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Post Magazine - Student To Pro

GABRIEL TICK

With a memorable name and even more memorable visuals on his reel, Gabriel Tick quickly became a valuable staff member at New York's Click 3X, where he is now a junior animator/designer. An employee now for a little over a year, Tick originally got his name in front of a Click 3X talent scout while still at the Parsons School of Design. His focus at Parsons was illustration -- drawing and painting. So how does that get you a cool job at a hot shop?

Tick likes to paint realistic figures in surreal landscapes and that talent ultimately came to the fore in his work for a Dr. Ocatgon music video called Trees. The artist started out as an intern after first meeting Click 3X partner Jason Mayo at a Parsons career day. "I had a sketch book with me and he took a look at it and said, 'Wow. I have no idea what I'd do with you but I really like what you're doing and I'd love for you to come into my company and we'll do some work together.' I didn't even know what motion graphics really was." Still, Tick had been learning Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop at school.

Tick's sketch book showed a lot of type over imagery, textures and photographs. In addition to collage work, he did realistic drawings and Mayo could see useful applications in computer work. Tick interned the summer following his junior year.

"My first day as an intern I saw the place and thought the office was amazing; it looked great and everyone was really nice," Tick recalls. Click designers were conceptualizing the look for a new Dr. Octagon video for the song "Trees." Mayo got Tick working with head Flame artist Mark Szumski and Szumski loved Tick's original sketches of character design and backgrounding for the video -- so did the decision-makers at MTV. The video debuted in November 2006 with a lot of Tick's background design and environments as well as the trees visible in the piece. "A lot of the clouds you see are paintings that I did that were animated in 3D in Flame."

That first summer, Tick's one-day-a-week internship quickly turned into "why don't you just try and be here every day," Tick says. With that, he was offered the same pay he was earning as a part-time assistant to a fashion photographer to come in as a paid intern every day. "It was a great opportunity and a dream come true," he says. "I loved getting my hands on real world projects and getting experience. I learned so much so quickly about the post world and motion graphics and compositing that it inspired me to push in that direction. By them telling me what elements I needed to animate I learned the whole pipeline."

Back at Parsons for senior year, Tick pursued his major -- painting -- but also took as many additional computer courses as he could fit in, including After Effects, 3D, Final Cut and compositing.

Tick continues to enjoy working in pre-production, creating artwork or elements in After Effects that are subsequently manipulated in Flame by Click 3X artists. He doesn't feel a burning need to become a Flame artist himself. "I'm having a lot of fun doing what I'm doing now," Tick says. "I just want to keep learning more and doing more interesting things and doing more creative jobs."

Recently, in addition to more music videos and commercial spots, Tick and co-worker Erica Gorochow contributed the opening logo treatment for Twenty120 (www.twenty120.com) a site devoted to the work of motion-graphic and video artists who produce one-minute-and-20-second themed films for the site. Click 3X staffer Aaron Vasquez helped polish Tick's After Effects work in Flame.

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Clickfire Media Stops Time for Motorola, Draftfcb, & Danica Patrick

New York-based ClickFire Media recently collaborated with Click 3X and Draftfcb to create an elaborate 3D scrolling scene for the agency's creation of a fully-interactive integrated web experience supporting Motorola's sponsorship of Indy racer Danica Patrick. ClickFire created the immersive web-based project, which is a combination of broadcast quality live-action and effects, directed by Click 3X's John Budion, that will be housed at Motorola's Danica-specific website (www.motodanica.com). The 360-degree web environments feature layers-upon-layers of visual elements, with clickable interactive hot-spots, sound effects, and minutely detailed displays revealing three clock-stopping moments in the life of an Indy superstar.

Visitors can scroll through and interact with the revolving 3D scenes depicting Danica captured in time at a backyard barbeque, a film set, and a meeting with fans and paparazzi. At the scene are friends, a dog frozen in mid-air, and Danica's Motorola-sponsored race car neatly parked in the suburban driveway. Patrick, famous for both her racing talent and her star-quality looks and charisma, recently became the first woman in the history of open-wheel racing to win a major event, securing her victory in the Indy Japan 300.

The interactive experience, which launched in May, combines detailed frame-by-frame live action shots and VFX into a visually-stimulating and engaging point-in-time environment. Beginning with storyboards, the teams at Click were able to map out the entire project step-by-step. With only one day to shoot and six hours with Danica, they relied on extensive planning and meticulous attention to detail. Director John Budion notes, "In the frozen world everything essentially becomes a prop, including talent. Yet, I really wanted all of the elements to also add to the story and the unveiling of each scene. Because this lives on the web, we needed a really interactive atmosphere where you can scroll around each setup and catch something new going on visually, something that you may have missed before." Budion prepared a comprehensive treatment to help the client visualize the concept, as well as to detail the intricate specifics of each of the shoot environments. The two weeks of pre-production enabled the team to execute quickly on the set, using their precise, elaborate 3D previs as a detailed map for the shoot.

To generate the revolving motion effects, Click developed a huge turntable, twenty feet in diameter, to function as a base for the scene. To offset the movement and eliminate motion blur, they employed an HDx900 camera, working all the way through in HD to ensure sharp and crisp delivery. Anything outside the core diameter was shot alone and centered at a slower speed, then manipulated to gain the right speed and angle, and incorporated into the shot. The Click 3X team took simultaneously stills for 3D modeling and textures, as well as adding details such as camera flashes, heat distortion, liquids, and reflections for another level of realism during finishing process.

Budion, who also directed the VFX,describes the post-production process, "We really took advantage of our studio's technology to complete everything in just three weeks.  The delivery size was 970x405, which allowed me to work in HD, but render out in Proxy, cutting significant time off of each render.  Maximizing the 3D capabilities of Flame, I was able to take the original green screen, 3D track it, use that track to create 3D backgrounds, particles, and depth blurring passes, and do final compositing and lighting all in one setup.  The ability to quickly and accurately work in one setup from greenscreen to final composite, without having to wait for any CG renders, expedited workflow and really facilitated the crunch of a 3-week deadline." The team also added additional, elements in Maya to create the right look and feel.

Draftfcb originally approached ClickFire because of their ability to leverage and combine their interactive expertise with Click 3X's ability to integrate traditional broadcast elements. Commenting on the final output, ClickFire EP Conner Swegle notes, "There is certainly a growing demand for broadcast-quality experiences online and we were able to really leverage our strengths to create something totally unique for the web. We worked closely together with John (Budion) to create and combine intensely detailed frozen visual imagery with really cool and functional interactivity. It's pretty exciting to be able to output so much intricacy and bring this type of rich-media quality to the web."

Click 3X Partner/EP Jason Mayo notes, "The project really shows off the vast creative capabilities accessible when we collaborate. The great relationship really pushed the limits throughout the process, from the detailed pre-production that saved significant time and money, to the quick and easy transition between effects and programming, and ultimately to the creation of a fun visual online environment to showcase Motorola's involvement with Danica." The firms were able to seamlessly work together to deliver something that far exceeded client expectations, creating something that is unique and really has never been seen before. Mayo continues, "We think this project really showcases how much can be done online and we're very enthusiastic about extending this partnership to more and more integrated media ventures in the future." Since the launch of ClickFire in 2007, the company has collaborated on a series of successful effects, design, and live action integrated campaigns, including for The Boards Summit and Verizon Fios My Home 2.0

The Creds:
Client: Motorola
Title: MotoDanica
Launch: May 2008

EVP/ECD: Luke Bailey
Broadcast Producer: Chris Klein

Production: Click 3X
Director: John J. Budion
DP: Matthew Santo

Director of VFX: John Budion
VFX Artist(s): John Budion, Tom Hurburt
EP: Jason Mayo
Producer: Carson Hood

Interactive: ClickFire Media
EP: Connor Swegle

Sound Design: Sound Lounge Music & Sound Design
Sound Designer: Marshall Grupp

Click 3X Launches Music Video Division Haunt, Showcasing Solange Song

New York-based design and animation studio Click 3X recently launched Haunt, (www.Click3x.com/haunt), a division that specializes in cutting-edge motion design for music videos, virals, and installations. Through the years, Click 3X has cultivated partnerships with both directors and artists, uniting to create visually powerful music video projects-the launch of Haunt, which will be headed by lead VFX artist Mark Szumski, is indicative of this collection of work. The group's latest project, now showcased on the Haunt site, is the highly-acclaimed music video for I Decided by Solange Knowles-the first major release from Beyonce's younger sister. Click recognizes that these types of stylistic works require a distinct, intensively collaborative approach and a commitment to this unique visual style led to the development, and ultimate launch of the new division. In addition to the recent work with Solange, Haunt's rapidly expanding body of work has fused innovative directors including Timothy Saccenti, Floria Sigismondi, Georgie Greville (until recently with MTV) and Epoch's Matt Lenski with successful artists such as Jamie Lidell, Zero7, Mark Ronson, and Fallout Boy.

Their latest historic visual voyage, I Decided, is the video for the first single off Solange's new album, SoL-AngeL and The Hadley St. Dreams, set to be released in August. With the help of Haunt's artists and VFX talent, Solange is transported across a kaleidoscopic journey through the decades in a fantastical montage of politics and pop culture. In the foreground of a flurry of multi-colored newsreels, iconic symbols, bright lights, and glitter, Solange performs in the styles of the times-vintage clothing, hairstyles and dances included. Haunt artists worked with director Melina of RSA to create the series of intricate and imaginative media environments. On working with Szumski, Melina muses, "Since the piece jumps through different decades it was important that the style of the artwork and visuals mirrored the artistic trends of that era, incorporating the political aspects of the archival footage while maintaining the pop feel of the song. Not only was the artwork informed by the decades, but so was the look of the actual film--the 80s filled with video footage and television static while the 70s portion had a more grainy feel, like it was 16mm. Overall, it was a tremendously difficult balance to capture, but Mark consistently was able to develop new looks that were all equally as amazing as the ones before."

Also commenting on the making of the video, Nicole Ehrlich, Director of Creative Services and Broadcast Media (video commissioner) at Interscope/geffen/a&m, notes, "The Click 3X team was the integral part of bringing this Solange video - I Decided - Pt. 1 and I Decided - Pt. 2 - to the next level. They not only went above and beyond the treatment and call of duty, but blew my mind and expectations on the end product...more like an art piece. It was musical and visual and super cutting-edge, while throwing back to classic styles. I wish they had time to work with me on everything! They get aesthetic and really understand all genres and ideas. They make dreams a reality! Best of all they are listeners, but have great opinions, making them easy to work with and flexible. They just want to make dope stuff!"

Click 3X artists worked primarily in Flame, Maya, as well as liquid light and cloud chamber film plates actually from the 60s and 70s, to create all the design environments, paper textures, and color treatments. Commenting on the breadth of the process, Szumski explains, "The work for I Decided is the most effects shots weve ever done for one project-nearly every frame was designed and the project ended up with over 300 effects shots! Collaborating with Melina before, during, and after the shoot allowed us to get so many great shots as quickly as possible and really elevate the artistry of the decade-by-decade creative tour." Achieving immediate success, the recently-released video has already garnered over half-a-million hits across popular video-sharing and media sites, and another 200,000 views on celebrity blog PerezHilton.com. Szumski also adds, "We have created a really powerful and diverse body of work across the entire music spectrumwith really different visual and design environments, from Animal Collective to Solange. The entire team here, as well as at RSA and the label, was truly thrilled with how the I Decided turned out and the acclaim it has already received since it released."

The Haunt team draws on all the creative resources of both Click 3X and ClickFire Media to continue to produce ground-breaking visual solutions. While the company has always worked with music videos, the official launch of Haunt only reinforces the team's cooperative, creative focus, and significant collection of work. Clicks Founder Peter Corbett elaborates, "We wanted to build an environment to showcase some really cool and innovative work in music videos, both historically and several recent projects that really highlight our range." Partner/MD Jason Mayo adds, "The last several years have been great for our growth; we have been able to build up our resources and talent pool and the launch of both ClickFire Media and now Haunt really display our depth and ability to work across channels and on the entire spectrum of projects." In addition to Solange, the Haunt site displays the divisions wide range of music video projects, including:

- Fallout Boy "We're Going Down", with over 3 million web views
- Jamie Lidell "Another Day", a YouTube featured video four times internationally
- Animal Collective "Peacebone", with over 700,000 YouTube views
- Doctor Octagon "Trees", an environmentally-conscious, musical PSA with over 300,000 views
- Suga Pop "Suga Pop Viral"
- Living Things "Bom Bom Bom"
- Zero Seven "Throw It All Away"
- The Giraffes "Having Fun"
- Mark Ronson "Stop Me"
- MetalBallz "Metal Method"

Haunt takes pride in enthusiastically embracing the unique risks and opportunities that characterize music videos, while also establishing powerful creative partnerships across the industry. The entire Click 3X family employs the same philosophy, as they develop compelling visual solutions across advertising, interactive, and broadcast. By pushing the limits of creative possibility, Click 3X remains at the forefront of cutting-edge integrated media properties across platforms. In addition to the range of design, animation, and effects for music videos at Haunt, their talented creative team continues to deliver innovative solutions in advertising, recently working on projects for brands including Motorola, Ford, Verizon, Coca-Cola, and Time Warner.

Click 3X and ClickFire Media Enlist Reelize Reps