Shilo and Ogilvy & Mather Amsterdam have won the 2008 London International Awards Gold Statue for Television/Cinema Animation. Their work, a collaboration with MTV Networks and The Burma Arts Board; is a provocative, groundbreaking 90-second Public Service Announcement entitled “Burma Viral”. Featuring a custom score from Amsterdam-based Good Sounds and meticulously animated footage of warplanes bombing Burma with flowers as a dramatic call-to-action, the film invited viewers to visit a Burma Arts Board website. There, visitors can send messages of support to the people of Burma in honor of their continuing struggles against their oppressive government, and also learn more about the devastating effects caused by Cyclone Nargis and contribute to relief efforts.

Shilo co-founder Andre Stringer served as the company’s creative director on the project, and as its lead artist, together with Tamir Sapir and David Hill. The company’s executive producers were Tracy Chandler and Mark Hanrahan, Lindsay Bodanza was their producer, and Brenda Bentz van den Berg was the agency’s producer.

“We seized this opportunity to make a project with Carl Le Blond, MTV and our other partners that people would connect with, that would raise awareness of the difficulties faced by the people of Burma,” said Shilo’s Stringer and Chandler following the presentation of the award in London. “We’re extremely proud that the prestigious judges of the London International Awards chose this project as the best in its category, and we’re still optimistic that the film’s message of powerful people and forces uniting to aid the citizens of Burma can come to pass… despite their harrowing, continuing struggles.”

“In regard to this project, from the very beginning, everyone I met at Shilo was just automatically going above and beyond?‚àö√묨‚àÇ and that to me is what filmmaking is all about,” Le Blond said. “As the details of the cyclone came to light, that same spirit allowed us all to take the film a step further, to a point where it could potentially heighten relief efforts, while also raising awareness for the social difficulties these people face every day, even under normal circumstances. So as you might easily imagine, the recognition of this Gold London International Award really is a great result for a great piece of work.”

Of the nearly 18,000 total submissions into the London International Awards from 81 countries, only five percent reached finalist status. From that elite group, less than two percent earned Silver and less than one percent won Gold.

“The standard of animation in film has just made quantum leaps forward in the past few years,” commented Barbara Levy, president of London International Awards. “Only the very best would be considered for metal.”

Last month, the “Burma Viral” project was also presented with the Silver Shark Award during the 46th annual Kinsale Shark Awards, in the category of International Craft: Best Animation. One of the longest running international advertising festivals, the Kinsale Shark Awards celebrate the best work in broadcast advertising from Ireland and around the world.

About Shilo
Shilo is an Emmy Award-winning creative production company representing a group of filmmakers led by directors Jose Gomez and Andre Stringer. Internationally known for creating original and commissioned work that is powerful, provocative and visually extraordinary, Shilo’s deeply held passions for design-infused storytelling and their innovative applications of live-action, design, and animation techniques deliver breakthrough experiences for screens large and small. From its studios in New York and Del Mar, California, where recent projects have spanned short films, commercials and music videos, Shilo has the capacity and experience to originate ideas and handle all aspects of production. Shilo published its first book, We Make It Good, in 2007.

CREDITS:
Project Title: noneofusarefree.org “Burma Viral” (Emergency version)
Project Length: :90
Debut Date: 15 May 2008

Clients: MTV Networks International and The Burma Arts Board
MTV Networks International: John Jackson, Director of Social Responsibility
The Burma Arts Board: Suki Dusanj, Founder
Sam Roddick, Activist

Advertising Agency: Ogilvy & Mather Amsterdam
Executive Creative Director: Carl Le Blond
Agency Producer: Brenda Bentz van den Berg
Writer: Carl Le Blond

Production Company: Shilo (Bicoastal, USA)
Director: Shilo
Creative Director: Andre Stringer
Executive Producer: Tracy Chandler
Executive Producer (UK): Mark Hanrahan
Lead Artists: Andre Stringer, Tamir Sapir, David Hill
Matte Painting: Mathieu Reynault and Rodeo FX, Andre Stringer, Marco Giampaolo, Cassidy Gearhart, Noah Conopask
3D Animators: Henning Koczy, Richard Cayton, Ohad Bracha, Bren Wilson, Eugen Sasu, Kiel Figgens
3D Artists: Christina Ku, Richard Kim, Warren Heimall, Craig Kohlemeyer, Scott Denton
Compositors: David Hill, Andre Stringer, Tamir Sapir, Marco Giampaolo, Cassidy Gearhart, Noah Conopask, Stieg Retlin
Typography: Evan Dennis
Miniature Design: Willi Patton
Editor: Nathan Caswell
Sound Design: Dante Nou
Coordinator: Danielle Smith
Producer: Lindsay Bodanza

Music & Final Mix: Good Sounds (Amsterdam)

RELATED WEBSITES:
Burma Arts Board: www.noneofusarefree.org
Shilo’s portfolio site: www.wemakeitgood.com/article/live/burma
Shilo: www.shilo.tv