Press Release from DUCK

Directing collective Kompost, working via DUCK Studios, created a visually explosive spot for Green Earth Technologies' G-OIL, the "official motor oil of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the International Motor Spots Association (IMSA)." Working via Alliance, a division of Grey Group, director Oliver Conrad and EP Gian Klainguti led a VFX team that manufactured a remarkable fast-paced world simulating the impact and durability of the world's first and only American Petroleum Institute approved biodegradable high-performance motor oil made from renewable bio-based sources.

Anthem begins with a trickle of oil that morphs into an engine which ultimately turns into the FLM-09 racing car, manufactured by G-OIL Oreca-Courage for the newly formed Green Earth Team Gunnar, the first team at ALMS to run on environmentally friendly oil. As it accelerates through a white-washed world, a verdant forest launches from the earth behind it, symbolizing the synthesis between the vehicle and the landscape. Emphasizing the oil's versatility, the car transforms into an even faster racer that zooms along a smooth road relentlessly unfolding onscreen.

Kompost drew from a broad toolbox to create this vibrant world, using Maya, Real Flow, mental ray, After Effects and Mudbox. In an attempt to use materials that reflect the biodegradable qualities of the product, they used water-color textures to show green ink spreading life to paper as soon as the oil hits its surface.

"Oil gets a bad rap, but sustainable oil actually has a positive geological effect on the environment, and we wanted to portray that in a powerful and evocative way," noted Conrad. "We created a visual language to express the results of the 'green' movement. We actually found inspiration for the spot no more than 100 meters outdoors in the White Mountains surrounding us, where our sledding excursions allowed us to mimic the experience of speedy, eco-friendly transportation."

"This was a tough spot for a lot of reasons - not only was the presentation technically challenging, but we had to deliver a counterintuitive message in a powerful and believable way," stated DUCK EP Mark Medernach. "Oliver and Gian really stepped up and delivered on all the important points, creating an incredibly detailed and fascinating world in a very short spot."

Credits:
Client: Green Earth Technologies
Spots Title: G-OIL Anthem
Air Date: April 2010

Agency: Grey
Chief Creative Officer: Tor Myhren
Executive CD: Don McKinney
VP Associate CD(s): Justin Levine, Jon Sayegh
Agency Producer: Matthew Flaherty
Account: Amy Tunick, Courtney Jacobs, Greg Rubenstein
Business Manager: Beverly Beach

Prod Co: DUCK/Kompost
Director: Oliver Conrad
EP(s): Gian Klainguti, Mark Medernach
Lead VFX: Kenneth Polonski
VFX Artist: Christopher Soyer
Animator(s): Boris Ignjatovi, Kenneth Polonski, Oliver Conrad
Production Manager: Terry Watanabe

Music/Sound Design: Innervision Design
Composer/Sound Designer: Magnus Anderson
Principal Talent: Tom Wopat

Sound Design: Vision Post
Sound Designer: Ryan Hobler

About DUCK:
Los Angeles-based DUCK is a continually evolving creative studio producing commercials, music videos, short films and web content. DUCK offers a wide range of services, including live action and integration, character design, film title design, 2D and 3D animation, digital compositing, digital/traditional ink & paint. In recent years, the studio has expanded, adding an original content division that works with writers and animators on unique ideas for film and TV.