Hoytyboy Pictures, a Bay Area-based commercial production company, has entered into an association with San Francisco animation house Little Fluffy Clouds. Per the agreement, the two shops will consolidate sales representation while sharing various production resources.
Among the benefits are Little Fluffy Clouds gaining expanded representation throughout the U.S. for commercials, and Hoytyboy adding to its live-action/mixed media toolbox, garnering access to the distinctive animation talent and resources at Little Fluffy Clouds.
Headed by director/designer/creative director Jerry van de Beek and producer/designer Betsy De Fries, Little Fluffy Clouds is probably best known in the industry for its animation for such blue-chip clients as Lexus, McDonald’s, IBM, Coca-Cola and Mainstay Investments.
Meanwhile Hoytyboy’s directorial roster includes company co-founder Steve “Spaz” Williams, Richard Kizu-Blair, John Kricfalusi, Rob Schneider and Robert Maya. Among the studio’s recent work are commercials for Toyota, Diet Dr Pepper, Juicy Fruit, AT&T and Sega.
Being part of the San Francisco production community, Hoytyboy principal/executive producer/co-founder Clint Goldman said he knew something about Little Fluffy Clouds from moving in the same circles.
“Animation serves a broad audience and Little Fluffy Clouds has this unique ability to stay contemporary by applying their rich, graphic-oriented animation in different areas.” said Goldman. “They have created two dimensional animation with 3D tools. Theirs is a very diversified toolbox. I’ve seen their work on TV over the years, not knowing it was their work until later. I sat up and really took notice of their campaign for McDonald’s. I love their style of design–it’s playful and believable. “
Little Fluffy Clouds had previously been associated with New York-based production house Curious Pictures for representation, Little Fluffy Clouds’ principals van de Beek and De Fries felt it was time to have an association with somebody a little closer to home and gravitated towards Hoytyboy.
“As a small company, collaboration is the key to survival especially given this economy, it gives you the best shot at successfully winning great work,” said De Fries. “We’re extremely creative in HD, not restricted to any one form of animation, we can do traditional cel or digital. The lines have been blurred because you post and render almost everything in the digital realm anyway. Both Jerry and I love Clint and like Hoytyboy’s approach of attacking a project soup to nuts.”
Prior to forming Little Fluffy Clouds in ’96, De Fries and van de Beek were at the now defunct San Francisco animation studio (Colossal) Pictures, a spawning ground for filmmaking talent. Van de Beek was an animation director on the (Colossal) roster while De Fries served as senior producer for new media and interactivity.
Peter Jackson Receives Honorary Palme D’Or As Cannes Boasts Star Power Despite Hollywood’s Retreat
The 79th Cannes Film Festival opened on Tuesday with politics, artificial intelligence and the shifting priorities of Hollywood taking center stage at the global film gathering on the French Riviera. The festival launched with a tribute to director Peter Jackson, handing the "Lord of the Rings" filmmaker an honorary Palme d'Or. He was introduced by actor Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins in Jackson's fantasy franchise, one of many notable faces on the Cannes red carpet, including Bong Joon Ho, Joan Collins, Heidi Klum and James Franco. "I've never figured out why I'm getting a Palme d'Or. I'm not a Palme d'Or sorta guy," said the shaggy haired New Zealand filmmaker. Jackson was then serenaded with a rendition of the song "Get Back," a nod to his lauded 2021 documentary about The Beatles. The director sat stage right mouthing the lyrics. Jane Fonda and the Chinese-Singaporean star Gong Li officially opened the festival, with Fonda declaring: "Cinema has always been an act of resistance." It was a fitting observation for a film festival that has already seen politics take center stage. At the introduction of the jury that will decide the Palme d'Or, Cannes' top honor, jury members spoke bluntly about holding a film festival during a time of geopolitical conflict. The Palme d'Or jury weighs politics in film Paul Laverty, the Scottish screenwriter known for his films with director Ken Loach, pointed toward this year's Cannes poster, of "Thelma and Louise," while discussing attending Cannes during what he called "genocide in Gaza." Quoting "King Lear," he said: "Madmen lead the blind." "Cannes has a wonderful poster," said Laverty. "Isn't it fascinating to see some of them like Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem and Mark Ruffalo... Read More