Great Ad: The Guardian’s “3 Little Pigs”

Terrific recent ad for the UK's Guardian. Like all news publications, it's looking to keep itself relevant during the digital age. But unlike many others whimpering their way to irrelevance, their ad team harnessed "show, don't tell" advertising principles to increase brand recognition and link meaningfully to current technologies. Especially well done: implants the #opennews hashtag effectively in your brain shows the Guardian as a fully-fledged community, Read more [...]

Fly That Rocket To The MOON

Admit it. You've always wanted to build a flying machine out of cardboard. Or tunnel through the center of the earth. Well guess what: we can make that happen. Zooppa and Red Bull are teaming up to make one crazy dream come true. In the biggest, boldest way you can think of, tell us your awesome idea. The grand-prize winner will get their idea made into reality, and get $5,000. Sound good? We think so. Red Bull: Dream Big video contest rules Your Read more [...]

MELANCHOLIA {The Movie, not the state of teenage occupation}

I’m trudging through this grey, woolly yarn. It’s clinging to my legs. It’s really heavy to drag along. I recently watched the new Lars Van Tier move, MELANCHOLIA. I am one for dramatic and romantic title-age. To deny my immediate rapture with all that is associated with drama and romance would be to deny the very perspective from which I write this piece. Counter-productive. I've wanted to see this movie (nay, FILM), since first reading that Kirsten Read more [...]

From Start to Finish, Producers Never Stop

So you want to make movies. That's great! You want to be a Producer. But what the heck does that entail? It's probably the most common question I've been asked and have asked myself over the years of working in film and video production. The producer is there from the very earliest stages of the project, all the way to the bitter end. - They find the script and work on obtaining the proper rights. - They typically put a "package" together with a proposed script, Read more [...]

Rated R for Ridiculous

If you’ve been to the theater lately, you’ve probably noticed what most of the money-makers have in common. Whether fighting alien cyborgs from outer space or just ourselves, it’s pretty hard to deny that movies today are violent. At the end of the day, one has to wonder when it became acceptable for Katniss and crew to try and kill each other for a PG-13 rating, while others are stuck fighting the review board for what seems like a lot less. I’m not knocking Read more [...]

Capture The World: One-Day Worldwide Photo Event

Hey there Zooppsters, We're very excited about this upcoming photography project organized by ADAY.org, and based on all the great work you guys create, we think this could be an excellent use of your skills demonstrated within the boundaries of a single image. On May 15th, ADAY.org is asking people from all over the world to participate in a still photography assignment that captures your daily life in one still frame, taken all on the same day! The goal is to Read more [...]

Weekly Roundup

Hi Zooppsters, We've had a busy week! How about yours? Are you glad it's Friday? Let's celebrate with a WEEKLY ROUNDUP! Contests Closing Soon Samsung Global Blogger: create a 30-second audition showing off your awesome, original and creative self. You could win the $5,000 Best Blogger Audition prize, special cash prizes just for your country, or the Grand Prize--tickets to London and the Olympic Games!  Closes Wednesday, May 2 at 3:59 PDT. Contests Read more [...]

The Age of Superheroes

Tingling spider-sense, regenerative healing factor, telepathy, morphing into a giant green fighting machine, who wouldn't want to possess one or more of these super cool powers? Although I don't see how turning into a Hulk would actually benefit you, mostly just ruin your clothes every time. In any case, we can't help but to have these fantasies surrounding the ideals of being a superhero in some way. And when it comes to stability in Hollywood, hero movies tend to be Read more [...]

Fundraising Made Easy!

OK, maybe not easy, but definitely accessible. And in order to fund a lot of your own projects you'll need viable solutions to raise that mystery money. Most of which can be obtained through the power of online funding platforms. Which is a whole heck of a lot easier than throwing on the old bathing suit for a local car wash, although a little sun wouldn't hurt. When it comes down to it, it's the business part of film-making, and even though most creative types want Read more [...]

IMAX could be Hollywood’s Ticket to Success

I was convinced 3-D was going to be the next big thing, I mean, who could deny themselves an awesome movie hangover inflicted by those fashionable thick-rimmed 3-D glasses. But it looks like IMAX has been trending up a storm since the appearances of Transformers and Spider-Man 3 (which totally should've been in 3-D!). Hollywood has found a bit of a hit when it comes to releasing films in the massive IMAX theaters, now totaling 425 across the nation and 325 that screen Read more [...]