GENE SIMMONS SAYS BIG MACHINE DESIGN “ROCKS”
Hollywood, CA, July 31, 2006 – Big Machine Design (BMD), a full-service creative services studio based in Hollywood, has completed a new main title opening graphics sequence and show package for the new real life series “Gene Simmons Family Jewels,” which will debut on the A&E Network August 7. The announcement was made today by BMD co-founders Steve Petersen (also BMD Executive Producer) and Ken Carlson (also BMD Creative Director.)
Gene Simmons says, “BIG MACHINE is as cool as cool gets. Our show rocks that much more because of the opener. It rocks.”
In the main title sequence, an animated Gene Simmons rises in his full KISS makeup and costume from the pages of an old book, with the tagline “Lord of Rock” appearing beneath him. BMD created the 3D model of the book used in the open, which was later turned into an actual prop for the show.
Petersen and Carlson worked closely with Simmons on the graphics for his show. Says Petersen, “Here‘s a little anecdote on working with Gene. He was really great. He‘s so creative. In meetings, he would literally take the pen from my hand and sketch out designs he saw in his head on the back of whatever piece of paper was lying around. We‘d bring that piece of paper back to our shop and use those scribbles as the basis of our designs.”
Petersen adds, “There were a lot of agendas we were given to meet when creating the main title for the show. Elements like Rock & Roll superstar, Playmate mother, close family life, humor and love all needed to be conveyed in a super fun way. We used the device of a gothic, family photo album on acid come-to-life as a way to visually package the wild events in the life of this extraordinary family, in a way never before seen. The 3D book we designed came out so great that the show had a prop house make a real, physical version that Gene Simmons has in his hands at the start of the show each week.”
Carlson says, “We worked hard to create a look that reflected the tone of Gene’s rock and roll lifestyle, but also complimented the idea of a close family life. We used flames to accentuate the rock and roll moments and humor in the animation to push lighter moments in his family life.”
ABOUT “GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS:”
GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS IN PRODUCTION ON A&E
A NEW REAL LIFE SERIES FEATURING
THE LEGENDARY ROCK STAR
AND HIS UNCONVENTIONAL FAMILY LIFE
In “GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS,” Dad is Gene Simmons – the legendary, tongue wagging demon of KISS. Mom is Shannon Tweed — former Playmate of the Year, actress and model. And their kids, Nick and Sophie, are, well…surprisingly charming, well-behaved teenagers dealing with the trials and tribulations of adolescence, even though Mom and Dad are like no one else‘s parents.
Gene and Shannon have been happily UNmarried for 22 years and have no plans of getting married any time soon. Gene is a rock star, and a multi-media magnate. He is also the kind of dad who brings Gatorade to his daughter’s soccer games and stands in the front row of his son’s rock band when they play gigs. This series will reveal the side of Gene that he has kept hidden until now, and shows how the most non-traditional, traditional family in America manages to make it work under the oddest of circumstances.
Gene Simmons is co-founder of KISS, a band which has broken box office records worldwide set by Elvis and the Beatles and has 2,500 licensed and merchandised products, from KISS VISA cards to KISS condoms (www.GENESIMMONS.com).
BMD‘S CREDITS FOR “GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS”
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Steve Petersen
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Ken Carlson
PRODUCER
Elaina Porter
SENIOR DESIGNER
Ming-Shian Wang
ADDITIONAL DESIGN WORK
Anthony Kolb
HARDWARE USED
Apple Powermac G5 machines
SOFTWARE
Adobe After Effects
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Maxon Cinema 4D
ABOUT BIG MACHINE DESIGN:
Big Machine Design, located in Hollywood, California, was founded in 2003 by Steve Petersen and Ken Carlson. The two have diverse backgrounds in the entertainment industry and over 15 years of combined experience. Some of BMD‘s recent clients include CBS, the ABC News show “20/20,” NBC, Fox, UPN, MTV, TLC, USA, Animal Planet, Fox Searchlight, MGM, Sony and Buy.com, among many others.
BMD‘s studio is located at 6860 Lexington Ave., Hollywood, CA 90038. The company‘s website, which posts its latest news, is www.bigmachine.net. To request a reel, please call BMD at 323.461.1943.
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