HOT HOUSE: Searching For Mr. Wonderful? Try Looking In New York

By Edith Lennon

December 1, 2006    Source: Studio Monthly

Something "wonderful" happened in the summer of 2005: Mr. Wonderful arrived on the New York effects scene. But Beirne Lowry, creative director, and Damien Henderson, executive producer, the driving forces behind the design, animation and visual effects boutique, say the moniker has nothing to do with them. "We wanted a name that’d immediately give wearers of our T-shirt a new nickname," says Henderson.

What's Their Gig

Lowry and Henderson first met at BETSY, a division of Betelgeuse Productions, where they discovered a shared aesthetic sense. "We teamed up because we had a similar philosophy, and we liked working together— the rest of the crew just showed up and never left," says Henderson. Describing how the two make magic together, Lowry adds, "We come up with ideas and solutions and things you haven’t thought of before."

Behind the two principals is a team of staff designers and freelancers that are organized by project. "We’re all a little bit military-fatigue/two-day-growth, mixed with a sprig of mad professor and a spot of tea. But we get our work done," says Henderson.

That work includes network redesigns, show packaging and all kinds of visual effects for clients such as Versus (formerly OLN), CBS News, MTV, ABC, CBS Sports (they’ve won two Emmys for their Super Bowl opens) and advertising agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi and KaplanThaler.

The Cool Factor

Catchy names for T-shirts aside, Mr. Wonderful says it’s not about gimmicks and will never simply chase the latest fad. "We prefer making stuff by hand over racing to the computer," says Henderson.

One recent project, an HD redesign for NHL coverage on Versus, proves his point. The company began by constructing model rinks and role-playing with modified hockey action figures. After determining how they moved and choreographing the story, they did a mo-cap shoot with real players. They then sketched a stylized 2D arena, complete with a live-action silhouette background plate, and staged a dramatic game-clinching moment that transitions perfectly to the real game.

Mr. Wonderful has been "working furiously" to renovate an old work boot factory for a new space, where they expect to hang their hats early this month. "Once our new studio is done, we’ll have a bright, open flowing space that’s great for collaboration— and radio controlled cars," says Henderson. "We’re all about traveling and hitting flea markets, and always trolling for new inspiration. We’re tactile people at heart and we want to work with interesting materials— in real, live 3D."

The Geek Factor

In addition to the "garden variety" state-of-the-art tools, Mr. Wonderful’s creative arsenal includes some interesting accessories, like balsa wood, Christmas lights, Linoleum, old action figures, Plasticine, wood-paneling, even an XBox 360. Their out (way out)-of-the-box problem-solving approach has been enthusiastically embraced. "Our clients trust us," says Henderson. "And we approach everything with a fresh eye. We listen carefully to what our clients need and then open ourselves up to receiving inspiration wherever it might come from."