Press Release

Artist-owned-and-operated effects company Brickyard VFX expands its
work for Volkswagen from visual effects to end-to-end creative
direction with 14 short feature films to promo the 2006 Volkswagen (VW)
Passat. VW and advertising agency Arnold Worldwide tapped Brickyard VFX
as one of a handful of production entities to conceive and produce the
clever and artsy 15-second films, each of which focuses on one of the
features of the new "beyond-loaded" Passat. The Volkswagen Passat
Feature Films Project has been rolled out via www.vw.com and
traditional broadcast media.
Brickyard conceived and produced 14 of the 120 feature movies in the
campaign. Brickyard VFX additionally handled final finishing of all 120
shorts to ensure consistent treatment of VW logos and type.
The features promoted in the Brickyard-produced films range from
"chrome-tipped dual exhaust pipes"(a double-flute player springs to life
from an illustration on an ancient urn) to "impact-deformable steering
wheel" (a hapless cartoon man gets hit with a metal bar that conveniently
conforms to his head). In the film "vented disc brakes," a paper cut-out
giraffe roller-skates through a whimsical landscape, stopping on a dime to
avoid running down a mouse.

The complexly-named "form-hardened, stamped steel anti-intrusion side door
beams" is illuminated in a nod to Ray Harryhausen with frustrated monsters
trying to break a medieval door that's securely barred.
Brickyard VFX worked with numerous artists to complete the work, which
was creative-directed by Brickyard founder Dave Waller. Arnold's brief
required utilizing a wide variety of production styles, so Brickyard
was
able use cell animation, stop motion and practical models as well as
live
action enhanced with CG effects.
"When Amy Favat of Arnold and her team handed us this project, we had a
hard time containing our excitement because it was one of those dream jobs
where we were given a ton of leeway on every aspect," Waller said. "The
result is a less polished but more pure form of storytelling. We rekindled
some old friendships with freelance artists in the U.S., Canada and England
and motivated the staff here in Boston and Santa Monica."
Independent animators Gabriel Polonsky, Mark Frizell and Bryan Papicak were
integral to implementing the animations. Keith Hamm and the Brownlee
Brothers were tapped as live-action directors. To view Brickyard VFX's work
on the features, follow the link to:
www.vw.com/passat/passat_mini_landing/
minisite/vw_passat_06.html.
Brickyard VFX has completed visual effects on spots featuring the VW Jetta
and Touareg, and last year worked on the Sundance ad film "the check up,"
promoting VW's Phaeton.
www.brickyardvfx.com
To view any of the 120 films go here.