You can still hear an American twang in Mr+Positive founder, Peter Grasse’s, voice. He was born in the US and now lives in Japan. But after living and working in Australia for so long he is – by nature, network and in his heart – a thoroughly Australian ex-pat and that shows in Mr+Positive’s work. Grasse’s work interweaves the production genius of Japan with the creative genius of AUNZ.
Mr+Positive has nine shortlist spots in this year’s Ciclope Asia awards, many with Australian and New Zealand creators. That places it second in the production company tally. Not a bad effort either for its first year in business or for Australia’s reputation as a creative supercell in the region.
- Tokyo Dry, Slice of Heaven (x3): Casting, Styling & Location (Goodoil. Director: Joel Kefali. DDB New Zealand)
- Big W, Dad Joke, Father’s Day Promo (x2): Writing & Low Budget: (M&C Saatchi)
- Recognition for Creative Victoria: Styling
- Broods, Everything Goes: Music Video
- OFX: Low Budget
- Musashi by Aman: Low Budget
Tokyo Dry: Casting, Styling & Location:
“This spot, produced by Goodoil and directed by Joel Kefali, is the perfect example of all the good things that happen behind the lens reflecting in the final film,” Grasse stated. “The filmmakers were fun creative people, and so were the musicians…As is the city it was filmed in. The cast and location really are the film and how they are styled is genuinely who we want the cast to be. For us as the production service company, this film really shows what we can do in Tokyo (as does our recent Guinness Spot, eligible for next year’s Ciclope Asia). I only wish there was a Ciclope category for adapted music, because that’s also gold.
Dad Joke:
“This is a Cinderella story. Matt Hardie is an actor who directs. Like every new director, he asked me how to get his foot in the door. I told him that he could do a dozen go-sees, and not get asked to write a treatment. Or, he could write a dozen treatments and never win a job. So, instead, he should just write something someone wanted to make – which he did. Producer, Matt Reeder, and I laughed and said, “Go for it”. The end result, which Matt made with his friends, was a well-crafted top shelf spot worth shopping around. Luckily Michael Canning & Brendan Donnelly saw its worth and got Pete Campbell to work hard to get it on air – which they did at M&C Sydney. Now it’s a finalist. Now that’s +Positive!!”
Recognition:
“This is Mr+Postive director, Helen Clemens’, epic culture fashion journey for The Victorian Government, filmed in Hong Kong. The overall styling & design is unique and totally wow. I love this collision of everything, and it’s so very Helen.”
Broods:
“This is by my most favourite Mr+Positive young director, Sam Kristofski. Is Sam still young? Well, he is in comparison to me. I actually tried to enter this in editing, but couldn’t. His videos are simply silly genius, cut to a beat. The video that Sam did with The Pond here in Japan is my all-time favourite.
Aman:
This is for Aman Hotel Tokyo’s new sushi restaurant. I had a meal at Jiro Dreams of Sushi a few years back, and it was the worst meal of my life. Musashi was the best, and so I wanted the world to know it with an even better film about Sushi by an even better director, Mr+Positive’s Connor Gilhooly.
OFX:
This simply tellis the story of the artist, Motoi Yamamoto, and his poetry of salt. It’s a passion project done with very little budget on the back of a clever little spot for OFX written by Joy Sydney and produced by Hogarth. His work is beautiful and after experiencing it, it’s hard not to be inspired to share it with the world. I entered it in Production Design, which I thought was really its category. Yet, low budget is still very +Positive.
You might also like
