Azhur Saleem

Hyundai Puppets featured on The Reel

Azhur — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:44:38 +0000

Hyundai Puppets has just been featured online on The Reel.

You can view the direct link here: http://www.thereel.net/video/latest/742826747

Work completed on Hyundai Puppets

Azhur — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:54:54 +0000

I recently completed a job for Hyundai and Microsoft Advertising, a small online doc called Hyundai Puppets. Part of the New Thinkers Index campaign, the aim was to come up with an idea to highlight new thinking, new possibilities and this film set out to see if we could do just that by combining puppeteering with car design.

We enlisted London based puppet design company Folded Feather and gave them two weeks to design and build the large-scale puppets using only car parts. They also had to work towards a live performance for Hyundai staff at the Hyundai Design HQ in Offenbach, Germany.

Have a look at the results below! Then take a moment to check out the New Thinkers Index and see the other films in the campaign.

AGENCY: Microsoft Advertising
CLIENT: Hyundai Motors
CREATIVE: Azhur Saleem
PRODUCTION: Irresistible Films, London
DIRECTOR: Azhur Saleem
PRODUCER: Harry Burnett Rae
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Matthew Cooke
EDITING HOUSE: Irresistible Post, London
EDITOR: Craig Dennis
COMPOSER: Lennert Busch

Hyundai Puppets

Azhur — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:59:20 +0000

Part of Hyundai’s New Thinkers Index, this campaign is about new thinking and new possibilities.

For this short documentary we follow puppeteering group, Folded Feather as they are set the task to build two large-scale puppets using only car parts. They have only two weeks before a performance at the Hyundai HQ in Germany.

newthinking.uk.msn.com/

A new filmmaking photoblog on Tumblr for 2012

Azhur — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 13:00:02 +0000

Here’s something new that I’m doing for 2012 which is a photo specific feed of all my filmmaking. I wanted a place to have everything together, so even though they’re all on Twitter and Facebook etc this is a site that people can check out and see what I’ve been up to.

Follow along here.

B3 TalentLab pitching showcase at BAFTA

Azhur — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:05:22 +0000

Last Tuesday was the final day of the B3 development scheme, TalentLab, that I have been a part of for the past six months. Supported by BBC Films and Skillset this was a pitching session in front of 40 film industry people.

The whole scheme has been fantastic. My project has been a science-fiction feature which through development completely changed into a different idea! I believe this has only made the project stronger and over the next few months I’m going to continue developing the idea, along with getting some concept artwork made up to help sell the finished idea.

The pitching session was insanely stressful, exciting and totally adrenaline fuelled. I don’t know what’s more nerve-wracking, sat in an office with one person or a roomful of people. Both are performances and both you’re faced with poker faces. I guess with a roomful of people, I got the impression that some want to see where the idea goes and how it develops before dipping their toes in.

Other than that there was some great interest in the idea and myself and the five other great filmmakers involved have a final follow up meeting with the BBC in January.

As the idea develops and concept artwork starts coming in I’ll start sharing it on the site and twitter. Be great to get people’s feedback along the way.

TalentLab approaches showcase

Azhur — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:57:44 +0000

For the past few months I’ve been on the TalentLab scheme run with B3 Media and BBC Films. Six of us have been working on our separate projects and we’ll be showcasing them to an audience of industry people later in November.

My idea is a low-budget science fiction feature and will be giving more details once the pitch is done! In the meantime I’ve got to get back to work!!

Here’s the B3 Media posting:

This year’s TalentLab participants have been developing their projects with B3 Media and BBC Films; they will be pitching the projects as they stand to a host of industry executives in development, production, finance and distribution, at BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly on Tuesday 22nd November. Details on the talent and their projects to come.

TalentLab is an innovative creative development programme produced and developed by B3 Media in association with BBC Films and supported by Skillset. Over the last few months, the programme has been developing a slate of cross-platform projects ranging across online, drama, documentary and animation.

The Find secures international distribution

Azhur — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:51:14 +0000

The Find has secured international distribution with Shorts International. This is a great opportunity for the film to reach a much wider audience around the world. Here’s some more info about Shorts International:

Shorts International is the world’s leading short movie entertainment company, functioning as distributor, broadcaster and producer.

With a catalogue of over 3000 short movies, we represent every genre across multiple platforms. Our titles include past Oscar® winners and nominees, festival favourites and revered classics. Through our theatrical distribution efforts, we bring the annual theatrical release of The Oscar® Nominated Short Films to theatres across the US and Canada. The event is now a firm fixture in the release schedules and in 2011 grossed over $1.3 million at the US box office for the first time.

I’m very excited to find out where the film will screen. In the meantime check out the new 30 second trailer here.

New spec commercial

Azhur — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 19:04:00 +0000

I recently shot a spec commercial with DP Malte Rosenfeld. Our aim was to create a simple perfume ad and shot it in only four hours on the Canon 5D.

Enjoy!

Spec Perfume Commercial

Azhur — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 20:36:18 +0000

This is a test commercial for showreel purposes only. This is in no way endorsed by the brand.

Shot on Canon 5D

DOP: Malte Rosenfeld
Make Up: Jenna Wade

Model: Abi W

60 sec version

30 sec version

B3 TalentLab commission!

Azhur — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 12:25:14 +0000

I’ve made it through to the final selection for the B3 TalentLab I’ve been a part of for the past month!! After two rounds of development and script feedback, my feature is one of six projects that has been selected and commissioned for further development.

The next stage involves shooting a short teaser/promo of the film (much like I did for The Marionette Unit) that captures the atmosphere and tone of the film and hints at the story that will unfold in the feature.

Run by B3 Media, Skillset and BBC Films, this is an amazing opportunity and I’m so pleased to be a part of this scheme.

Later in the year our promos will be showcased to industry professionals and then the chance to make the feature itself.

The next few months are going to be extremely busy and I look forward to sharing my new feature idea with everyone.