Framestore CFC Snaps Up VES Awards

Framestore CFC once again snagged two of the visual effects industry's most prestigious prizes at the VES Awards, held at the Kodak Theatre Grand Ballroom in Hollywood in February.
Both Smirnoff Sea, which won the 'Visual Effects in Commercial' title, and The Chemical Brothers The Salmon Dance, which took the 'Animated Character in a Live Action Broadcast Program or Commercial' category, were won by Framestore CFC team members.
Sea, a new Smirnoff spot created by J Walter Thompson and directed by Daniel Kleinman, was released in August 2007, one of the most spectacular commercials to hit our screens in a long time.
Reminiscent of Close Encounters-era Spielberg, Sea presents the viewer with a series of brief shots and tableaux both enigmatic and awe-inspiring. Kleinman's long time Framestore CFC associate, William Bartlett, was the natural choice for VFX Supervisor on. The 3D team, led by Dan Seddon, created dozens of objects for the piece, including the battleship, Spitfires, a Lancaster bomber, Spanish galleons, a Viking longship, and countless others.
The Salmon Dance, by contrast, is more of a character piece. A trippy, fishy little promotional video for a single by The Chemical Brothers, it featured a cast of over 300 piscine performers. The video was yet another brilliant collaboration between directing team Dom & Nic and Framestore CFC. A sort of hip-hop Billy the Bass meets Busby Berkeley meets Finding Nemo number, The Salmon Dance sees assorted seahorses, lion fish, yellow tangs, neon tetras and butterfly fish disport themselves around a fish tank, both individually and in aquatic chorus lines.
Over the catchy tune, a rap is performed by a - you guessed it - piranha! The fish (including 'Fatlip', the piranha who won the award) were created by Framestore CFC's extraordinary 3D Commercials team.
Founded in 1997, the Visual Effects Society promotes continuous awareness about the visual effects industry, supports combined technology research and development, and designs and implements educational programs for its membership and the public interested in the production of visual effects. Society headquarters are located in Los Angeles, CA.
(DS)