Contributes 175 Shots to Chris Weitz-Directed Follow-Up to Hugely Successful ‘Twilight’ Film

Prime Focus VFX, formerly Frantic Films VFX, has completed 175 visual effects shots for the Summit Entertainment release, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” directed by Chris Weitz. Prime Focus contributed a majority of the film’s most frequently featured visual effects, including CG water, atmospherics, CG matte painting and environment work, and the “Diamond Skin” effect on Edward and the other vampire characters. “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” is based on the popular series of novels by Stephenie Meyer. The film stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner and hits theaters Nov. 20th. more

CHICAGO—Hybrid production studio Vitamin applied its distinctive touch to The Story, the latest music video from Maroon 5 and director Bob Carmichael, which uses hundreds of still photographs and a blaze of animated graphics to tell the tale of the band’s recent world tour. more

Anonymous Content Director Andrew Douglas stirs up a moving tribute to U.S. troops for the 2009 holiday season. Anthem Christmas Wish, done for Walmart via Martin Agency, Virginia, stars a group of soldiers returning from an exhausting patrol in the torrid desert heat. As the heroes drop their helmets and packs to the ground, a miracle occurs - snowflakes drift down and soon cover the encampment, injecting the troops with an unmitigated joy. The scene then shifts to a little boy, presumably thousands of miles away, leaving the cozy confines of Santa’s workshop. When his mother asks the boy what he wished for, he smiles and says, “Something for Dad.” more

Anonymous Content Director Andrew Douglas, with Cutwater and Digital Domain, completed a spot promoting Ubisoft’s much anticipated Assassin’s Creed II video game. The :30, which is entirely computer animated, showcases Douglas’ ability to operate as deftly in the digital realm as he does in live action. more

In an acknowledgement of his uniquely dazzling artistic skills, luxury specialty chain Saks Fifth Avenue selected DUCK cofounder Roger Chouinard to illustrate the latest edition of its iconic Christmas Book. His illustrations will be transformed into the chain’s legendary animated Christmastime window displays at its New York City flagship location. more

Tool of North America Director Harry Cocciolo just completed work on a hilariously irreverent spot promoting Oxfam America via 15 Ideas Chicago.

The :30 features a prim woman, who begins the spot seated on a beautiful living room sofa with her daughter, expressing her earnest shock upon having discovered that she could fight hunger and poverty simply by “giving a $%@#.” She ventures out into the community, encouraging dignified and shocked passersby to join her in giving a $%@# as she picks up her dry cleaning, pushes a child on a swing, and rides through a residential neighborhood in an ice cream truck. more

Asylum’s VFX team in collaboration with mcgarry bowen and MJZ’s Rupert Sanders recently completed work on a spectacular spot launching Verizon’s highly anticipated Droid smartphone. The: 60 features incredible CG environments that showcase Asylum’s incomparable expertise in creating realistic FX, this time embedded within a suspenseful and visually stunning narrative. more

Smoke & Mirrors New York (SMNY) is proud to announce the addition of Sue Romweber as head of production. The industry veteran is the award-winning producer behind notable campaigns spanning multiple genres, including LG Cars, USTA U.S. Open, Lifesavers Cherry Tree and Snowflake, De Beers The Drive Home, and USA Network Characters, which ran during the 2009 Super Bowl. She has collaborated with renowned directors, including Roman Coppola, and top agencies Y&R, Martin Agency, FCBNY and JWT/NY, among others. more

Absolute’s Head of CG Artist Minh Nguyen-Ba and her team get numerical in the latest six spot campaign for V8 via Y&R NY.

If you don’t like the taste of vegetables, it’s tough to reach the recommended five servings a day. In this series of inventive spots, Nguyen-Ba and her team create number counters that hover above people’s heads indicating how many servings of vegetables they’ve had. V8 has two ways to boost that number. Classic V8 offers three full servings of vegetables in one 12oz bottle, while V-Fusion, a tasty blend of fruit and vegetable juice offers one serving each of veggies and fruit. more

Los Angeles, CA - (November 16, 2009) — Award-winning visual effects and digital production house Zoic Studios has named Erik Press to the strategic role of Executive Producer. At Zoic, Press leads artists and creative directors to produce effects-driven content with a holistic approach, uniting broadcast, advertising, theatrical and web content that engages audiences and enriches brands. more