Tony Babinski: What I do

Snack Box wins big at the Retail Design Awards

2012-01-17T13:49:00.000-08:00

The Snack Box project picked up three awards at the Retail Design Award's annual ceremony in New York City last night (January 16, 2012.) First Prize Innovation, First Prize Sustainability, and Best Store. Very nice! (I'm pictured at right holding the award backward, next to Michel Dubuc and Stephane Bernier of Aedifica.)

AJAX: Up and running

2012-01-13T03:22:00.000-08:00

Here's a great video about the Ajax Experience project. I was on this baby from the pitch through video content, and learned a lot working with gsm and the various Lees on it. As always, its incredible to see something leap off the page and take shape in the real world.

SID LEE ARCHITECTURE | The Ajax Experience from sidlee on Vimeo.

SNACKBOX New York

2011-11-18T08:40:00.000-08:00

I was recently hired by Montreal retail architecture company Aedifica to bring some creative direction to the branding and graphics of a new container restaurant that just opened in Times Square, next to the TKTS booth. "SnackBox,"a high-end street food concept, is the brainchild of acclaimed restaurateur Jonathan Morr, who worked with Montreal's Muvbox on the project. Check it out in when you're in NYC - the marshmallow shake is a stand-out.

IN THE COOLER

2011-11-03T07:16:00.000-07:00

This is a film I produced and "star" in, along with some real and very talented performers, based on some of my poetry, created with J.Jacob Potashnik a couple of years ago. After playing the festival circuit, it is ready for continued existence online.

Bell-One Night Under a Blue Sky

2011-10-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a wonderful event this was.

The Bell Gala - One Night Under a Blue Sky was a black tie gala dinner hosted by Bell in support of CAMH (Center for Addiction and Mental Health) at the Metro Toronto Convention Center on on October 11, 2011. I was invited in as Creative Director by my good friends at Circo de Bakuza, and enjoyed every step of the ride. The client was very supportive and ambitious (thanks Rick) and our team at Circo was working at peak efficiency. Not only were we encouraged to dream big, but we were enabled to pull it off without a hitch.

No small feat - the show was so big that we had to set up in a phantom rehearsal hall in a hangar near Pearson Airport for several days, to allow time for our crews to move into the MTCC on Saturday morning at 1:00 a.m. and begin loading everything in (at least, I think it was 1:00 a.m. - it's a all a blur.) Cast and crew = about 300.

The show featured Ballet Freedom from Kiev, the incredible fire troupe from France La Salamandre, and the angelic Zazi Trio from Holland, as well as some homegrown aerialists, gymnasts, dancers and models. All set to music by my soul brother Robert Marchand, who continues to outdo himself with every gig, and deftly directed/stage managed with warrior focus by the mighty Stefan Miljevic.

Well done everybody!

Conversational Capital in Polish

2011-09-27T14:23:00.001-07:00

Just got my hands on the Polish translation of Conversational Capital.

It joins the French, Dutch and Spanish translations of the English language original - though, given my family history, this one's kinda special.

He writes, he scores!

2011-09-13T11:12:00.000-07:00

My brother Bob just posted this clip from a documentary we created together a few years ago for Radio Canada - POINGS D'APPUI ("Connecting" in English.) It is about the boxer Otis Grant and his spectacular return to fighting after a near-fatal car crash. Bob developed and directed the film, and I wrote and scored it (the latter with Robert Marchand.) It was fun to watch this clip again - I had a particularly good time wanging away on the guitars you can just hear under the rest of the soundtrack.

Opening sequence ..Otis Grant's life story from Bob Babinski on Vimeo.

Full circle in Amsterdam

2011-07-04T04:55:00.000-07:00

I met Jacob Potashnik in 1985, while on my first job out of university. It was a film for Expo ’86 called TAMING OF THE DEMONS – a multi-screen affair for the Canadian Pavillion, directed by Emil Radok, a Czech pioneer in the genre, known for developing (with his brother Albert) the Lanterna Magica technique that combined live action with filmed subject matter. I was a Production Assistant, and Jacob, eight years older, was the Second Unit Manager.

Over the years, we developed a close friendship, and, in the 1990s worked closely together on the mtl-ART short films (see below on this blog,) as well as a couple of screenplays. We recently made another short film together (IN THE COOLER)

Our friendship has survived working so closely together. Back in those days, before Sid Lee, Cirque du Soleil, events, books, and the whole international trip started, it was often just down to him and me.

Recent years have seen us mostly doing our own thing. However, as coincidence would have it, we were both hired to work on a new project for Ajax, Amsterdam’s celebrated football (soccer for Americans) club. With Sid Lee Architecture and GSM of Montreal, I helped to create the “Ajax Experience,” a museum-like experience intended for fans of the team (think a more modern, Dutch NHL Hall of Fame.) Later, Jacob was asked to Line Produce the video content for the museum. And I was asked to direct it.

We have just completed the first phase of the Amsterdam shoot, reunited on a project not onlike TAMING OF THE DEMONS – interactive and educational film work for screens of various sizes, intended for a permanent installation. I wonder what Mister Radok, whom I admired so much, would have thought?

So, here are a few pictures from the gig, still in progress. There is a picture of me standing in front of where the Ajax Experience will be located, in a building opposite Rembrandtplein (“Square.”) Don’t judge the square by the drunken tourists who gather there at night! There’s a picture of Jacob inside the Experience, still under construction, but not such a long way from completion. And there is a shot of our shoot, some of it studio against green screen, with a great and welcoming Dutch crew. Last but not least, you can see some stills from our exterior shoot at The Tokomst (“To Come”) a training area for young and promising footballers. Our subjects that day were 9 or 10, incredible players who smoked every adult who dared to step on the field with them - young Amsterdam hopefuls who stood up to being interviewed on camera like old pros.

I liked Amsterdam a lot, its canals and low-rise beauty. As an urban cyclist since the 1970s, I am totally in awe at how bicycle transportation is integrated into the city. Coming full circle couldn’t have happened in a nicer place.

Onward!

Re-Imagining Moishes

2011-05-17T18:58:00.000-07:00

Yes, I work on a lot of big jobs for big international brands. But, sometimes, small is beautiful too. My new pal Lenny Lighter approached me some time ago about helping to breathe new life into his beloved brand - a Montreal institution since 1937, voted one of the top 10 steakhouses in the world by Forbes magazine. Over the last few months, we have upped Moishes' social media presence and re-engineered the consumer experience. The regular menu has been updated, and a new after 9 menu branded, introduced, and launched with a series of ads in a local alternative weekly. Last but not least, a beautiful renovation designed by Patty Xenos was launched last week. So far, consumer response has been tremendous!

Here are some new pictures by Stephane Cocke:

adidas GMM event

2011-04-21T11:12:00.001-07:00

I recently was involved in the creation of the semi-annual adidas marketing meeting with Sid Lee, production: Brandscape. Since the brand is now "all in," we presented a central stage with catwalks extending to three peripheral stages + lots of screens, so there was plenty of room for special guests, speakers, video and models, dancers, athletes, tumblers, etc... and the 360 degree set up meant everyone could feel close - to the action, and to each other!

Here are some photos from the rehearsal.

Events creation

2010-11-18T11:19:00.001-08:00

DIFF 2008

2010-11-18T04:05:00.000-08:00

In recent years, my work came off the page and screen and exploded into real, three-dimensional space when I began applying my knowledge of film, advertising, and the circus (scroll lower to see more) to event design and creation.

The biggest bang yet was at the 5th Annual Dubai International Film Festival. I was hired by Circo de Bakuza to create an opening live multi-media, multi-screen performance in a theater, an opening party on the beach facing the Burj Al Arab, and a closing ceremony event in a stadium out in the desert. An incredible trip!

Events Creation: Red Bull X-Figthers

2010-11-18T03:56:00.000-08:00

With Circo de Bakuza, we added a little sparkle to the 2009 Red Bull X-Fighters event in Calgary by creating a Stampede-inspired opening number and integrating a flame show that was particularly spectacular during the final wild ride.

Experience Design

2010-11-18T03:48:00.001-08:00

I am often asked to take part in developing "experiences," a loose term that can mean anything from a retail store to a museum to a hotel resort to a temporary village. Naturally, I work with architects, industrial designers, designers, and, as you imagine, the ratio of proposed experience to executed project is much higher than, say, website creation to website production.

Pictured here is a project that came together in a flash: with Stephane Bernier of Aedifica and Kris Manchester of Sid Lee, I conceived the poker rooms at both the Montreal Casino and the Casino Lac Leamy in Ottawa. The projects happened so efficiently that the Lac Leamy room was built and running before I even knew about it!

I love this stuff. It's one thing to have an idea and have it appear on paper or on screen. When you can walk into it and touch it, woah.

Conversational Capital

2010-11-17T19:50:00.000-08:00

Bertrand Cesvet of Sid Lee asked me to write a book with him about a how positive word of mouth can be engineered into consumer experiences. It ended up being a very fruitful and enjoyable collaboration, with Eric Alper joining in. It was published by Financial Times Press, and still has "legs" as far as I can see.

There are many videos featuring the authors, including this one. BTW, I directed these, too.

My director's reel

2010-11-17T19:42:00.000-08:00

About 5 years ago, CORPS (scroll down to end) was supposed to be my first directing job, but it ended up being my second. The week pior I ended up directing a series of comedy shorts for a corporate client. The afternoon we wrapped CORPS, I was on a plane to Las Vegas for job no.3

Lots of cool stuff followed on the heels of that first hectic hat trick. Here's a quick overview.

Tony Babinski Director Reel from tony babinski on Vimeo.

The Human Fly

2010-11-16T03:25:00.000-08:00

I have acquired the rights to The Human Fly, the world's first real superhero. He was a real life stuntman who appeared in super hero comics published by Marvel Comics in the 1970s. I am developing a feature film with my LA partners Steven Goldmann (who is directing) and Alan Brewer (Producer.) We are also in discussions to have the character reappear in comic book form. There's more - with the Fly, the sky's the limit!

Award Winning Advertising Creative

2010-11-16T03:13:00.000-08:00

I have done a lot of work as a writer and creative lead in the last ten years or so for Sid Lee, an advertising agency that is enjoying tremendous and well-deserved success. It is by nature a collective, so I would never want to lay personal claim for too much, but take a look at their portfolio at sidlee.com. adidas, Cirque du Soleil, MGM Grand... all brands I know well.

You can follow the link below to info about one award winner

Best of Show | Award Winners

Sid Lee's portfolio is at

www.sidlee.com

Cirque du Soleil: 20 Years Under the Sun

2010-11-15T18:30:00.000-08:00

This book came out in 2004, for Cirque's 20th anniversary. It was published by Harry N Abrams of New York. I had a ball researching and writing it, especially spending time with various shows and meeting so many interesting, creative artists. The project was part of what has become a long involvement with a company I've been lucky to get to know well.

Short Art films

2010-11-15T14:40:00.000-08:00

I began producing short art films in 1994. Over the years, with creative partners, I have scored them, performed in them, written them, and, more recently directed them. (Check the credits - many of the same names come up over the years.) Most films were created with my friend J.Jacob Potashnik under the "mtl/ART" banner.

They have all been broadcast (on Bravo! and Musique Plus in Canada) and have won awards at festivals. This has been work "from the heart." I had much more hair when I started!