Toronto Comic Arts Festival: Pencil it In

Toronto Comic Arts Festival: Pencil it In from Toronto Comic Arts Festival on Vimeo.

Although The 2011 Toronto Comic Arts Festival already took place (May 7th and 8th) I still love this promo video showcasing numerous illustrators and a going little deeper than just showing their work. This lovely video features their personalities, preferred ‘tools’ and of course, some mouth-watering illustrations and strokes… 

Evolution of Apple ads

Apple’s campaigns and ads have proven to be successful and widely recognized by any demographic group out there. But this is no coincidence or something that simply happened overnight (contrary to many clients beliefs) these witty and ‘different’ ads have a story and timeline, which was kindly put together by the folks at webdesignerdepot.com.

Check out some samples of Apple ads and their evolution since they began airing circa 1970.

Apple first started advertising its products in the late 1970s.

The 80s showed a wide variety of ads, some of which served to convince consumers that they should purchase a computer, and specifically an Apple.

These ads were text-heavy and light on images, as were many computer and technology ads from that era.

Apple ads really came into their heyday during the 1990s, with the “Think Different” campaign, which became very popular as they featured a number of famous people.

Here’s a stunning compilation of some of Apple’s most notable advertisements from the 70s until the present day, including a few videos ads.” – WebDesignerDepot.com

 

 

Nando’s Anthem

As soon as the news of Ard Matthews’ National Anthem malfunction hit the internet last night we were just waiting for a response from Nando’s. Good job Black River FC, this just might be your quickest response time ever.

Mr. Morrison Lessmore

Admit it, we all love Pixar movies! And if you are like me, you have wished more things in life could be as cool as Pixar characters or movies at some point. Well, good news! Moonbot Industries and William Joyce, ex-Pixar designer, acclaimed illustrator and author have released an animated storybook for iPad. A what?, think of it as an e-book or interactive story, but with some beautiful Pixar touches and goodies. Whether you have kids or simply love reading this app is worth getting! Learn more about the process and story as well as some screenshots, behind the scenes and production photos after the jump!



The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore iPad App Trailer from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.


The award-winning short film is now an interactive narrative experience. William Joyce’s “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore”, blurs the line between picture books and animated film.
Inspired, in equal measures, by Hurricane Katrina, Buster Keaton, The Wizard of Oz, and a love for books, “Morris Lessmore” is a story of people who devote their lives to books and books who return the favor. Morris Lessmore is a poignant, humorous allegory about the curative powers of story. Using a variety of techniques (miniatures, computer animation, 2D animation) award winning author/ illustrator William Joyce and Co-director Brandon Oldenburg present a new narrative experience that harkens back to silent films and M-G-M Technicolor musicals. “Morris Lessmore” is old fashioned and cutting edge at the same time.
Check out http://morrislessmore.com/ for more goodies!

Put yourself in Morris’ shoes as you dive into the story of Mr. Lessmore and his flying friends through Moonbot Studios’ first Interactive Storybook. In this reinvention of digital storytelling you can repair books, tumble through a storm, learn the piano and even get “lost in a book,” flying through a magical world of words, giving you a dynamic journey through the story. This iPad App has been touted by Apple as one of the “Top New Apps for the iPad,” and will surely be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Using rich CG animation, innovative interactivity, original composed music, and unique games sprinkled throughout the book, this App will revive a love of story in all.
Get it today! iPad App

Visit http://www.moonbotstudios.com/

‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ Trailer

It’s been a week of trailers! First saw a amazing Batman, and now, it’s the official trailer for Marc Webb‘s The Amazing Spider-Man. Check out the new version, sans Tobey Maguire. Check out the insane spidy-view shots at the end…

Young Blood - Sfiso Mzobe

Winner of the Sunday Times LIterary Award 2011. (Read more here.)

Sipho is a “young blood”, a young man of the school-going generation caught up in a world of money, booze and greed. He lives in Umlazi, Durban – he is seventeen, has dropped out of school and helps out at his father’s mechanic shop during the day. But odd jobs underneath the bonnets of wrecked cars do not provide the lifestyle his friends have...

A fascinating look into the emotional landscape of car hijackers – by a fantastic, vibrant new voice in South African literature.

Read Sfiso's interview with Mike Nicol at http://crimebeat.book.co.za/blog/2010/09/13/crime-beat-whats-driving-sifiso-mzobe/

The Bang Bang Club

There are films with the power to inspire us and the ability to expose us to worlds and things we have only read or heard of. The Bang Bang Club certainly seems to fit perfectly in this category as it showcases the life, work and struggles of famous War Photographers Greg Marinovich, Joao Silva, Kevin Carter and Ken Oosterbroek. I have only seen the trailer but can’t wait to watch it, hoping it serves as an accurate and honorable tribute to these amazing Photographers and their legacy.

The Bang Bang Club is the real life story of a group of four young combat photographers – Greg Marinovich, Joao Silva, Kevin Carter and Ken Oosterbroek – bonded by friendship and their sense of purpose to tell the truth.

They risked their lives to tell the world of the brutality and violence associated with the first free elections in post Apartheid South Africa in the early 90s. This intense political period brought out their best work (two won Pulitzers) but cost them a heavy price.

Based on the book of the same name by Marinovich and Silva, the film stars Ryan Phillippe, Malin Akerman and Taylor Kitsch and explores the thrill, danger and moral questions associated with exposing the truth.

 

The Bang Bang Club was produced & directed by South African filmmaker Steven Silver, of award-winning documentaries previously like Gerrie & Louise as well as Diameter of the Bomb and The Last Just Man. This is based on the real stories of these four photographers in South Africa as documented in Greg Marinovich’s book “The Bang-Bang Club: Snapshots from a Hidden War.” It first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year. The Film will be at cinemas soon, so lookout for it, at a cinema near you.

So, you might not be familiar with these photographers by name, but I can guarantee you have seen their amazing work on magazines, books or the web. And just to give you a brief sample of their ‘work’ and the deep and emotional struggles these Photographers went through, here’s a photo that changed many lives and made history, shot by the late Kevin Carter. Kevin Carter suffered from extreme depression and committed suicide in 1994.

Check out the film’s official website for more information and I strongly suggest you read and share their blog. 

www.thebangbangclub.com