June 24, 2008

The Syndicate Wins BDA Awards

Santa Monica, Calif. - Creative design and digital production studio The Syndicate was recognized at the 2008 Promax|BDA International Conference competition with two Silver BDA Awards. The Syndicate's branding and design group, DesignWorks, won the awards for its NASCAR "Countdown" for ESPN in the Sports Open category and for "You are Here 2" for Six Flags in the On-Air Commercial Advertisement category. The BDA Awards are regarded as one of the highest accolade for creative professionals in the broadcast design industry.

DesignWorks at The Syndicate recently won a Gold Clio Award for their work on the Freixenet short film, "The Key to Reserva," which was directed by Martin Scorsese.

"Countdown" is one of three different 30-second films in the NASCAR package for ESPN. These were entirely produced by The Syndicate, from initial concept through live-action direction, visual effects, motion graphics, logo design, telecine, and digital delivery. ESPN offered creative freedom to DesignWorks creative director, David Hwang, whose original concept set the visual premise for the package; Hwang also directed the live-action sequences. Luke McDonald, who also provided on-set supervision, supervised visual effects while digital effects were designed and supervised by Minory Sasaki.

"You Are Here 2" is the second of a multispot commercial and branding package for Six Flags, the theme park company. The ad campaign, which focuses on water park rides in the award-wining spot, broadens Six Flags' brand focus on family entertainment. In a collaborative partnership with The Zimmerman Agency, The Syndicate's managing director Kenny Solomon and live-action director Ben Grossmann, developed a total branding package, from concept and design through live-action production and extensive visual effects. The Syndicate's Luke McDonald was visual effects supervisor.

Solomon says, "All of us at The Syndicate and DesignWorks are so proud to have received two Silver BDA Awards. We share them with our clients, ESPN and Six Flags, who made us their creative partners and gave us the latitude to bring all of our core strengths into play."

The BDA Awards were presented at the 2008 Promax|BDA International Conference in New York on June 19.