Tourism Australia today launched “Transformation”, a new advertising campaign being rolled out in 22 countries around the world. Baz Luhrmann, known for his movies Moulin Rouge and William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, was responsible for the television and cinema commercials set in New York, Shanghai and Western Australia.
Original music for the New York commercial, Billabong, was composed by Sydney composer and song writer Elliott Wheeler, from sound and music boutique Nylon Studios.
The music for the New York spot was composed and recorded within a 48 hour timeframe in early September. Film directors Baz Luhrmann and Bruce Hunt called Nylon Studios on a Friday night a month before the launch, asking for a demo to be completed by the following Monday. Elliott composed two pieces on the Saturday before recording them with a string ensemble from Sydney Symphony Orchestra on the Sunday morning.
Once the creative team had chosen one of the tracks further work included the addition of multiple layers of piano tracks to create a a signature sound for the main piano melody, and careful sound engineering and mix by Wayne Connolly. Encouraged by warm response to the soundtrack, Wheeler has written an extended version with lyrics recorded by Abby Dobson from Sydney band Leonardo’s Bride.
“We wanted to use strings, but not on such a scale that we’d be dictating to the audience what they were meant to feel, so in the end we went with a much smaller chamber ensemble. We put a lot of energy into finding a balance between the intimacy expressed in the dialogue, and the grandness seen in the cinematography.”
Who are the faceless people? Or rather, what on earth are they advertising? Spotted at Henley, at Wimbledon and at the start of Harrods summer sale. Might it be an ad stunt for cars? No I don't see the connection either - but whois says that http://www.facelesspeople.com/ is owned by Group Lotus Plc, Norwich, Norfolk United Kingdom. That's Group Lotus cars. Wonder what "True Character" will be revealed in 19 days. That car better be good looking as hell after a stunt like that, ya'll.
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wtf? I fail to see how that will sell cars, but I DO want one of them masks. I'm going as a faceless person on Halloween.
Side note, it appears that I have angered the spam-trap-widget. Please fix for me dab.
Fixed for ya. How odd, I see no reason for that comment to be marked as spam but the spamtrap 'learns' and we've had so much spam recently (that y'all never see) so perhaps it's just gotten a bit too strict. I'll tell it to ease up a little. ;)
Here they are at Harrods. Looking creepy. I wonder what Kim thought of those guys.
CREEPY. I don't get it. If this is indeed a ploy to launch "Project Eagle" (a car already quite hyped but yet to be revealed) what's the faceless droid thing really mean? You're personality-less until you buy an expensive car?
I think it's more dodgy than that. It's the car you've not see, therefore you've not seen it's face.
I could well be wrong. And, as has been mentioned already, I want one of those masks too. That'll freak out the gangs in my neighbourhood.
Nope, it's just slightly different; you've not seen it's true character (so says the site) and the true character of someone is shown in their face.
I don't think so, I reckon someone's true character comes from their actions.
Anyway, I want the mask. :)
Yeah, me too actually. :) Also, so far I've only gotten to see this little bit from Project Eagle.
Darn it, I commented too many times in a row, or in quick succession, so now I'm spam.
:(
I post and then the other comment appears! Dab, thanks for being superhuman on the repost! Or is my computer lagging?
I jumped in and fixed the one marked as spam. Sorry. The anti-spam-widget is now on a time-out for misbehaving.
They're getting a lot of press attention. Here are some more linkies to faceless people theories:
Lotus' faceless ad campaign
Faceless people hit London, may sell cars
Faceless Spectators At Wimbledon Making Spectators With Faces Uncomfortable
Some have suggested that it's "anonymous" (the anti-scientology folks) or Dr Who as well. Check the source of facelesspeople.com and you'll find "new SWFObject("swf/main.swf", "Project Eagle"" about half way down.
Countdown now says seventeen days left. CAN'T WAIT! And the car? Oh I think it'll be awesome judging purely on this sneak-peek.
aaaah, well that might be a sexy car. Even if it currently is a faceless car. ;P
I first time I saw the faceless effect was on Doctor Who. The episode was called The Idiot's Lantern.
A few more videos of the faceless people.
Henley regatta - faceless people out in a boat.
At the Harrods opening again;
I agree, I want a mask! They might make more profit selling the masks than the cars.
Faceless people wearing suits and ties? Add a fedora and it could have been The Question - or The Blank from Dick Tracy.