Press: Compass Rose Expands Into Virtual Production with Fantasy Studios Partnership
Pavla Burgetova Callegari and Lukas Skalnik discuss the new partnership, the need for virtual production in the current filmic landscape, alongside the creative possibilities the technology affords.
Compass Rose (CR), a group of award-winning service production companies, is growing with an expansion into virtual production via a partnership with Fantasy Studios, located in Prague. With two versatile sound stages equipped with XR LED screens, content creation and motion capture capabilities, plus an exceptional technical crew, the partnership is a valuable addition to the Compass Rose offering.
“We’re always looking for ways to expand our capabilities with tools that make our work better, more creative, and more cost-effective for our clients,” says Pavla Burgetova Callegari, Compass Rose’s founder and executive producer, global.
Amid an uncertain economic climate that’s negatively affecting production, virtual production offers value without curtailing creativity. Pavla says, “Creating virtual environments, like branded storefronts or interiors, can be built once, stored as reusable assets, and brought back for future projects. This kind of flexibility means brands can maintain visual consistency while saving time and money. By combining high-end live action with virtual production, the creative possibilities are virtually endless.”
Read the full interview: https://lbbonline.
Press: Lizzo Faces Her Demons in ‘Love In Real Life’ and ‘Still Bad’ Music Videos
LBB speaks to director Colin Tilley, and producers Danielle Wright and Lida Ashwell Ordnung about shooting the prosthetic-heavy, stylish films on Czech locations in freezing temperatures.
Over the last few months, Lizzo debuted two singles, titled ‘Love In Real Life’ and ‘Still Bad’ from a forthcoming album. The singles were accompanied by Colin Tilley-directed music videos, shot on 35mm on location in Prague, with production from Echobend Pictures and production service from Compass Rose ’s group partner, Stillking Prague.
In the videos, Lizzo faces her demons, quite literally, while dressed to the nines and performing impressive choreography backed by dancers in picturesque locations, including Barrandov Studios’ Parisian Street standing set. The videos are thematically linked with Lizzo appearing on the hood of a white car at the end of ‘Love In Real Life’ and also at the start of ‘Still Bad’ to signal narrative continuity.
Colin has worked with a lot of powerhouse artists in his career and the collaboration with Lizzo and her creative director, Molly Hawkins, was defined by a mutual desire to find a fresh, unexpected direction. “Lizzo is so open to pushing the limits and I was truly inspired by that. I was lucky to have my co-captain Molly as we conceptualised on this for quite a bit of time before we really landed on the concepts. We wanted to try and push it in an exciting new direction. Lizzo had great feedback throughout the process and was just down for going for it. It’s the best feeling ever as a director to have a team that is not ready to settle just to settle,” Colin says.
One thing Colin knew from the outset is that he was “really dying to shoot in Prague again,” having previously worked with Stillking Prague and producer Lida Ashwell Ordnung on Halsey’s epic album film, ‘If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power’ .
Read the full interview: https://lbbonline.com/news/lizzo-new-music-videos-directed-by-colin-tilley
Press: Hornbach’s ‘The Square Meter’ Is the “Creatively Chaotic” Awards Favourite
LBB speaks to TPF’s producer Florian von der Heydt and Icon Films Romania’s producers Ileana Anghel and Raul Cosma about crafting the practical-effects heavy spot that just keeps winning awards.
Not many ads can boast being awarded from 11 major awards shows while still being shortlisted for more. Yet Hornbach’s ‘The Square Meter’ is that juggernaut. It has already picked up trophies at the LIA, Clio, Cannes Lions, and the D&AD awards, to (really) name just a few. Directed by Steve Rogers, with production from TPF Berlin and Revolver in Sydney, and production service from Icon Films Romania (part of the Compass Rose group) the spot shines with realised ambition underpinned by craft of the highest quality. Commenting on the spot winning a Film Craft Lion this year, jury president Prasoon Pandey, ad filmmaker at Corcoise Films India, said: “It is not often that one gets to see all the cinematic arts come together so perfectly like synchronized swimming, to turn a DIY subject into a film with magical intrigue.”
Producer Florian von der Heydt says that the creative ideas grew bigger and evolved from the original brief once director Steve Rogers got involved. To realise the scale of the ambition, Florian turned to Icon Films Romania as he was aware of the company’s reputation for facilitating the “sometimes creatively chaotic nature of these collaborations” and because the team is “well-versed in the processes of large-scale international productions.”
The grand concept behind the spot is ‘Every square metre deserves to be the best in the world’ and this was translated quite literally in the production and the set design as it was decided at least one dimension of each room had to conform to that measurement – a significant challenge for the construction and departments. Pre-production lasted three and a half months while building the sets was a two week process, according to Icon Films Romania’s producer Ileana Anghel and Raul Cosma. The team at Icon is no stranger to complex and craft-rich productions, a subject we previously explored in our ‘craft renaissance’ series.
Read the full interview: https://www.lbbonline.com/news/hornbachs-the-square-meter-is-the-creatively-chaotic-awards-favourite
