundation

CREDITS
Client: Samsung
Spot: "The Developer"
Agency: Leo Burnett, Chicago
Executive Vice President, Creative Director: Shannon McGlothin
Senior Vice Presidents, Creative Directors: Brandon Rochon, Adam Kennedy
Creative Directors: Guy Seese, Brian Murphy
Senior Vice President, Account Director: Radim Svoboda
Account Director: Benjamin Haynes
Account Executive: Cameron Zick
Senior Vice President, Executive Producer: Jen Dennis
Producer: Keith Jamerson
Vice President, Music Director: Gabe McDonough
Senior Music Producer: Chris Clark
Senior Vice President, Global Strategy Director: Huw Gildon
Senior Vice President, Strategy Director: Steven Yuan
Senior Strategist: Marton Harsanyi
Production Company: Furlined
Director: Adam Hashemi
Executive Producer: Eriks Krumins
Editing: Rock Paper Scissors
Editor: Mikkel EG
Executive Producer: Carol Lynn Weaver
Music Supervisor: George Drakoulias
Sound Designer: Gus Koven, Stimmung
Mixer: Loren Silber, Lime Studios
Music Production Support: Amber Music
Postproduction: The Mill


"DREAMS"
In case you haven't yet seen the complete cut of Dreams, here it is:


Credits for Dreams:
Advertising Agency: Leo Burnett, L.A. / Chicago, USA
Global Chief Creative Officer: Mark Tutssel
Creative Directors: Shannon McGlothin, Brandon Rochon, Adam Kennedy
Designer: Luis Farfan
Creative: Sarah Kraus
Account Director: Radim Svoboda
Account Director: Benjamin Haynes
Account Executive: Cameron Zick
Executive Producer: Jennifer Dennis
Producer: Sean Pinney
Production Company: Prettybird
Director: Roc
Editorial: Peepshow London
Editor: Andrea MacCarthur

For more information about the GALAXY Note 3 and Gear, click here.

The Impressive Body Art of Michael Rosner and Eye Level Studios.

While I had seen a few of these stunning images under the category of photography (by Tim Engle), the true artist here is body painter Michael Rosner.





Having begun his craft with an airbrush, Michael eventually perfected a technique using found objects as a masking element to impose architectural and geometric shapes upon the organic contours of the human body.




Painted upon live models, each can take between 16 and 20 hours of laborious handiwork. No computer enhancement is used and all props such as skulls, leaves, horns, masks and headpieces are real.





The result is a combination of humanity and machinery - a steampunk like underworld of mythological gods and goddesses, of devils and robots.















above photo by Allan Barnes Photography

"Transforming an organic object using paint fills me with a sense of accomplishment and integrity and is the creative vehicle that carries me toward the translation of my inner vision to a reality that can be shared." -- Michael Rosner of Eye Level Studios.

About Body painter Michael Rosner:

above: Artist Michael Rosner at work

Michael Rosner is an American artist born in Chicago, Illinois. After attending Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia in 1996 he relocated to Sacramento, California and worked as a painter, sculptor and carpenter before beginning the series of body paintings in 2006.



Eye Level Studio, founded by Rosner in 2001, is what he calls a 'collective of talented artists' which has grown to include an elite group of the industries top professional photographers, stylists, make up artists and models who have become the creative force that has helped to realize Rosner's unique vision of body painting. In addition to live models, Rosner is known for painting on 'unconventional' surfaces including elaborate paintings on real leaves with hand selected species collected each fall throughout California.

Real People. Real Paint. Unreal Art. Available for paid shoots and live painting shows all over the world. Model Submission and Booking info email: Info@eyelevelstudio.com

Prints of some of the photographs shown in this post are available in his online store here.

photos in this post by David Geuringer, Allan Barnes and Tim Engle and courtesy of Eye Level Studios.

Fenway Boots! LL Bean Gives Away 50 Made-To-Order Boots Created With Fenway Park Rain Tarp.

Outdoor retailer L.L.Bean has revealed the most innovative version of its signature product: the Fenway Bean Boot. Made of upcycled Fenway Park tarp from the 2012 season, the one-of-a-kind boots will be made-to-order for a select number of lucky Red Sox fans who engage with L.L.Bean on Facebook and other channels.




The opportunity to win has already begun. When fans can visit Facebook.com/llbean to share their favorite Red Sox moment, they are entered for a chance to own a piece of baseball history. Submissions will be received through Sunday, October 20, 2013.



Company founder Leon Leonwood (“L.L.”) Bean believed in the reuse of materials long before the concept of “upcycling” came into vogue. The one-of-a-kind Bean Boots put the rain delay tarp that covered the Fenway Park infield in 2012 – the 100th anniversary year for both Fenway Park and L.L.Bean – to great use as the upper material of the weatherproof rubber soled boots.



“This project brings together two of L.L.’s favorite things: Bean Boots and baseball,” said Steve Fuller, Chief Marketing Officer for L.L.Bean. “As a season ticket holder, L.L. loved the Red Sox and he would be delighted to see the Fenway tarp put to use in a way that fans can enjoy.”


above: The LL Bean logo is at the center of the tarp that protects the field at Fenway Park during its 100th season.


above: The 100th anniversary L.L.Bean rain tarp photo via @mdanubio4 on Twitter.

Originally named the Maine Hunting Shoe, the popular Bean Boot has seen a variety of style changes since its introduction in 1912, all remaining true to the original and still handcrafted in Maine. Early versions had a red brick sole, reintroduced for the 100th anniversary of L.L.Bean, and today’s collection includes an assortment of styles for women and men such as waxed canvas and shearling-lined leather.

Each of the 100 limited-edition Fenway Bean Boots will be custom made for lucky recipients at L.L.Bean’s manufacturing facility in Brunswick, ME.

“These unique boots are just one of the many ways L.L.Bean has demonstrated their innovative spirit throughout our partnership,” said Troup Parkinson, Red Sox Senior Vice President. “From the 100th anniversary tote bags, to The One Fund Boston Tote, to these Fenway Bean Boots, they continue to highlight new ways of bringing our two New England brands closer.”



Last month, L.L.Bean announced a contribution of $114,000 to The One Fund Boston following the sale of 3,500 limited edition totes also made from the 2012 Fenway Park tarp (shown above). The One Fund Boston totes sold out in just over a day with 100% percent of profits benefitting the cause.

Share your favorite Fenway Park moment with L.L. Bean to enter to win one of 50 pairs of made-to-order Fenway Bean Boots, handcrafted from the 2012 100th anniversary Fenway rain tarp.



Find out more about the contest and learn how L.L.Bean upcycled the Fenway Park infield rain tarp here

Fifty winners will be selected at random and notified on October 21. Additional ways to win – including on campus at select Northeast colleges – will be announced. Follow @LLBean for more details.

*All contest entries are moderated and will appear in the gallery within 24 hours of submission*

Jeff Koons' Cover For Lady Gaga's Album ARTPOP Is Unveiled Via Social Media & Outdoor.

above: close up of Koons sculpture of Lady Gaga that graces the cover of her fourth album release, ARTPOP.

Available November 11, ARTPOP is Gaga’s fourth studio album with an album cover by legendary artist Jeff Koons. “Having Jeff create something for ARTPOP was a dream come true, and a very emotional experience. He has given me the greatest gift and we are excited to be sharing it with you,” said Lady Gaga.



Using social media to her promotional advantage (as always), the cover artwork for her new album, ARTPOP , was revealed for the first time, in a piece by piece unveiling on Clear Channel Outdoor digital billboards and screens in 18 major cities across the globe on Monday of this week (October 7th). And starting at 1pm ET that day, the cover was also revealed in sections over 30 minutes via Lady Gaga's Twitter account, unlocked by tweets using #iHeartARTPOP


above: Gaga exposed her highly anticipated album’s artwork simultaneously in 18 cities across the globe while also streaming the live reveal at www.ladygaga.com, direct from Clear Channel Outdoor’s Spectacolor billboard in Times Square, New York.


above: tweeted by Lady Gaga, the album cover was revealed in pieces on Monday, Oct. unlocked by tweets using #iHeartARTPOP

According to a post on her Facebook page, the Koons sculpture of her that is the center image of the musical artist's new album cover will be exhibited the day before the album's release as part of what  is being calling artRAVE. The event will also feature new works by Jeff Koons, Marina Abramovic, Robert Wilson and directors/photographers Inez & Vinoodh to show that the artist is at the heart of society, “in control of the icon”.




above: Lady Gaga in "Binary Chair 01" (created by BRC Designs) and photographed by Inez & Vinoodh for the November 10th ArtRAVE.

The ARTPOP app


Lady Gaga reports on littlemonsters.com: "I'm excited to tell you all that ARTPOP is going to be a multimedia experience that comes in different forms. The most major way to fully immerse yourself in ARTPOP is through the APP. ARTPOP will be released as an IPAD, iPhone, mobile and computer compatible application (WORLD) that is completely interactive with chats, films for every song, extra music, content, gaga inspired games, fashion updates, magazines, and more still in the works! I will also be able to upload new things to the APP all the time, the same way i upload to twitter and LM.com. You inspired me to create something that communicated with images, because YOU do, YOU communicate with me and each other with .gifs and pictures, and artwork, graphics ALL DAY 24/7/ YOU'RE an ARTPOP generation. Im hoping you will all continue to grow together and stay connected through your creativity. much love. --love, gaga"

The video for Applause, the first single release off the upcoming album, was shot by Inez and Vinoodh and references Venus' Boticelli as does the new album cover by Koons:


According to soletron, ArtPop's downloadable app designed by Gaga’s devout technology team, TechHAUS and portrays the “rush” of fame via virtual simulation. Lady Gaga’s personal creative team, The HAUS of GAGA  planned the “Art Rave” event that will tae place the day before the album's November 11 release.

See these other posts about artist Jeff Koons:
• Jeff Koons Exhibit at Versailles
•Kiehls X Jeff Koons 
•Jeff Koons X Lisa Perry's Clothing Collection
•Jeff Koons BMW Art Car
•Jeff Koons Cannonball Edition Watches for Ikepod