Boston University CDIA Student Production Runs on Sci-Fi Channel

It looks like a top-notch high budget commercial production.

Wow! Could a school really have done this? That’s what they say about the recently completed 30 second TV commercial for The Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University (CDIA). The unique spot was a student practicum production. It promotes the school’s full and part time 3D animation, visual effects, design, digital filmmaking and photography certificate programs. The mixed media spot combines 3D animation, live action, a unique photo pixilation technique, visual effects and an original sound track. It looks like a top-notch high budget commercial production. It will air this fall on the Sci-Fi Channel network.

CDIA instructor Gabriel Polonsky led the student team directing, designing, and writing the spot. He worked with the students exposing them to the commercial production process. The students created all the 3D Maya animation and After Effects elements and helped co-design the spot with Polonsky. “I was extremely impressed with their level of skill, talent and professionalism. I think I may have learned as much from them as they did from me,” says Polonsky, an Emmy nominated Boston based Animation Director, Designer, and CDIA Instructor. In addition, digital film and photography students also worked on the project.

The surrealistic spot opens in black and white with a bored gothic style college student using a computer. We zoom into her brain as she imagines colorful swirling particles forming a 3D animated world. She walks down the dream like street searching for a place to learn digital imaging and finds a 3D animated CDIA building. We zoom into the classroom where we see live-action shots of students creating high-end Maya animations. One student gets sucked into a black hole in outer space as we zoom back out of the girls mind. She is now in the classroom smiling colorfully, ecstatic that she has found her new career path at CDIA!

Bob Daniels, founder and Executive Director of the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University stated, “This student practicum demonstrates that the future looks bright, both for us as a school and in terms of the improved tools available to make high quality animation and films. As more digital imaging tools like High Definition cameras and software become more affordable and enter the marketplace, we’ll work them into the curriculum so our students continue to graduate with knowledge of the latest tools and techniques.”

The CDIA spots are directed, designed, written and co-produced by Gabriel Polonsky and produced by Howard Phillips. 3D animation, After Effects and co-design are by Imer Diaz, Colin Greenhill, Pat Collins, and Mike Scheffer, starring: Kerri Olson, Donna, Selassie Alleyne, Colin Greenhill, Imer Diaz, Amy Corrigan. The editor is David Bigelow. Audio production is by Kook Lowery and Doug Stevens. Live Action DP: Mark Wuerthner. Pixillation photography: Gabriel Polonsky, Amy Corrigan, Chroma key by Mark Thompson. Voice talent is by Alex Whitehead and Gabriel Polonsky. Production Assistants are Bob Eason, Karen Hunter, Phil Crawford, and Selassie Alleyne.

The Center for Digital Imaging Arts (CDIA) at Boston University allows students to express their creative vision and turn it into a practical reality. Whether they are novices looking for an exciting career or seasoned professionals seeking to expand their talents, CDIA at Boston University offers extensive, hands-on training in today’s advanced digital imaging arts with certificate programs in digital photography, filmmaking, 3D animation, visual effects, game art & design, and graphic & interactive design. CDIA’s certificate programs give students skills they need to be successful and is led by world-class instructors, who are practicing experts in their fields, and backed by the resources and reputation of Boston University’s internationally renowned College of Communication.  

For additional information, visit www.cdiabu.com.