See all 5 of The Parallel Lines Shorts

If you have not already seen them all 5 shorts from The Parallel Lines project are now available to watch online. Parallel Lines is the outcome of a experimental cinematic collaboration between Philips and renowned film producers, Ridley Scott Associates (RSA), founded by legendary director Sir Ridley Scott.

We have embedded them below but for a better viewing experience we recommend you plug your extra bass headphones in and head over to www.philips.com/cinema

PARALLEL LINES: FIVE SHORTS, FIVE STORIES, ONE DIALOGUE

“There are millions of ways to tell a story. There’s only one way to watch one” – this is the creative seed which inspired a beautifully diverse yet thematically linked quintet of short films released today – the ground-breaking Parallel Lines.

Darkroom – Johnny Hardstaff
Set in a retro future Shanghai, Darkroom opens on a covert surveillance operative as he searches for his criminal quarry. Scanning a polluted city skyline, we see through his technology as he zooms ever deeper into a distant apartment and through the imaginative use of reflections and technology begins to unravel a sinister secret. Through this voyeuristic journey we are led to a climax with dramatic consequences.

Johnny Hardstaff expertly generates intrigue through his development of mood and tension. Namely with the use of the operative’s own hushed voice to provoke a sense of seediness and setting of the tone. As the audience is led deeper we find a fiendish pleasure in this voyeuristic approach. Darkroom proves a clever and absorbing short that packs a very original sting in its tail.

Podarok (The Gift) – Carl Erik Rinsch
In this sci-fi thriller, Podarok introduces us to a dystopian future. It’s a winter’s day in Moscow, but the familiar landscape is not all it seems. The traditional backdrop is balanced by the technological hints to the future on show. An experienced KGB Agent is on his way to deliver a special gift. Expressionless and giving the aura of emptiness the lone man makes his way across the city. As the secret of the gift is unveiled to the receiver, the desire for the object becomes evident. The agent must have it. Even at the cost of a man’s life. A high octane chase through Moscow ensues as the dead man’s robotic butler tries to rescue the precious gift. It must not be left in the wrong hands.

Carl Erik Rinsch cleverly uses the pacing of this short to evoke and speak out to our emotions. We feel the bleakness of this post apocalyptic future, the gloomy life of an empty man, the desperation of the chased and climatically, hope.

The Hunt - Jake Scott
The Hunt follows two men on a trail to find the ultimate prey. In the eerie woodland something lurks; a mystical creature. Soon we will find that the hunters may well become the hunted.

Jake Scott takes us on a slow pursuit, carefully building the tension through a seemingly desolate and hostile environment. Senses are heightened as Jake brings to life every inch of the hunt, every sound carefully designed to put the audience on edge: the crows in the background, the trickle of a stream, the earth moving under each step. As The Hunt nears its horrifying climax we hold our breath as the huntsman sets his sights. However his companion shows a fear and nervousness in his expression. Something is not right. Perhaps the intended prey is not to be provoked.

El Secreto de Mateo – Greg Fay
In this heart-warming tale set amid the tower block of a South American housing estate, a boy shows a young girl to a room with a secret. The girl is introduced to a donkey which the boy tells her is a unicorn. Delight and fulfilment fills the young girl as she is left to feel the magic of this moment in a life that has offered her so little. This joy is short lived as we are shown the difficulties of growing up as bullies taunt the pair. The boy stands up for his younger friend. Afterwards though, it all seems too much as the brave boy is left to cry quietly in the corner. Unawares to her friend’s pain the girl returns her attention to the beauty of the animal.

Greg Fay delicately shows us the hardship of growing up and the joy that can be brought on by a child’s imagination. Lighting is used to great effect. The hue and glow of a beaming sun fills scenes with a warmth, comfort and tender security away from the harsh realities of the world. El Secreto de Mateo leaves us emotionally speechless with the feeling of both happiness and sorrow.

Jun & the Hidden Skies – Hi-Sim
Through animation Hi-Sim transports us into the playful imagination of siblings Jun and Aco. We are instantly rushed from the children’s attic into space as a cardboard box transforms into a spaceship. This fantasy adventure excites as our heroes find themselves in the midst of a space battle resulting in the capture of Aco. Jun is left to fall from the skies before being saved by a fire breathing dragon. Jun and his new friend blow away the enemy as the plight to save the captive Aco gathers pace.

Hi-Sim manages to bring out a childlike excitement and curiosity from the moment we enter the attic. This beautifully crafted animation bursts with fantastic colours of an imagined world. Visual details have been carefully considered and realism breaks through from the quality of the effects. This is a polished short that is sure to please the whole family.

See all 5 of The Parellel Lines Shorts

Where
www.philips.com/cinema

When
Now

More info at www.youtube.com/philipscinema or www.philips.com/cinema

Phillips Parallel Lines surprise competition announcement

I've just got back from The Parallel Lines launch event and I'm a mixture of tired but still buzzing from the event. We got to see all 5 of the Parallel Lines shorts (El Secreto de Mateo, The Hunt, Darkroom, Jun & the Hidden Skies and The Gift) the way they should be seen on a big screen with superb sound.

All I can say is AWESOME! I know I say that a lot, but seeing the 5 different yet very connected and well made films was quite an experience. At the time I couldn't quiet put my finger on why I might be enjoying each of the films as much as I was, but it all made sense a bit later when Director of Darkroom Johnny Hardstaff said something during a QA session.

He said something to the effect that one of the primary factors that drew him to the project was the creative control the Directors had when making their respective films. Bam! Their it was I had just seen 5 films that although driven by commercial motives they were examples of what can be created when imagination is allowed free reign.

I have much to tell about the Phillips event at BAFTA, chatting with Director Johnny Hardstaff (bookmark his name name because you're going to be seeing some great stuff on the screen from him in the future), seeing all 5 of the films in one go as well as witnessing first hand some awe inspiring tech in the shape of an wiiiiiiiiiiiidescreen TV that has to be seen first hand to be believed - but more about that later.

Phillips dropped a real surprise towards the end of the presentation when they announced an amazing opportunity for filmmakers with their Tell It Your Way competition. I missed the beginning it really was a suprise! But he started by saying ... the chance to have your worked judged by Sir...

The programme card he is referring to:

From the press release:

Become the next Ridley Scott :
Philips announces global filmmaking competition
In association with ridley scott associates

Today, Philips launches an exciting global competition giving aspiring filmmakers the chance to have an original work judged by one of the world’s greatest film directors – Sir Ridley Scott, director of Hollywood blockbusters including Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982) and Gladiator (2000).

The competition, called ‘Tell It Your Way’, will also give one lucky winner the chance to gain a week’s work experience at Ridley Scott Associates (RSA) offices in Los Angeles, New York, London or Hong Kong.

The contest involves creating an original sixth short film to accompany Philips’ ground-breaking Parallel Lines series of short films, directed by RSA talents, Greg Fay, Johnny Hardstaff, Carl Erik Rinsch, Jake Scott and Hi-Sim. The five short films, released on www.philips.com/cinema, are part of a cinematic project whereby each director created a film in a different genre, with a different storyline, but all following the same six line dialogue.

The Parallel Lines films bring to life the cinematic capabilities of Philips TVs – unique Ambilight technology, award-winning picture quality, and superior sound - and are a cinematic interpretation of the campaign idea: “There are millions of ways to tell a story. There’s only one way to watch one.”

”I’m delighted to be involved with a project which supports aspiring directors and I’m looking forward to seeing how the entrants interpret the single dialogue brief,” comments Sir Ridley Scott.

“At Philips, we are committed to delivering a cinematic viewing experience at home. Through our partnership with RSA, we’re excited to be able to offer the public the chance to create their own film and have it be promoted globally as part of such a ground-breaking project as Parallel Lines.” comments Gary Raucher, Head of Integrated Marketing Communications, Philips.

Competition entries are open to anyone globally and should be submitted via the official Philips Cinema YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/philipscinema). Entries close at midnight 8th August 2010. Three rounds of judging will be held including public voting via YouTube. Finalists will be judged on criteria including creative storytelling, use of dialogue, and technical achievement. The top ten finalists will be selected by RSA directors and British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) Chairman, David Parfitt. The overall winner will be selected from the top five finalists by Sir Ridley Scott himself.

Runners up prize packages include an invitation to a RSA film premiere in London or New York including travel, accommodation; and a number of Philips Cinema 21:9 Televisions.

Full terms and conditions for the ‘Tell It Your Way’ competition can be found at www.philips.com/cinema

Phillips Parallel Lines surprise competition announcement

See: Parallel Lines - Johnny Hardstaff's Dark Room Short

Dark Room is a sci-fi noir thriller short by Johnny Hardstaff, it one of the five short films from the Parallel Lines project made by Ridley Scott Associates for Philips Cinema

The Parallel Lines project is a unique film project - each of the 5 shorts from burning new talent at RSA represents a different genre but all 5 of the films use the same dialogue: "What is it?", "It's a Unicorn", "Get away, Get away", "Never Seen one so close before" and "I'm sorry". We may have missed a line of dialogue, let us know if you know it.

Fortunatley we will be seeing the 5 shorts this evening in all their big and widescreen glory so I'm fighting the urge to watch the clip below till after - so I comment as yet.

The Parallel Lines shorts have been devised to launch (and demo) Phillip's new range of 21:9 Widescreen Cinema proportion TVs which are also the widest screen TVs available.

Johnny Hardstaff is a director and designer. Represented by Ridley Scott Associates (London) and Little Minx (Los Angeles), Hardstaff has directed and designed innovative moving image work across a broad spectrum of both commercial and non-commercial strands of the visual arts. Mass media clients include Sony, Radiohead, Orange, Toshiba, Sony PlayStation and the BBC amongst others.

Get the full experience at: http://www.philips.com/cinema

Become a fan and get the latest news at: http://www.facebook.com/philipscinema

See: Parallel Lines - Johnny Hardstaff's Dark Room Short

When
Two shorts are released today on YouTube and Facebook and the rest will be available from tomorrow at http://www.philips.com/cinema

Ridley Scott's Parallel Lines – Online Preview Screening Event

Amidst rumours that Ridley Scott has already mapped out Robin Hood 2 his Parallel Lines project for Phillips has an online preview screening this Wednesday. Parallel Lines is officially launched on Thurs 8th April.

We reported on RSA's Parallel Lines back here and are quite stoked that we are finally getting a chance to see the end result. RSA and Phillips teamed up to create 6 short films each using the same 6 lines of dialogue to launch Phillip's new range of 21:9 Cinema proportion TVs which are also the widest screen TVs available.

Sign up to the Philips Cinema Facebook group over here to RSVP your place for the exclusive preview screening event on Facebook.

Ridley Scott's Parallel Lines – Online Preview Screening Event

Where
http://www.facebook.com/philipscinema

When
From 7:00am, Weds 7 Apr , 2010

More info at http://www.cinema.philips.com/ or book Parallel Lines – Preview Screening Event!

Doritos King of Ads Competition

Doritos launched their annual "King of Ads" competition last month. The winner can receive a staggering £200,000 and all you have to do is make the king of TV adverts.

Think you can create the next great TV ad? The one that everyone will be talking about? The one that will make you famous?

On the 16th February 2010, Doritos launches it's 'King of Ads' campaign, encouraging all budding young directors or anyone with a video camera, to create the next big Doritos TV ad.

Arm yourself with ideas and a video camera and create a 29 second commercial to be uploaded onto www.doritos.co.uk. The makers of the top 15 adverts will then be invited to pitch their Doritos TV ad to a panel.

For some inspiration check out last year's winning entry:

Head over to http://kingofads.doritos.co.uk for more information and to enter.

Doritos King of Ads Competition

Adidas Originals Star Wars Collection

Behold! The Adidas Originals inspired by the Star Wars film series have launched their Star Wars Collection for 2010.

The Adidas Originals Star Wars collection was launched with a campaign that included an online Facebook/Death Star link in (www.adidas.com/originals/deathstar), a series of local launch parties, and a 60 second commercial featuring Darth Vader and Adidas ambassadors such as David Beckham, Snoop Dogg, and Daft Punk amongst others.

The collection for the first season is split into three packs; The Characters Pack, the Vehicles Pack and the Direct Pack. The products in each pack take inspiration from the respective aspect of the Star Wars lexicon from legendary characters and crafts to classic scenes and fuse them with iconic adidas Originals silhouettes.

Characters Pack
This pack takes the most iconic moments and characters from the Star Wars saga and brings them to life across five sneakers, two short sleeve T-shirts and the Superstar Track Top.

Vehicles Pack
For this pack, we have taken inspiration from the well known vehicles and crafts from the Star Wars saga and translated them to our five most iconic adidas Originals sneakers and two key adidas Originals apparel models. Across these models we have paid homage to the distinguished features of airborne crafts and land based vehicles from both sides of the Force and executed them to appeal to both adidas and Star Wars fans alike.

Direct Pack
Darth Vader and the Stormtroopers appear in this pack as well as in the Characters pack. Also, the Women's Game Mid silhouette that appears here is inspired by Princess Leia, featuring gold detailing paired with a modern high-top silhouette with matching apparel.


Adidas Originals Star Wars Collection

More info over at http://www.adidas.com/originals/deathstar

Spike Jonze I'm Here Premiere by Absolut

Last week I was lucky enough to receive an invite to the much talked about Absolut screening of Spike Jonze's new short film "I'm Here". I'm here premiered at this year's Sundance Festival and will be available online on March 7, 2010.

In case you aren't a regular reader (shame on you, if it's easier sign up for my effort free email updates on the side bar) I'm Here is a 30 minute film directed and written by the ground breaking and Oscar nominated Spike Jonze, whose talent is responsible for amongst others; Being John Malkovich, Where the Wild Things Are, Adaptation, Synecdoche, New York and some of the most cutting edge music videos of all time. You can view another of his excellent recent pieces "We Were Once a Fairytale" a collaboration with Kanye West over here on theestablishingshot.com

I'm Here was produced in collaboration with Absolut and is at the heart of their ‘In An ABSOLUT World, Ordinary Is No Place To Be’ campaign. A nod to creativity that takes the road less travelled. In this spirit the screening was to be held in the centre of London at the NCP (National Car Parks) car park in Soho.


I had already heard grumbling on the social media network vine that the venue was putting some people off? Oh! The irony.

So anyway last Thursday in the pouring rain I made my way into the heart of London with few expectations. You can't have any expectations of a Spike Jonze production the guy will always pull something fresh out of the bag. After some trial and error attempts and banding with a couple of other seekers we found the entrance to the event. On entry and after our credentials were checked (security was high and very well organised) we were given a token "to be exchanged when we were downstairs". Getting downstairs ahhh! This was more like it the bubble wrap carpet awaited, flanked on either side by luminescent bookcases bathed in blue light. Earthy upbeat music hypnotically lulling us.

Guided by the Absolut hospitality team we received our I'm Here badges, Cocktail menus and a quick guide to the area.

The garage had been converted into a blue light, white decor art installation the most notable bit being an astro turf run way leading to the screen populated with cardboard boxes. On closer inspection the boxes were plugged into power sockets and had some sort of felt/plastic material in them. Curious!

After grabbing my seat, a couple of drinks, milling around and meeting some new people including Pete from Frontrowreviews who lived up to their name by being in the front row.

The cardboard box I had been using as a table started to move and fortunately I grabbed my always ready camera in time to catch this:

About a 100 boxes converted themselves into comfortable seating for the screening. Pretty damn sweet! And completely in line with Spike Jonze.

The lights dimmed and I'm here a ' robot love story', started. The film follows the relationship between 2 different robot models; Sheldon (Andrew Garfield) a library assistant and Fran (Sienna Guillory) a clumsy waitress.

Using hand held camera techniques under either a yellow sun drenched LA, artificially lite late night car parks or authentic interior house party scenes set to an original but similar to the WTWTA soundtrack - Jonze makes it really easy to be swept me away into a world that robots and humans live together. I'm here features original work from Sam Spiegel and Aska Matsumiya. You can hear the focal song from I'm Here performed by Aska Matsumiya below.

Many of the issues addressed ensure that their story is actually our story. It's a study that touches on humanity, isolation, prejudice, differences, hope, connection, love and sacrifice. From imdb:

“A library assistant plods through an ordinary life in LA until a chance meeting opens his eyes to a the power of creativity and ultimately, love. When this new life and love begin to fall apart, he discovers he has a lot to give. This short film proves that ordinary is no place to be.”

By halfway I had forgotten that their were robots in the story and I was hoping that Sheldon and Fran overcome their obstacles but acutely aware that story could go anywhere and anything could happen.

It seems that Spike Jonze's I'm here is continuing the "fairytale" allegory theme that he started with Where The Wild Things Are. I felt that I'm Here is loosely based on Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree - classic allegorical children's book from the 60s. Anyone else think this?

I have been to a couple of really shoddy events lately so I should mention that this was a very well organised event. Thanks Absolut and I'm looking forward to your next cinematic collaboration.

The excellent film blog Live for Film attended a Liverpool screening of I'm Here for their take on the evening head over to: liveforfilms.wordpress.com
Pete from Fronrowreviews has just added his take on the screening over here: frontrowreviews.co.uk!

Spike Jonze I'm Here Premiere by Absolut

Spike Jonze's I'm Here will be available online on March 7, 2010.
More info at http://www.imheremovie.com/

Ridley Scott's Parallel Lines project & Carousel short film

Last week it came to light that Ridley Scott Associates (RSA) have been working on a series of short films for Phillips.

The project named "Parallel Lines" has been devised to launch Phillip's new range of 21:9 Cinema proportion TVs which are also the widest screen TVs available.

Ridley Scott on the Parallel Lines project:

“My production company receives hundreds of ideas every day, but this was something unique. The idea created a massive amount of enthusiasm from RSA directors around the world.”

Philips asked members of RSA to submit their short films, 45 submissions made, and five were picked as the finalists each representing a different genre. The chosen film directors and their films are:

Greg Fay - El Secreto de Mateo, described as a touching drama.
Johnny Hardstaff noir sci-fi thriller Darkroom.
Jake Scott's mystical horror The Hunt.
Hi-Sim's animation adventure Jun & the Hidden Skies.
The futuristic action thriller The Gift from Carl Erik Rinsch.

This is not the first time Phillips are using the medium to enhance their products - last year Adam Berg and Stink Digital made the awesome Carousel for Phillips. A 2.20 minute short that combines elements of The Matrix, Watchmen and The Dark Knight into a seemingly single gliding long take of mayhem and carnage.


Carousel

Making of Carousel

You can expect interactive trailer to be launched tomorrow Fri 26 February and The 5 Parallel Lines short films will premiere online on 8th April at http://www.cinema.philips.com/ .


Update #1 - 16 March
The Trailer for Parallel Lines is now online.

Update #2 - 20 March
Apparently each of the 5 films, uses the same dialogue. Whoa! This is going to be interesting.



Ridley Scott's Parallel Lines project & Carousel short film

Where
http://www.cinema.philips.com/

When
Thurs 8 April, 2010

Duncan Jones earlier commercial work - A sign of things to come?

Before helming MOON Duncan Jones established a notorious reputation for controversial fare in the advertising arena, started out as a wild‐cam operator for Tony Scott (director of Spy Game, Enemy of the State, Top Gun and Crimson Tide), before going on to work as an AD for cerebral promo and commercials director Walter Stern.

Duncan created the following CG/live action commercial Blade Jogger, which won a top award at the UK’s Kodak Student Commercial Competition, and his short film Whistle, which has screened at festivals around the world and numerous times on Film Four in the UK. I think that's Burt Kwouk or Kato from the Pink Panther films starring.

Director: Duncan Jones
Director Of Photography: Eric Lehner
Production: Littlegang Productions

Master Wayne you have just been P'wned

Down, Forward, X to throw your Batarang

Don Logan for Live Aid

Awesome I had heard about these promo videos that Ben Kingsley had done for Live Aid. I searched high & low for them for well over 18 months and eventually gave up writing them off to some sort of urban myth or marketing hype. Lo & behold if the possible visit from a friend sparks off a quick look for Don Logan media Hey Presto! Not 1 but all 3 of them.

For those of you who are not aware of who Don Logan is. Firstly shame on you - you are missing out on a modern classic. Rush out and get a copy of Sexy Beast as quick as possible.

Sexy Beast is a 2000 British film directed by Jonathan Glazer, starring Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley and Ian McShane. It was Glazer's debut feature film. He had previously been a director of music videos, such as Rabbit in Your Headlights for British electronica group UNKLE, and commercials for companies such as Guinness and Levi.

It is a classic piece of modern gangster noir by way of MTV. An engaging story, colourful characters, music and vision working as one and there is Don Logan. Don is possibly the most menacing character since Sonny Corleone. Ben kingsley received countless nominations and awards for the role.

From Wiki:
Ben Kingsley as Don Logan. Don is a foul-mouthed, psychopathic and violent man who is part of the London underworld. He is a recruiter who puts crack teams together to do various jobs. A very determined man who will go to any length to make things go his way, Don uses anything and everything in his power to convince Gal to return to London to do a final job. Ben Kingsley, on the DVD commentry, calls Don "The Unhappiest Man in the World" and in several interviews, Kingsley has claimed that he based the character of Don Logan largely on his grandmother, whom he called, " A vile and extremely unpleasant woman."