Press Release from Smoke & Mirrors New York

The Brief:
Smoke & Mirrors New York (SMNY) teamed with Carmichael Lynch Minneapolis this past winter to launch a beautifully quirky spot for the Denver Museum of Nature & Science that showcases the New York studio's ability to complete a project from production through post.

The "silent movie" like spot features the improbable, but amusing scenario of a giant dinosaur playfully slipping and sliding across a frozen pond. A stirring classical number runs in the background as the brontosaurus crashes, struggles, pirouettes, and ultimately topples back to the ice. The spot ends with a superimposed graphic: "Dinosaurs. Ancient Fossils. New Discoveries. Coming this winter to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science."

Carmichael Lynch's Executive Integrated Producer Brynn Hausmann comments, "It was an incredible experience at Smoke & Mirrors, the process could not have been more seamless. We had lots of fun and a very satisfying creative experience."

From SMNY:
Via our recently ramped up 3D department we were able to create, rig, animate and render the entire project in under a month. Smoke & Mirrors filmed the live-action backgrounds in Central Park, then the Manhattan skyline was replaced with the Denver Museum area in post.

Every detail from the ice cracking under the reptile's tremendous weight, to ice chips flying from its slipping feet were rendered to create a believable, cohesive scene.

This sees a move into animation direction for Smoke & Mirrors, a new service we are pleased to offer.

The Creds:

Client: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Spot Title: Dinosaur
Air Date: June 2009

Agency: Carmichael Lynch, MN
Senior Writer: Ellie Anderson
Senior Art Director: Brad Harrison
Chief Creative Officer: Jim Nelson
Executive Integrated Producer: Brynn Hausmann
Director of Business Affairs: Vicki Oachs
Director of Integrated Production: Joe Grundhoefer

Prod Company: Smoke & Mirrors/NY
Director: Sean Broughton

Post/Effects: Smoke & Mirrors/NY
CD: Sean Brougton
Lead Sr. CG Artist(s): Steven Parrish, Michael Donovan
Lead Animator: Serkan Ertekin
CG Generalist/Tracker: Wei Louie
Lead Modeler: Greg Calas
Sr. Flame Artist: Nic Seresin
EP: Celest Gilbert

Editorial: Smoke & Mirrors/NY
Editor: Sean Broughton

Telecine/Grade: Smoke & Mirrors/NY

Sound Design: Brahmstedt White Noise
Sound Designer: Carl White

Music: The Nutcracker
Composer: Tchaikovsky

Shoot Location: Central Park