News
‘Overlast’ release September 8
The wait is over! Since early August this year, Pathé cinemas around the Netherlands have been screening their animated short film project, ‘Ultrakort’. Made possible with the help of the Dutch Film Fund, this program gave four directors the opportunity to screen their miniature movies prior to the commencement of full-length features. And now, voilà! ‘Overlast’, the two and a half minute wonder by our animation director extraordinaire Han Hoogerbrugge, will start screening before the brand spanking new ‘Conan the Barbarian’ feature as of September 8. One ticket please….
Andre van Duren guest speaker at the ‘Evening of the Commercial’
Our multi-award winning commercial director Andre van Duren is, literally, all over the Netherlands Film Festival this year. His name will be inked throughout the programme since his feature film ‘De Bende van Oss’ has been selected to play on the opening evening on September 21 AND he’s got a guest speaking stint at the Festival’s ‘Evening of the Commercial’ event on September 29. Boasting a client portfolio that features Albert Heijn, Unilever, Unox, CocaCola, Citroen and Nestlé (we could go on…), it’s easy to see why, right?
Submarine Channel collaborates with Playgrounds Festival
Too much of a good thing? Pfft – Not possible! Thankfully, iconic Tilburg based Playgrounds Festival agrees. Collaborating with Submarine Channel, this digital arts convention is beefing up the good times by adding a extra day in Amsterdam on top of its regular 2 day affair. On October 5, the ‘Playgrounds vs Submarine Channel’ event will feature talented motion graphics and animation peeps like Encyclopedia Pictura, Physalia, Tokyoplastic and David Wilson presenting their ideas and inspirations. Tickets are limited so scoot on to playgroundsfestival.nl/tickets and get purchasing!
We’ve got Noud Holtman on the team!
Yes sir, we know how to pick ‘em! Award-winning documentary director Noud Holtman is joining the crew and with 15 years of experience in directing, we’re pretty sure there’s nothing this guy can’t do…his documentary ‘The Sixth Maestro’ is being released on DVD across 3 continents and his experimental short films ‘Samuel, Condemned to Braces!’ has been screened at film festivals across the world. On top of all this, he’s recently been working on some pretty nifty commercial projects. At the risk of sounding smug, let’s just say we’re pretty happy to have him onboard…
Interactive directing team Theo and Emily joins Yellow
More new recruits! If there’s one thing we love more than a fresh thinking creative director, it’s two fresh thinking creative directors working together and here they are: Theo and Emily. Yup, they’re with us now and this interactive directing team are combining slick design and precise sensory motion to create characters and environments that have everyone jostling for a turn in front of the screen. Between them we think the possibilities are infinite, but the coolness rating? Immeasurable!
‘Ultrakort’ program leader released August 3rd
A quadruple animation combination? It’s not a tongue twister, it’s a summertime cinema highlight! Pathé cinemas around the Netherlands will commence screening four short animation films over the course of the summer, forming the ‘Ultrakort’ program. From August 3rd, the introductory leader for the series will be launched and will unveil the four short animated gems that have all been funded by the Dutch Film Fund (Nederlands Filmfonds) and Pathé cinemas. How’s this for a double whammy: not only was the leader created by our animation/interactive star Han Hoogerbrugge and produced by Submarine, he also directed one of the animation films in the series. Kaboom!
Mirka and Nina get on board with Yellow Submarine
Like ABBA at a roller disco, or a cherry on a sundae, we’re serving up the perfect pairing. Directing duo Mirka Duijn and Nina Spiering are sending hearts swooning with their dreamy collection of works to date. International Film Festivals are smitten (Rotterdam AND Cannes!) and the Dutch Film Festival had them up for an award. Rich and aesthetically pleasing motion graphics, commercials and music videos created with meticulous art direction and styling is just their thing. Mmmm… delightful!
André Bergs nominated for Cartoon d’Or 2011
Spring might be well and truly over, but our very own André Bergs should be doing some cleaning and making some room on his mantelpiece in anticipation for a big night in September. His short feature animation ‘Pivot’ has been one of six animations nominated for the Cartoon d’Or 2011 – the European award for best animated short film. A tale of cat-and-mouse set in urban streetscapes, ‘Pivot’ was made in conjunction with il Luster Productions. The winner will be announced on September 15 in Sopot, Poland – we think a Cartoon d’Or would be a handsome addition above the fireplace, alongside his Golden Calf award from the Netherlands Film Festival…
De Bende van Oss – Andre’s feature thriller will open Netherlands Film Festival.
De Bende van Oss (Sigma Pictures) – the handiwork of our esteemed gentleman director Andre van Duren – has been selected as the opening film for this year’s Netherlands Film Festival. A.k.a the premiere happens on September 21st in Utrecht followed by movie theaters nationwide from September 29th. The film harks back to Holland’s cinematic 1930’s and gives us a fascinating peek into the oft-overlooked criminal underworld of the Netherlands (yes we DO have gangsters– real hardcore ones too, if you must know).
Intrigue! Love! Deceit! David Verbeek’s new feature…
Following his explosive oriental successes with Yu-Lan, and Shanghai Trance, David Verbeek’s fourth feature Club Zeus is a sumptuous cinematic masterpiece that follows the intricacies of life as a boy toy in a Chinese “host” club for ladies. Set in a Blade Runner-esque, Chinese metropolis, the film addresses the illusion of romance, emotion, and friendship in a dystopic world of artificial human connections. Coming to a cinema near YOU (if you’re in Netherlandish) on June 9th. It’s beautiful!
Interactive badboy Sander van der Vegte Joins Yellow
Ooh aren’t we lucky duckies?! As of right about NOW, we are graced with none other than Sander van der Vegte – the revered, self-taught megabot who brought us multiple award-winning, multi-platform fun times with Rocket Riot and Gatling Gears. Counting code, art and sound among his very favorite things, he is the sort of obsessive compulsive most agencies can only dream of signing…. Sigh / swoon / hurray (in equal measure).
Alzheimer Experience Web Launch
Submarine just launched the Alzheimer Experience online and the response has been overwhelming – way beyond our expectations. Directed by our feature film darling Paula van der Oest it is a web experience that immerses viewers in the devastating inner world of the degenerative condition Alzheimer’s. An intuitive, character-led interactive navigation guides viewers through the confusion and shame of this ubiquitous disease as experienced from multiple perspectives – one sufferer, and the people closest to her. Impeccable acting and dramatic direction guide the story, while professional expertise can be accessed at any time during the experience, without interrupting the narrative flow. A proud addition to the Submarine studio interactive repertoire.
New viral by our cleverest Fow Pyng Hu!
Yellow Submarine rising star Fow Pyng Hu just dropped his first viral for Netherlands Online Film Festival – and it’s electro-boogie-tastic! Featuring a host of Dutch high-glamour A-listers throwing crunk-shaped moves in a series of ever-diminutive digital screens (plasma > iPad > smart phone > you get me), it announces the call for submissions for the 2011 edition of NOFF. Now in it’s sixth year, the online sidekick of the prestigious Dutch film calendar highlight, once again teams up with YouTube to select and award the best in digital shorts from the Netherlands and beyond. We feel a warm swell of Yellow pride to be a part of this fandango. Deadline for submission (should you be thus inclined) is August 15th. Crunkalot!
Paula van der Oest’s Black Butterflies = Box Office Magic
Our hallowed Yellow Submarine directress Paula van der Oest has a new feature movie out featuring Holland-grown Hollywood stalwart Rutger Hauer and Tom Cruise’s BFF Carice van Houten. The biopic Black Butterflies, follows the rebellious, free-spirited life of South African artist Ingrid Jonker during the apartheid era, as she struggles with the wranglings of her jaded heart and is increasingly confronted by political and personal distance from her right-wing minister father. The critics are ALL OVER this movie, and rumour has it you will be too. Ding ding!
Collapsus wins SpinAward for Best Interactive Video Concept!
As if an SXSW Award for Best Interactive TV/Film wasn’t enough, Yellow Submarine hotshot Tommy Pallotta just bagged another trinket for his mantelpiece with his transmedia epic Collapsus at the prestigious SpinAwards, Amsterdam’s annual fest of bleeding-edge interactive geniusity. The (somewhat clever) jury concurred that Collapsus breaks new, mind-boggling ground as a leading light for the industry of interactive storytelling. Couldn’t agree more ladies and gents of the jury, couldn’t agree more! And finally: Collapsus became the first Dutch production to be nominated for a Digital Emmy – but was pipped at the post during the award ceremony in Cannes last week by BBC web drama series Shankaboot. POW!
Collapsus and When I am King selected for South by SouthWest
Smashing news just in from the Land of the Free! Tommy Pallotta’s pioneering transmedia experience Collapsus has been selected for the highly prestigious 14th annual SXSW’s Interactive Awards. And what’s more, the pyro-tastic, stop motion music video for When I am King by our resident Norwegian Sverre Fredriksen will be screened there too as part of the festival’s hotly-anticipated music video program. Hot hot hot!
Yellow Submarine welcomes Fow Pyng Hu and Han Hoogerbrugge.
We are proud to announce the addition of two new sublime directors to our line-up in 2011. One of them is Fow Pyng Hu, known for his irresistible humor and charm, with a topical focus on transient identities in contemporary culture. With his broad background across diverse creative genres we look forward to harnessing his fresh take on new storytelling formats. The second is Han Hoogerbrugge, the veteran Dutch artist who’s simple, wry fascination with human complexity and unique manipulation of new media possibilities, make him a welcome leading light in the Yellow Submarine stable.
Andre Gets Going with ”De Bende van Oss”
Andre van Duren will start shooting his feature thriller ”De Bende van Oss” in March 2011 (produced by Sigma Pictures/Matthijs van Heijningen). Set in 1930s smalltown Holland, it follows the story of Johanna as she attempts to regain control of her life by breaking free of the criminal underworld in. But the harder she tries, the deeper her involvement in criminal activities seems to get. Sylvia Hoeks will play the lead flanked by cast-mates Frank Lammers and Theo Maassen. With these Dutch superstars on board and a gripping storyline scripted by van Duren and his collaborator Paul Jan Nelissen, we’re excited for September 2011 when the film will premiere at Netherlands Film Festival.
When I am King wins Audience Award at Shoot Me Festival
Hippity hip hoo-rah! Star Sverre Fredriksen won the audience award for best Dutch music video at the Shoot Me festival in The Hague for his pyrographic (mm-hmm ) “When I am King” amazingness. We thinks he might need to install himself a new mantelpiece; the vid has also been selected for the Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film, Red Stick Animation Festival, St. Louis International Film Festival and the short film festival in Berlin. Festivals a go-go!
Collapsus selected for IDFA’s Doclab
Tommy Pallotta’s brand new transmedia production “Collapsus” has exploded onto the internet, like a veritable energy crisis on heat. After wow-tastic presentations at the Open Video Conference in New York and Power to the Pixel in London, it’s now been nominated for the Green award at the Sheffield Documentary Festival – AND will be presented at IDFA’s rather marvellous DocLab new media program. Collapsus is new media pioneer Tommy Pollotta’s newest offering and signals a new experience in storytelling that combines interactivity, animation, fiction, and documentary. Go to www.collapsus.com or watch the walk through by the man himself.
Sverre Fredriksen joins our stable
The fresh-faced Norwegian megabot who created our beloved YellowSubmarine ident is now officially represented by us too – and we’re pleased as punch! With his unique brand of homespun animation – as demonstrated in the viral hit of a video clip he made for Dutch indie rocker Tim Knoll – he adds a distinct je ne sais quoi to our growing roster of resplendent digital do-a-lots. Welcome Mr Fredriksen!
Ghost Robot joins YellowSubmarine
We’re super-excited to announce the addition of Ghost Robot, one of New York’s leading creative studios, to our stable of talent here at YellowSubmarine. With a dynamic body of work which spans music videos, spots, and film – and an enviable client list, from hipster band Grizzly Bear to high-brow intellectuals at the New York Times, everything they make is eye-poppingly delicious. We’ll be representing them exclusively for the Benelux region, and we’re gosh-darned proud of it!
Mentos commercials on air!
May 21st 2010
Our series of two spots for Mentos, purveyor of the finest minty gums, just hit the screens. It’s all about that handy array of little pots: there’s one for your every whim – ensuring maximum freshness at all times, plus guaranteed protection from the dangers of your pockets, handbag or car interior. For our very first veritable cross-media production, we threw in a fancy website for good measure. Get a glimpse here. So fresh! Directed by David Verbeek and produced by YellowSubmarine for the agency NineThirty
Oum Kalthoum tribute for Holland Festival
May 20th 2010
Just dropped this charming little homage to the late Egyptian megastar Oum Kalthoum, celebrated for her powerful, emotive voice and striking beauty – even now, three decades after her death. The spot plays on the universal appeal of Kalthoum’s inimitable music, and the language of song to transcend cultural barriers. Oh and it’s kinda funny too!
Stop Motion music video for Tim Knol
May 19th 2010
Sverre Fredriksen just dropped the music clip for When I Am King by Dutch indie rocker Tim Knol. A uniquely textured, warm and highly original visual concept was created using pyrography (soldering onto wood) and stop motion averaging about five hours of work per second shown. The clip has become an instant internet classic, with rave reviews across the board and viral reach.
R U THERE selected for cannes film festival
May 3rd 2010
David Verbeek’s R U There has been selected for the prestigious program Un Certain Regard at this year’s next Cannes Film Festival. This category is part of the official competition of the festival, and focuses on films that are original and distinctive. R U There (filmed in Taiwan) features a young professional gamer, played by Stijn Koomen (Tussenstand), who travels around the world to play in videogame competitions. The real world holds no appeal for him; he lives his life in virtual reality, where he is fully in control. When he witnesses a serious accident in the street, his life is shaken up and he begins to doubt the certainties of his existence. Produced by IDTV Film and VPRO and co-produced by Petites Lumières (France), with support from the Netherlands Film Fund. R U There will be released in the Netherlands on June 17 2010, by the Eye Film Institute.
Release Collapsus (directed by Tommy Pallotta)
April 17th 2010
www.collapsus.com
Collapsus aims to raise awareness regarding our imminent transition to alternative energy resources in the coming decades, introducing the audience to the potential opportunities, threats and difficult questions that will arise from this revolution. With fictional characters, existing documentary footage, archive material and interactive features, the audience is treated to an exhilarating and revolutionary online experience. Developed by SubmarineChannel, in collaboration with the Dutch broadcaster VPRO.
Tommy Pallotta Creative Producer YellowSubmarine
April 5th 2010
“My Interest in marketing came from my interest in filmmaking. The films I have made are generally made outside of the studio system in America and don’t benefit from the large marketing machinations of the distributors. How to get my movies noticed led me to viral marketing and advertising. After the release of A Scanner Darkly, Warner Brothers took notice of what I had done with that film and hired me to consult for marketing looking primarily at emerging technologies and trends. I conducted viral campaigns which included social networking, directing viral spots, and creating communication systems to aid in press outreach. After my first animated feature I directed some animated music videos that caught the attention of an ad agency. They contacted me directly and I directed a national (US) campaign that included television ad as well as the print “look”.”