Looking to find some animated company for your Saturday night? Hollywood Shorts is hosting a free animation and visual effects short film showcase tomorrow night. The event will be held at DIMMAK studios (formerly Cinespace) upstairs at 6356 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA from 5-8 PM. Entrance is on Cosmo Street and food and drinks are available for purchase.

Description

An unprecedented, two-day record-setting event that streams live at http://www.toyotapriusprojects.com/records/ today and tomorrow, March 30 & 31. The goal is to set 200 records in that time, with fun and whimsy trumping tests of physical strength. 

SXSW 2011 has come and gone, and many of us are still recovering from its bounty. At most festivals, I choose to watch short films over features in large part because distribution for these works is so limited and one is able to get a fantastic sample of the current creative landscape. Stitched together by the programmer’s hand, the collective works take viewers on a journey through many realms, emotions and experiences.

Jennifer Aniston’s Smartwater ad is a fantastic follow up to my previous posting about viral videos. It teasingly pays homage to the things we love to share in a bid to go viral, which the film has over the last few days. 

TED has announced the winners of the Ads Worth Spreading Contest, an open challenge to the global ad community to present submissions that were infectiously compelling, contained social good and/or industry impact. From 1,000 submissions 10 winning commercials were chosen by a multidisciplinary panel of judges. 

Nokia "Dot"

If you’ve worked on the advertising side in the last few years, you’ve undoubtedly heard someone put “viral” on the asset list. To presuppose that something will “go viral” is to embrace an oxymoron, but it’s important to remember that at the core of many passed along pieces is this: infectious fun. 

Thanksgiving is a feast of the senses - a time of school crafts and stuffing. It’s also a time for appreciation even if it is only for the bounty on the plate. In honor of the holiday, I wanted to post a list of small & large things for which I am thankful. 

Description

I’ve already professed an interest in industry conferences, and often wish that I could have more time with featured speakers at events I attend. So when the team at Wiredrive said they were creating a custom microsite for PromaxBDA with interviews featuring design, marketing and branding luminaries I was excited. Organized by conference topics and speakers, the microsite presents relevant and timely industry information. 

PromaxBDA's Microsite Main Page

In 1979, Herbert Bayer said, “The creative process is not performed by the skilled hand alone, or by the intellect alone, but must be a unified process in which 'head, heart, and hand play a simultaneous role.” This process which Bayer refers to is what we call design.  In this entry, Guest Bloggers Kinda Akash and Geraint Owen of Superfad explore the importance of design and what that means for effective, persuasive experiences. 

Award shows are an important element of a company’s marketing plan; the top tier shows are judged by some of the highest ranking members of our industry and provide opportunity for ongoing peer and client recognition. As with film festivals, the selection process for any award show is subjective and secretive, so entering is a gamble. But for a few hundred dollars a year, your company and work could receive exposure easily worth tenfold.