Spy @ F5
Since its conception in 2009, Motiongrapher’s F5 festival aimed to design a conference that not only inspires but creates an environment where people can experience a collision of the minds. Pushing to change perspectives and explore new horizons, F5 structures its self on two days of presentations and performances, with the intent to enlighten, entertain and stimulate the senses.
This year’s festival went further and bigger than ever before. Held in New York and adapting the theme of “Happy F5”, the festival celebrated its birthday and those precious moments when we uncover something truly unexpected.
Two of Spy’s directors were amongst the few invited to speak at the event, held this past weekend.
Evan Silver, one of Spy’s newest directors, graced the stage on Friday and spoke about his approach to directing and the importance of searching for the emotions inherent in the story.
“Without relating a story to the viewer in an emotional way, they can never really connect with the piece or care about any of the characters. The story becomes one dimensional or all technique and no heart.” – Evan Silver
F5 screened the MTV’s Skins promo spot, directed by Silver this past year. Silver then related the spot to the some of the emotions and themes used to relate to teens, such as “love and jealousy, anger and teen angst, feeling controlled, and breaking free to become your own person”.
On Saturday, the festival welcomed acclaimed interactive directing duo Radical Friend to speak. Radical Friend, comprised of Kirby McClure and Julia Grigorian, spoke to the festival attendees about creating a religious experience with technology, spending time communicating your idea through writing, and mythologizing moments, as exemplified in Ambling Alp’s video they directed for Yeasayer. They went on to present their interactive video installation and performance piece, “The Digital Flesh”. The project was developed as a study for their upcoming film “To The Sirens”.
Evan Silver is Gold
Evan Silver has created some of the most talked about and forward thinking campaigns for MTV while working in their NY on-air promo department. It was at MTV where Silver refined his directing skills for comedy and performance while working alongside the likes of Jack Black, Michael Cera, Sarah Silverman, Aziz Ansari, Janet Jackson, Kristen Bell, Jennifer Lopez, Jeremy Renner, Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg and Alicia Keys.
Prior to MTV, Silver served as art director and writer at creative boutique agencies Kirshenbaum + Bond, Margeotes Fertitta and Partners, McCann Erikson, EURO RSCG, Wieden + Kennedy and Cliff Freeman.
Silver has received several top honors, including an Emmy nomination, and Gracie, Gladd, Imagine, Andy, Creativity, Telly, BDA and Promax Awards.
Evan’s first project with Spy was the Promo for the new MTV series Skins.
“Skins” takes an unflinching look at life as a modern teenager: sex, drugs and eating disorders galore. “Reverse Party” has already received over one million hits on Skins.tv, and has aired on most networks and in cinemas nationwide.
“…directing involves everything I’m passionate about; art, design, photography, fashion, storytelling and working with inspired, creative people-–from the actors to the agency to the crew.” – Evan Silver
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