Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1544392
BITS & PIECES BRAZIL CREATIVE STUDIO OPENS NYC LOCATION NEW YORK CITY — Surreal Hotel Arts (www.surre- alhotelarts.com), a São Paulo, Brazil-based creative production company, has opened its first interna- tional headquarters in New York City, marking an expansion into the US market. The studio offers creative storytelling and production services for brands and agencies, specializing in commercials, branded content and entertainment. Surreal Hotel Arts was founded in 2021 and is led by director Carlão Busato, alongside operations director Cris Chacon and executive director Milena Trindade. Since its founding, Surreal Hotel Arts has built a client portfolio that includes work for Coca- Cola, GM, GSK, Heinz, McDonald's, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Samsung, Unilever and Visa, among others. "We believe in the power of stories that reflect the full diversity of the world," says Busato, who serves as chief creative officer. "Brazil has always embraced diversity and has never been afraid of boldness — in color, in sound, in feeling — and this is reflected in our creative mindset. Storytelling is part of our DNA, and that's why New York — a city at the center of ambitious, culturally-resonant storytelling — is the perfect place for us to bring our uniquely-Brazilian flavor to North America. It is a natural second home for us, and we hope to add a distinct voice to the conversations already happening here." The studio has also assembled a roster of award-winning directors, including Blake Farber, Brendo, Brenno Castro, Michael Zvegintsev, Lua Voigt and Oriol Barberà. Surreal Hotel Arts is not entering the US market from scratch. In 2022 the studio appointed Farber associate director for the US market. Line producer Felipe Rangel will also divide his time between the São Paulo and New York offices. Alongside its advertising work, Surreal Hotel Arts is expanding into broader storytelling formats, developing original short- and long-form content for both Brazilian and global audiences. The studio currently has nine short films and four feature films set for release this year. To support this growth, Surreal Hotel Arts has partnered with Brazilian production studio Air+Atomo to deliver AI and VFX capabilities. "This is an incredibly exciting moment for us," notes Trindade. "We have built a strong founda- tion, a loyal national and international client base, an exceptional team of directors and the ability to shoot anywhere. Brazil continues to offer extraor- dinary creative possibilities: a breathtaking range of locations, world-class talent, favorable shoot- ing conditions and outstanding production value. Wherever we work in the world, we bring the same commitment to fusing creativity and innovation, and our success at Cannes Lions is proof of what that approach can achieve." TIFFANY & CO. BRAND FILM AIRS DURING OSCARS NEW YORK CITY — Tiffany & Co. debuted a new campaign film during the 98th Annual Academy Awards broadcast on Sunday, March 15th. The 3:20 short features Academy Award-winning actress, producer and director Natalie Portman, who serves as the luxury brand's ambassador. The short begins as a film within a film, with Portman starring in a shoot, and then working with the crew behind the scenes. She then retires to her New York City hotel, overlook- ing Central Park, where she connects with her family, first by phone and then through a heartfelt letter. Her Tiffany & Co. necklace and earrings are subtly featured. The video ends with a tag line that refers to Tiffany & Co.'s 100-plus- year history of supporting the world's greatest love stories. The project was directed by Mona Fastvold and Brady Corbet of Magna Studios (magnastudios.com), and shot by cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema. "Strength appears in different ways throughout our lives — through courage, curiosity, compassion and joy," says Portman. "It's found in the thrill of growth and in the discovery of new dimensions within ourselves. Mona and Brady have crafted a beautiful and meaningful film that reflects the experience I've had over the years and the journey that continues to shape who I am becoming." Fastvold and Corbet say they were drawn to the opportunity to create some- thing aligned with their historic identity. The film was shot on 70mm, a format that allowed the team to reflect the brand's craftsmanship with great fidelity. The reimagined version of "Moon River" was created by the team at Little Beast, led by ECD Johanna Cranitch, alongside composer David Radley. Final Cut's (www.finalcut-edit.com) Crispin Struthers edited the project, with colorist Mate Ternyik (www.mateternyik.com) handling the final grade. Restoration Christian Fellowship in Aurora, CO, is using the music video format to connect with its congregation and the younger demographic. Edward Gilbert heads up the effort, employing Blackmagic Pyxis 12K and 6K digital film cameras as A and B cameras respectively, with two Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K digital film cameras used to capture additional angles. Footage is shot in the Blackmagic raw format and then edited using DaVinci Resolve. "I love how Blackmagic has evolved its ecosystem into a true, all-in-one solution," says Gilbert. "DaVinci Resolve was always an incredible color-grading tool, but once it matured into a full NLE, I had no hesitation adopting it fully. I handle syncing, multi-cam edits and grading, all within one program." For more on Music Video, turn to page 28. (L-R) Trindade, Busato, Farber, Chacon and Felipe Rangel.