Artifact is nearing the close of production on the pilot episode of The Adventures of Teddy P. Brains, produced by Fourth & One Productions. This new 3D children’s program follows a couple of kids on their knowledge-seeking missions through time and space. The show was modeled and animated by Artifact using Maya and a unique two-dimensional rendering style.
Artifact generated concept design, illustrations, 3D character models, sets, props and over 250 animations for an interactive language training program being developed by Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Speech, Inc. The project is aimed at young non-native English speakers, as a user-friendly way to interact with animated characters and learn vocabulary and grammar. The program is now being tested and implemented in school districts in several states.
Artifact created concept designs, characters, title sequences and complete animated scenes for Dino Don’s World, a children’s program in development. The show revolves around dinosaur expert Don Lessem and a gang of kids that go on adventures with him. To create a layered, retro look for the piece, we combined 2D and 3D characters with hand-drawn animation and cycles of hand-generated textures for backgrounds and sets.
Artifact was awarded a production grant to produce a documentary about the 110-year-old textile mill that houses our studio. The film consists of interviews with current tenants, who span the range from bookbinders to metalworkers to painters and musicians. The film also features a 3D model replica of the building which was generated in-house, and music by Sean Adamz, Jay Hill and Subliminal Orphans. The View From Amber Street will be broadcast on WYBE public television in late summer 2006 as part of the Philadelphia Stories series. The film was also shown as part of The Doc Shop at the 2006 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, and will be presented later this year at the Streets to Screens event organized by the Toronto Public Space Committee.
The Shock of Gray theater ensemble premiered their latest work, Smoke and Mirrors, in New York in the fall of 2005. Artifact documented the performance and created a promotional DVD for the group. The next staging of Smoke and Mirrors will be at the Woodstock Fringe Festival in late summer of 2006.
Artifact generated 3D models and animation for Violet Fire, a multimedia opera about the life and work of Nikolai Tesla. Animations included Tesla’s Wardenclyffe tower and several Tesla coils, which are projected on large screens during the opera’s performance. Violet Fire, whose Multimedia Director is Sarah Drury, will be presented by The National Theatre of Belgrade and the Tesla Museum in July 2006, as part of a celebration of Tesla’s 150th birthday. The opera will also be performed in Fall 2006 at the Next Wave Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Artifact created a series of animations based on children’s drawings for a video celebrating the Greene Street Friends School’s 150th anniversary. The video was produced by Disco Volante and Fourth & One Productions.
Artifact created a promotional video for S.H.R.O., focusing on its president, Dr. Antonio Giordano, a prominent genetic researcher who founded the organization as well as affiliate laboratories in Siena, Italy. Dr. Giordano was recently honored at a gala held by the Sons of Italy.
Artifact was awarded a production grant from The Jerome Foundation for a documentary about older women and HIV.
The documentary From Philadelphia to the Front, an Artifact Pictures co-production with producers Judy Gelles and Marianne Bernstein, has been touring the film festival circuit. Some highlights include :
:::::Warsaw Jewish Film Festival (Winner, 2nd place, Best Short Documentary)
:::::Palm Springs Int’l Festival of Short Films (Winner, Audience Favorite & 2nd place, Best Documentary Short)
:::::Vancouver Jewish Film Festival
:::::New York Jewish Film Festival
