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The Heat and White House Down

Posted on June 28, 2013 by skulkaew

The Heat

Sarah Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) is a hotshot FBI agent who’s utterly incapable of relating to other people. Though supremely competent, she’s resented around the office and forced to endure overt condescension. Her boss, Hale (Demian Bichir) thinks that her lack of social skills might stand in the way of a promotion, so he sends her off to Boston to track down a drug kingpin but also see if she can work well with others. It’s there that she meets Boston PD officer Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthy), a take-no-prisoners cop who works the streets in a uniquely hostile way that terrifies even her superiors. They couldn’t be more incompatible.

But when they join forces, they become the last thing anyone expected: buddies.

Alonso Duralde of The Wrap writes, “Looking back at Sandra Bullock’s career, it appears that she’s at her best when she’s got a co-star who keeps her on her toes. McCarthy shines here, matching her physical prowess with a genius for verbal comedy, bringing out the Oscar-winner’s best. There probably won’t be a funnier movie this year.”

**One of the Bravo guys, Daniel Arriola, saw The Heat at CinemaCon back in April and calls it a guaranteed success. He doesn’t usually watch comedies but laughed throughout the movie.**

Rating: R // Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime // Runtime: 1 hr. and 57 min. // Starring: Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Demián Bichir, Marlon Wayans // Directed by: Paul Feig // Written by: Katie Dippold // Produced by: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Chernin Entertainment, Dune Entertainment // Distributed by: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

White House Down

John Cale (Channing Tatum) is an employee of the US Capitol Police assigned to guarding the Speaker of the House. With aspirations of one day becoming a Secret Service agent tasked with protecting the President of the United States, James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx), Cale manages to wrangle an interview at the White House.

Unfortunately for him, the person he has to go through is Carol Finnerty (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a woman scorned. Once upon a time, she and Cale had dated. Unwilling to break the bad news to his daughter Emily (Joey King), Cale takes her on a conveniently timed White House tour. It’s when a group of terrorists led by Emil Stenz (Jason Clarke) commences an assault on the White House, that the Capitol Police officer is called upon to save the day while trying to keep his daughter out of danger.

Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times writes, “White House Down is a hoot and a half, a shameless popcorn entertainment that is preposterous and diverting in just about equal measure. With action so continuous and so convincingly photographed by cinematographer Anna Foerster– it rarely leaves you the leisure for mature reflection.”

Rating: PG-13 // Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller // Runtime: 2 hr. and 11 min. // Starring: Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal // Directed by: Roland Emmerich// Written by: James Vanderbilt // Produced by: Mythology Entertainment, Centropolis Entertainment, Iron Horse Entertainment // Distributed by: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing

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Man of Steel

Posted on June 14, 2013 by skulkaew

With his home planet of Krypton in shambles after a coup initiated by the rebellious General Zod (Michael Shannon), Jor-El (Russell Crowe) has no option but to send his son to Earth. It’s there that the infant child is taken in by the Kents (Kevin Costner and Diane Lane). As he grows into a young man, Clark (Henry Cavill), quickly realizes that he’s different than his human peers but must decide what to with the enormous responsibility associated with his extraordinary powers.

When General Zod arrives on Earth seeking to destroy the super being, his home and anyone that gets in his way, Clark is forced to come to terms with his past.

Dave Calhoun of Time Out writes, “Man of Steel feels both modern and traditional – a halfway house between the broodier Christopher Nolan [writer and producer] way of shaking things up and the louder, bone-crunching style that director Zack Snyder established with films such as 300 and Sucker Punch. Man of Steel is punchy, engaging and fun.”

Warner Bros. pictures group president Jeff Robinov predicts that Man of Steel will be the studio’s highest performer ever topping Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 at $1.34B. Based on current tracking, Man of Steel is expected to open somewhere between $85M – $100M.

If you haven’t seen the Man of Steel website, there are bonus videos, galleries, a glyph generator and a couple seriously addicting Flash games. Check it out.

Rating: PG-13 // Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy // Runtime: 2 hr. and 23 min. // Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Russell Crowe // Directed by: Zack Snyder // Written by: David S. Goyer, Christopher Nolan // Created by: Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster // Produced by: Warner Bros., Legendary Pictures, Syncopy, DC Entertainment, Third Act Productions // Distributed by: Warner Bros.

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The Internship

Posted on June 7, 2013 by skulkaew

Billy McMahon (Vince Vaughn) and Nick Campbell (Owen Wilson) are out-of-work salesmen whose careers have been torpedoed by the digital world. Trying to prove they’re not obsolete, the two reinvent themselves, earning their way into a coveted internship at Google. Gaining entrance, however, is only half the battle. Facing a battalion of brilliant college students, Billy and Nick must compete with the nation’s most elite, tech savvy geniuses to prove that necessity really is the mother of reinvention.

Scott Foundas of Variety writes, “This big-hearted underdog comedy from director Shawn Levy is, much like its two leads, exceedingly affable and good-natured.” HSX predicts that The Internship opens at $24M this weekend.

Rating: PG-13 // Genre: Comedy // Runtime: 1 hr. and 59 min. // Starring: Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, John Goodman, B.J. Novak // Directed by: Shawn Levy // Written by: Vince Vaughn, Jared Stern // Produced by: Twentieth Century Fox, Regency Enterprises,Wild West Picture Show 21 Laps, Dune Entertainment // Distributed by: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

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After Earth

Posted on May 31, 2013 by skulkaew

In a dystopic future, humanity is forced to resettle on a planet called Nova Prime after a series of cataclysmic events threatens mankind’s existence on Earth.

Cypher Raige (Will Smith) commands a peacekeeping organization known as the Ranger Corps where his son, Kitai (Jaden Smith) is a cadet with aspirations to follow in his father’s footsteps. Frustrated at what he perceives as a lack of discipline, Cypher, at the behest of wife, takes Kitai on a mission to Earth. When the ship is damaged, a crash landing kills every passenger with exception to father and son but seriously injures Cypher.

It’s up to Kitai to recover an emergency beacon and signal for help by embarking on a perilous journey across a hostile environment filled with dangerous creatures that have continued to evolve in the absence of humans and now dominate the planet.

Drew McWeeny of HitFix.com writes, “It’s lovely to see something that is sincere, thematically focused, and that ultimately works in a way I didn’t expect.” HSX predicts that After Earth will earn around $44M in its debut weekend.

Rating: PG-13 // Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi // Runtime: 1 hr. and 40 min. // Starring: Jaden Smith, Will Smith, Sophie Okonedo // Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan // Written by: Gary Whitta, M. Night Shyamalan, Will Smith // Produced by: Columbia Pictures, Overbrook Entertainment, Blinding Edge Pictures // Distributed by: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing

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Epic and The Hangover III

Posted on May 24, 2013 by skulkaew

When teenager Mary Katherine (Amanda Seyfried) loses her mother to illness, she is forced to go live with her eccentric father, Professor Bomba (Jason Sudeikis), a crackpot inventor completely obsessed with the idea that a community of miniature people exists in the forest.

Though initially skeptical, MK is magically transformed, in a chance encounter, into a tiny person by Queen Tara (Beyoncé Knowles) and tasked with saving the world of Moonhaven and its Leafmen inhabitants from falling into the evil hands of Mandrake (Christoph Waltz) and his army of Boggans.

Epic takes its inspiration from William Joyce’s book The Leaf Men and the Grave Good Bugs. Stephen Holden of The New York Times writes, “As you watch its characters zoom through a lush forest on the backs of hummingbirds, the gorgeous 3-D adventure comedy Epic suggests a warmer, fuzzier Avatar, with a green heart. Directed by Chris Wedge, the movie is a hymn to nature rendered in phantasmagoric detail as refined as anything I’ve seen in a computer-animated family film.”

HSX is predicting that Epic takes in $38.5M this weekend.

Rating: PG // Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family // Runtime: 1 hr. and 42 min. // Starring: Beyoncé Knowles, Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Amanda Seyfried, Christoph Waltz, Aziz Ansari, Chris O’Dowd, Pitbull, Jason Sudeikis, Steven Tyler // Directed by: Chris Wedge // Based on the “The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs” by: William Joyce // Screenplay by: Tom J. Astle, Matt Ember, James V. Hart, William Joyce, Daniel Shere // Produced by: Twentieth Century Fox Animation, Blue Sky Studios // Distributed by: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

The Hangover III

It’s been two years since the last Hangover movie, and three-quarters of the Wolf Pack have settled down: Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Doug (Justin Bartha) are happily living uneventful lives at home. But still lacking a sense of purpose is the group’s black sheep Alan, who has ditched his meds and given in to his natural impulses.

Or at least he does so until disaster strikes.

In the aftermath of a personal crisis, the Wolf Pack convinces Alan to check into a psychiatric treatment facility by promising to drive him there themselves. Things start to go wrong en route when the group is assaulted, and Doug is kidnapped by a gang of masked thugs led by crime-boss Marshall (John Goodman).

Now the one person that can help them is Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong), their partner in crime who inflicts as much trouble on them as is humanly possible.

Joe Neumaier of New York Daily News, “A hysterical crowd-pleaser, director Todd Phillips’ wild ride through the mind of the American guy that lopes easily from epic set-pieces to male rite-of-passage shenanigans.” HSX is predicting that The Hangover Part 3 earns $67.7M

Rating: R // Genre: Comedy // Runtime: 1 hr. and 40 min. // Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, , Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, John Goodman // Directed by: Todd Phillips // Screenplay by: Todd Phillips, Craig Mazin // Produced by: Green Hat Films, Legendary Pictures // Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

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The Great Gatsby

Posted on May 9, 2013 by skulkaew

The Great Gatsby follows Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) as he leaves the Midwest in search of the American dream in the spring of 1922. A would-be writer of modest means, Nick rents a small house in West Egg next door to the mysterious self-made millionaire Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan) and her husband, Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton). Anyone who’s anyone attends Gatsby’s extravagant parties where the booze flows (despite a ban on alcohol better known as prohibition) and excess is realized.

It’s only after Nick and Gatsby become friends that we learn that Daisy was Gatsby’s sweetheart before he was sent off to war and all that he’s done since, he’s done for her. Gatsby wants to believe he and Daisy can rewind the clock to a better time when the two were in love with one another. “If I could just get back to the start,” he says. But as Nick reminds him, “You can’t repeat the past.”

Lou Lumenick of the New York Post writes, “Leonardo DiCaprio makes a splendid, Oscar-caliber Gatsby, capturing the dark side behind his affected bonhomie as no actor has done since Alan Ladd in 1949, and he’s perfectly abetted by Tobey Maguire’s hard-drinking Nick. The Great Gatsby stands out like a beacon in a sea of silly blockbusters.”

The film will be distributed in standard, 3D and RealD formats, and HSX predicts that it will take in $37M in its 3,500 theater wide release this weekend. For downloads; additional trailers; TV spots; galleries and a very cool guide to style, check out the official The Great Gatsby website.

Rating: PG-13 // Genre: Drama, Romance // Runtime: 2 hr. and 23 min. // Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carry Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke // Directed by: Baz Luhrmann // Based on the Novel by: F. Scott Fitzgerald // Screenplay by: Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pearce // Produced by: Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures, A&E Television, Bazmark/Red Wagon Entertainment // Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

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Key Art & Print Production

Posted on April 22, 2013 by skulkaew

They’re everywhere: on billboards and buses, in your morning paper and on the sides of both buildings and blogs. Jules Cheret, a French painter and lithographer, is credited with creating the first movie poster in 1890 for a short film called Projections Artistiques. And for more than 100 years, movie posters have been used to fill seats in theaters around the world by piquing curiosity and, other times, by bewildering.

But what is key art?

Key art is the main image, or images, used in movie marketing that distill a movie by branding it towards a particular target audience, and, sans the trailer, it’s the first interaction potential moviegoers will have with a film. As a graphic design agency that specializes in movie ad production, our aim is to create ads that engage, inform and, most of all, entice viewers to want to watch the film. Title treatments are designed to accompany the aforementioned along with quotes, tag lines and billing blocks, the last being part of a legal requirement. From conception to completion, design is a collaborative process involving creative direction, art direction, copywriting, photography and then production. Once a department finishes their work, it’s passed down the line, so the next department or vendor can fulfill their project obligations.

When it comes to print production here at the Bravo Design studio, we determine the best method of execution and produce comps and/or mechanicals based on concepts drawn up either here or through our affiliates, maintaining consistent file preparation suitable for mass production by publications or vendors, the last of which is done when we receive client approval. The final product can take the form of newspapers and magazines ads, standees, displays, one sheets, banners, billboards or anything of the like.

Here are some of our favorite projects from the last year or so:

To see more, check out our portfolio.

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Observations From CincemaCon 2013

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Daniel Arriola

Cinemacon 2013 marked the National Association of Theatre Owners’ third annual convention, a four-day summit at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, and Bravo Design, Inc.’s first. And despite a sluggish first-quarter at the box office, one of the biggest takeaways from the conference is that 2013 will be another huge year for the movie industry. To back up just a tiny bit, 2012 was a record breaking year for the box office with domestic revenue at an unprecedented $10.8 billion and worldwide numbers at around $35 billion. And though 2013 has started off with a slow first-quarter at an estimated $1.75 billion in domestic box office receipts, we’re confident that this year will be one for the records.

At CincemaCon, each major motion picture studio was allotted time to present their slate of upcoming movies, including blockbusters and a few potential over-achievers. Movie stars and filmmakers accompany studio executives on-stage to present a trailer, extended footage or sometimes a full screening. It’s clear from the footage shown that it should be a massive summer and rest of 2013 at the box office.

Disney will open Iron Man 3 unchallenged on May 3rd, followed by Warner Bros. which will continue another successful year with The Great Gatsby on May 10th. The rest of the year looks just as strong. A few of the following films may cross a billion dollars such as The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, but the rest are just as likely to please both audiences and studios.

Star Trek Into Darkness – May 17th (Paramount)
The Hangover Part III – May 24th (Warner Bros.)
Epic – May 24th (Fox)
After Earth – May 31st (Sony)
Man of Steel – June 14th (Warner Bros.)
Monsters University – June 21st (Disney)
World War Z – June 21st (Paramount)
The Heat – June 28th (Fox)
White House Down – June 28th (Sony)
The Lone Ranger – July 3rd (Disney)
Despicable Me 2 – July 3rd (Universal)
Pacific Rim – July 12th (Warner Bros.)
Grown Ups 2 – July 12th (Sony)
Turbo – July 17th (Fox-Dreamworks)
R.I.P.D. – July 19th (Universal)
The Wolverine – July 26th (Fox)
The Smurfs 2 – July 31st (Sony)
Elysium – August 9th (Sony)
Prisoners – September 20th (Warner Bros.)
Gravity – October 4th (Warner Bros.)
Captain Phillips – October 11th (Sony)
Thor: The Dark World – November 8th (Disney)
The Counselor – November 15th (Fox)
The Wolf of Wall Street – November 15th (Paramount)
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – November 22nd (Lionsgate)
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – December 13th (Warner Bros.)
American Hustle – December 13th (Sony)
Monuments Men – December 18th (Sony)

CinemaCon attendees were treated to full screenings of Michael Bay’s Pain and Gain (a little long but surprisingly very entertaining), Fox’s comedy The Heat, starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy (a hilarious pairing, well worth seeing), and Disney-Pixar’s Monsters University (another successful Pixar film with the usual mix of great storytelling, excellent animation, humor and warm-and-fuzzies). All of the films were screened with Dolby Atmos, the latest in sound technology, which you can feel not only in your ears but throughout the rest of your body as well. You can’t get this level of surround sound at home.

One of the most intriguing panel discussions at CinemaCon concerned the Chinese market. The importance of the worldwide box office to a film’s success is nothing new, but China is a unique and ever-growing piece of the international pie. It is now the second biggest consumer of films behind the U.S. and on pace to become the biggest box office in the world by 2020, but the market is very complex as outlined by Peter Y.F. Chan of Ernst & Young.

China is no longer just a producer of inexpensive products but a major consumer of global goods. The state-run China Film Group places complex regulations on film studios looking to release movies in the Chinese market and even when an edited version of the film is released, the percentage of revenue studios are allowed are much lower than in other markets. Historically speaking, the average Chinese consumer is extremely price sensitive and hasn’t grown accustomed to paying for content across the board.

Although difficult to develop, Chan recommends forming domestic partnerships or joint ventures to tap into local expertise to better understand Chinese culture, its sensitivities as well as assist in navigating through the difficult regulatory landscape. With over 350 million online video viewers, Chan recommends considering a digital distribution model as the Chinese become more open to paying for content on the small screen.

As marketers who frequently work with major motion picture studios to aid in the release and advertising of their films, CinemaCon was a valuable experience in getting the perspective of theatre owners and also considering solutions for connecting them with regular and passive moviegoers. Each market is unique, making it imperative to understand local communities and determine what mix of films, theatre technology and general atmosphere will attract moviegoers. If you are a theatre owner looking to grow your audience contact us here.

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42: The Jackie Robinson Story

Posted on April 11, 2013 by skulkaew

In 1946, Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) was launched to forefront of history when legendary Brooklyn Dodgers GM Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) signed him, breaking Major League Baseball’s infamous color line making both men the object of public derision. Facing unabashed racism from every direction, Jackie was forced to demonstrate both courage and restraint. In a famous exchange between Jackie and Rickey, Rickey asked Jackie if he would be able to face racial animus without incident. Aghast, Jackie asked, “Are you looking for a negro who is afraid to fight back?” Rickey responded that he needed a negro player “with guts enough not to fight back.” Instead, Jackie, #42, let his talent do the talking, ultimately winning over fans, silencing his critics and paving the way for others to follow, in the end, proving that one man’s life could have a profound influence on American culture. 42, the movie, takes its title from Jackie’s uniform number — which the MLB subsequently retired across the league to mark the 50-year anniversary of Robinson’s first game in 1997.

David Germain of the Associated Press writes, “With an earnest performance by Chadwick Boseman as Robinson and an enjoyably self-effacing turn by Harrison Ford as Brooklyn Dodgers boss Branch Rickey, 42 hits every button you expect very ably. It riles with its re-creations of the heartless, ignorant racism to which Robinson was subjected. It uplifts with its depictions of Robinson’s restraint and fortitude. It inspires with its glimpses of support and compassion from teammates and fans.” HSX predicts that 42 will earn around $17M in its opening weekend.

To watch additional trailers, download media and enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win prizes (including a PS3) visit the official 42 website.

Photos by Warner Bros. Pictures and Elite Daily.

Rating: PG-13 // Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport // Runtime: 2 hr. and 8 min. // Starring: Chadwick Boseman, T.R. Knight and Harrison Ford // Directed by: Brian Helgeland // Written by: Brian Helgeland // Produced by: Warner Bros. Pictures

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Evil Dead

Posted on April 4, 2013 by skulkaew

Mia (Jane Levy) invites two friends – Olivia (Jessica Lucas) and high school teacher Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci) – along with her big brother, David (Shiloh Fernandez), and his girlfriend Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore) to accompany her out to her family’s cabin deep in the woods as she tries to kick a drug habit cold-turkey. There, Eric finds a mysterious flesh bound Book of the Dead filled with horrific illustrations, mysterious symbols and directions not to read aloud anything that appears in its ancient pages. Unfortunately for all parties involved, Eric discards caution by the wayside awakening a familiar demon for a new generation of young victims.

John DeFore of the Hollywood Reporter writes, “True to the essence of its predecessor, the high production values and nonstop action offered here should also please younger genre fans who’ve never bothered to rent it. Evil Dead delivers satisfyingly disgusting effects that serve an ever-accelerating action pace and exposes the demons at its core.”

HSX predicts that Evil Dead will earn around $20M in its opening weekend.

Rating: R // Genre: Horror // Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min. // Starring: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas, Elizabeth Blackmore // Directed by: Fede Alvarez // Written by: Fede Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues // Produced by: FilmDistrict, Ghost House Pictures, TriStar Pictures // Distributed by: Sony Pictures Entertainment, TriStar Pictures

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The Croods

Posted on March 21, 2013 by skulkaew

The Croods is a prehistoric animated comedy-adventure that follows the Crood family, led by their patriarch Grug (Nicolas Cage). While his neighbors have succumbed to the perils of their time, Grug has kept his family safe by living in a state of constant fear, sticking to simple mantras etched into their cave walls. His credo is: “Fear keeps us alive. Never not be afraid.”

But despite the writing on the wall, their world is literally crumbling down around them when tectonic plates shift, and the family become homeless. Amid thick vegetation and new predators, they meet Guy (Ryan Reynolds) who warns of imminent destruction that propels our protagonists on a quest towards higher grounds, which may prove difficult given that the Croods aren’t used to being so vulnerable.

Christy Lemire of the Associated Press writes, “The animated adventure features a strong, star-studded cast and dazzles visually in wondrously colorful, vibrant 3-D. Brisk and beautiful, much of the lush landscape and vivid details propel these stronger segments.” HSX is predicting that The Croods opens at around $42.5M; FilmGo is anticipating upwards towards $47.5M.

Rating: PG // Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy // Runtime: 1 hr. 38 min. // Starring: Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone // Directed by: Kirk De Micco, Chris Sanders // Written by: Kirk De Micco, Chris Sanders // Produced by: DreamWorks Animation // Distributed by: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

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The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

Posted on March 14, 2013 by skulkaew

Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) are a successful pair of old-school magicians who have been performing magic tricks together since they first teamed up as kids to entertain their classmates and have subsequently ruled the Las Vegas Strip, raking in a fortune with illusions as big as Burt’s growing ego. Their greatest deception, however, is their public friendship as the two have secretly grown to loathe one another. The straw that critically injures the figurative camel comes when Anton is, literally, critically injured by Burt during one of their performances, resulting in the two parting ways.

It’s only when Burt is overshadowed by a popular street-magician named Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), whose cult-following surges with each outrageous stunt (e.g., not blinking and/or urinating for days on end), that he must convince Anton to return to the act, so he can salvage his title – as well as their friendship – and get back in touch with what made him love magic in the first place.

Shaun Munro of Whatculture.com writes, “Even if all the beats unfold exactly as you expect, it’s the film’s quirkily unrestrained sense of humor that sees it through, from the cartoonish exaggeration of the characters to the ludicrously overblown nature of the tricks themselves. It’s clear that everyone working on the project is having a lot of fun, and this transpires through to the audience. It’s got a clever undercurrent running through most of the humor, though its foremost concern is to beguile with its off-kilter nature.”

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone is opening tonight, Thursday the 14th, with special 10pm screenings. HSX is predicting that the film will earn around $18M in its debut weekend at 3,100+ theaters. For a hilarious gallery of TV spots and stills from the movie, check out the official homepage linked above where you can also “Wonder-fy yourself” by inserting a picture of your face onto any of the Burt Wonderstone posters.

Rating: PG-13 // Genre: Comedy // Runtime: 1 hr. 40 min. // Starring: Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin, Jim Carrey // Directed by: Don Scardino // Written by: Chad Kultgen, Tyler Mitchell, Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley // Produced by: New Line Cinema, Benderspink, Carousel Productions // Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

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Jack the Giant Slayer

Posted on March 1, 2013 by skulkaew

Based on the folk tale Jack the Giant Killer, Jack the Giant Slayer is the story of Jack (Nicholas Hoult), a young orphan-farmhand who reignites a war that has spanned centuries between humans and giants over a crown we may or may not have taken from them [we did] and the giants’ subsequent banishment. The only thing is that the giants live somewhere between Earth and heaven, and there isn’t really a way for people to go up or the giants down, so it’s not a war in its most traditional sense.

Enter Jack.

Having been given some magic beans by a monk after selling his horse, he’s explicitly warned not to get them wet. Unfortunately, a single bean gets dropped during a storm, and a giant stalk sprouts in nanoseconds taking Jack’s love interest, Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson) up to the giants’ world. Not only do Jack and Elmont (Ewan McGregor) have to spearhead the rescue expedition whilst protecting Isabelle from plus-sized giants, they have to take on one particularly terrifying two-headed monster, General Fallon (Bill Nighy).

Claudia Puig of USA Today writes, “With deftly etched computer-generated imagery, the film looks like an illustrated storybook come to life. The tale is engaging, running circles around January’s dreadful Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters and other recent fairy-tale adaptations.” HSX is predicting that Jack the Giant Slayer earns about $28M in its opening weekend.

Rating: PG-13 // Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy // Runtime: 1 hr. 54 min. // Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor // Directed by: Bryan Singer // Written by: Darren Lemke, Christopher McQuarrie, Dan Studney, David Dobkin // Produced by: New Line Cinema, Legendary Pictures, Original Film, Big Kid Pictures, Bad Hat Harry Productions, Warner Bros. Pictures // Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

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The 85th Academy Awards

Posted on February 25, 2013 by skulkaew

Congratulations to our friends at Warner Bros. Pictures, along with the cast and crew of Argo for their three wins last night in the categories for best adapted screenplay (Chris Terrio), achievement in film editing (William Goldenberg) and the evening’s top honors for best picture (Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck and George Clooney) at the 85^th Annual Academy Awards.

Over the course of the last several years, Bravo Design, Inc. has had the opportunity to collaborate with the marketing and creative services departments at WB on advertising for three best pictures winners: Million Dollar Baby (2004), The Departed (2006) and Argo (2012). We’re absolutely thrilled to have had the opportunity to be a part of something loved by so many.

Once more, congratulations. We hope this is the third of many.

A few ads we produced this award season in conjunction with WorksLA, Concept Arts and Refinery.

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A Good Day to Die Hard

Posted on February 14, 2013 by skulkaew

John McClane (Bruce Willis) is back in the latest installment of the Die Hard franchise, A Good Day to Die Hard, where he travels to Russia to help his seemingly wayward son, Jack (Jai Courtnery), who unbeknownst to him is an undercover CIA operative working to arrange the defection of a well-connected whistleblower and political prisoner, Yuri Komarov (Sebastian Koch). Komarov claims to have a file with incriminating details on high-ranking government officials but is, inconveniently, being jailed on trumped-up charges, so it’s up to the two McClanes to team up, protect Komarov from being and recover the file.

Peter Debruge of Variety writes, “A surly papa bear determined to protect his endangered cub, this expendable, action-packed sequel works like gangbusters, giving the new Dolby Atmos super-surround system (debuted on Brave) a real workout. Things go bang, the McClanes get their share of battle scars and the trauma of it all proves the perfect bonding experience to heal old wounds.” HSX predicts that the newest Die Hard film will rake in somewhere between $38M-$43M in its 3,500 theater wide opening.

To see Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation’s “Ode to Destruction,” check out the official Die Hard website.

Rating: R // Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller // Runtime: 1 hr. 37 min. // Starring: Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney, Sebastian Koch // Directed by: John Moore // Written by: Skip Woods, Roderick Thorp// Produced by: Dune Entertainment, Ingenious Film Partners, Origo Film Group, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation // Distributed by: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

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Bullet to the Head

Posted on February 1, 2013 by skulkaew

In Bullet to the Head, Sylvester Stallone plays Jimmy Bobo, tattoo-enthusiast and hitman for hire. When his partner, Louis (Jon Seda), is murdered by former mercenary, Keegan (Jason Momoa), Bobo will stop at nothing to exact vengeance. In what would seem like an unlikely duo, he teams up with D.C. Detective Taylor Kwon (Sung Kang) who, not so coincidentally, has been dispatched to investigate the death of his own partner. Brought together by two savage murders, Bobo and Det. Kwon prepare to take on anyone and everyone who stands in their way, putting everything on the line to exact revenge.

Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter writes, “Like the amped up comeback tour of two rockers who had their heyday sometime in the mid-’80s, Sylvester Stallone and director Walter Hill (48 Hrs., The Warriors) join forces delivering tons of kinetic wham-bam fight sequences and LOL one-liners and dishes out 90 minutes of old-school mayhem.”

To see additional trailers and find movie tickets, check out the official Bullet to the Head website for more information.

Rating: R // Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller // Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min. // Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Sung Kang, Sarah Shahi, Christian Slater, Jason Momoa // Directed by: Walter Hill // Written by: Alexis Nolent (Graphic novel “Du Plomb dans la Tête”), Alessandro Camon (Screenplay) // Produced by: Dark Castle Entertainment, IM Global, Millar Gough Ink/EMJAG, After Dark Films // Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

https://vimeo.com/bravodesignince

Broken City

Posted on January 17, 2013 by skulkaew

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Broken City tells the tale of Billy Taggart (Mark Wahlberg), an ex-NYPD cop turned private investigator who, as a member of the force, had a promising career until the moment he was involved in a controversial shooting. Stripped of his badge, but kept out of jail, the story picks up seven years later when he’s hired by Nicholas Hostetler, the Mayor of New York City (Russell Crowe) to follow his wife, Cathleen Hostetler (Catherine Zeta Jones). What seems like an easy payday rapidly spirals downwards when Taggart uncovers a web of corruption and realizes all too late that he’s become entrenched in a much bigger scandal. Unfortunately for him, it quickly becomes clear that the mayor isn’t exactly who he seems to be, and for the private eye to achieve redemption, he’ll have to risk everything – possibly even his freedom.

Roger Moore of the McClatchy-Tribune News Service writes, “There’s a lot of background to pack into every character, and [writer] Brian Tucker sets up each character as a paragon of right, only to pull a rug from under them.” Roger Ebert gives the film three of four stars and says, “It’s a pretty great performance from Russell Crowe. Mark Wahlberg is solid, Jeffrey Wright puts his usual unique spin on his role, and Kyle Chandler is so good you want to see more of his character. You’ll have a good time.” Broken City is opening in 2,700 theaters, and HSX is predicting that it earns between $18M and $21M.

To learn more about the film, see photos and find tickets, check out the official Broken City website.

Rating: R // Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller // Runtime: 1 hr. 49 min. // Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe and Catherine Zeta-Jones // Directed by: Allen Hughes // Written by: Brian Tucker // Produced by: 1984 Private Defense Contractors, Black Bear Pictures, Closest to the Hole Productions, Emmett/Furla Films, Envision Entertainment Corporation, Leverage Communications, New Regency Pictures, Regency Enterprises // Distributed by: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

https://vimeo.com/bravodesignince

Gangster Squad

Posted on January 11, 2013 by skulkaew

Set in 1949 Los Angeles, Brooklyn-born mob king Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) runs the city’s rackets profiteering hand over hand in drugs, guns and prostitution. And if he has his way, his empire will include every wire bet placed west of Chicago. He works with impunity having bought the police, politicians and journalists who sit in his pocket. That’s until Chief Parker (Nick Nolte) organizes a covert group of operators made up of LAPD outsiders led by Sgt. John O’Mara (Josh Brolin) and Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), who seek to carry out justice outside the courthouse without prejudice; hence the movie’s tagline: “No names. No badges. No mercy.”

Alonso Duralde of The Wrap writes, “With its gleaming roadsters, sexy dames and swanky nightspots, Gangster Squad never lets up on its momentum. You’ll be forgiven for thinking that you’re watching The Untouchables II.” Rex Reed of The New York Observer raves, “With its exotic Hollywood locations, gorgeous, tailored, camera-ready clothes fit for a fashion layout, sleek cars, jazz music and glamorous cinematography, it’s a cross between L.A. Confidential and The Untouchables and one of the most exhilarating and entertaining action films in recent memory.” HSX.com predicts that Gangster Squad makes $19M in its opening weekend.

To learn more about the movie, check out the official homepage for additional media, trailers and information on showtimes near you.

Rating: R // Genre: Action, Crime, Drama // Runtime: 1 hr. 53 min. // Starring: Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Nick Nolte, Emma Stone, Anthony Mackie, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Peña, Robert Patrick and Sean Penn as Mickey Cohen // Directed by: Ruben Fleischer // Story by: Paul Lieberman // Written by: Will Beall // Produced by: Village Roadshow Pictures, Lin Pictures/Kevin McCormick Production // Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

https://vimeo.com/bravodesignince

The Hobbit

Posted on December 14, 2012 by skulkaew

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first in a three-part series that follows Bilbo Baggins, homebody and hobbit, as he and a company of dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield and Gandalf the Grey, venture to reclaim the Lonely Mountain pilfered by the dragon, Smaug. The journey leads them from Bilbo’s home in the Shire through the elven stronghold at Rivendell and then the goblin infested Misty Mountains where Bilbo meets a creature with a powerful ring that is inextricably tied to the fate of Middle-earth in ways no one can yet fathom.

Also noteworthy is the fact that The Hobbit was filmed at 48 frames per second; the standard is 24. That much has received mixed bag reviews so far. But like most innovations, we’re sure it’ll just need some getting used to.

Roger Moore writes, “The settings are gorgeous. The effects are spectacular, and Gollum looks more real than ever.” And since The Hobbit is the only new release coming out this weekend, HSX is predicting that it’ll take in about $94M.

Rating: PG-13 // Genre: Adventure, Fantasy // Runtime: 2 hr. 49 min. // Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Orlando Bloom, Hugo Weaving, Christopher Lee, Ian Holm, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Aidan Turner, Sylvester McCoy, James Nesbitt, Lee Pace, Stephen Fry, Dean O’Gorman, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, Mikael Persbrandt, Mark Hadlow, Graham McTavish, Billy Connolly, Peter Hambleton, Ken Stott, Barry Humphries, John Callen, William Kircher, Brian Blessed, Stephen Hunter, Ryan Gage, Dominic Keating, Jeffrey Thomas, Michael Mizrahi, Conan Stevens // Directed by: Peter Jackson // Story by: J.R.R. Tolkien //Written by: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro // Produced by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), New Line Cinema and WingNut Films // Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

https://vimeo.com/bravodesignince

Life of Pi

Posted on November 21, 2012 by skulkaew

Life of Pi, based on Yann Martel’s critically acclaimed novel, follows a shipwreck where a young man named Pi Patel (Suraj Sharma) finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with another survivor, a fearsome Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. For those wondering how Richard found himself on a raft lost at sea, he and the other animals aboard are (or were up until the shipwreck) part of a zookeeper’s cargo. From there, Pi has to fend for his and Richard’s survival all while negotiating with the irritable and often hungry Bengal to improve their odds and make the most of their dire situation on a seemingly endless expanse of sea.

Roger Ebert writes, “Ang Lee’s Life of Pi is a miraculous achievement of storytelling and a landmark of visual mastery.” Lou Lumenick of the New York Post says, “It’s the best-looking film I’ve seen this year and possibly so far this century. It’s so hypnotically beautiful that people will be using it to calibrate their new TV monitors. HSX estimates that Life of Pi will open at around $27M.

To see more media from the movie, check out the official Life of Pi page.

Rating: PG // Genre: Adventure, Drama // Runtime: 2 hr. 7 min. // Starring: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan and Adil Hussain// Directed by: Ang Lee // Written by: David Magee and Yann Martel // Produced by: Fox 2000 Pictures, Haishang Films and Rhythm and Hues // Distributed by: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and Fox 2000 Pictures

https://vimeo.com/bravodesignince

For Your Consideration

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Daniel Arriola

While February 24^th may seem light years away, the date will be here sooner than you know (or sooner than we know, perhaps) and with it brings the 85^th Academy Awards. Once a year, each and every February (or March), the entertainment community and film enthusiasts from around the world tune in to watch actors, actresses, directors and a host of other film industry professionals descend onto Hollywood to see who will take home the highest honors in filmmaking. The month of November marks the beginning of “Oscar Season” where some of entertainment’s most eye-catching “For Your Consideration” advertising is put to print in various entertainment trades like Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline and so on to drive awareness and position a film as a frontrunner in a specific nomination category or in several. From there, the Academy’s 6,000 voting members are responsible for selecting nominations in their respective fields, per Oscar.org: actors nominate actors, film editors nominate film editors, etc., but all voting members are eligible to vote for best picture nominees. After these results are tallied and announced, final ballots are mailed out to members who are eligible to vote in all categories. The results are tabulated by PricewaterhouseCoopers and revealed five days later at the Dolby Theater.

Bravo Design, Inc. has worked on Academy Award campaign (“For Your Consideration) ads for about the last decade. Here are some we’ve done over the course of the last five years so, some in collaboration with WorksLA, the Refinery Creative and the Cimmaron Group. Click on an image to enlarge it and use your left and right arrow keys to navigate from slide to slide.

https://vimeo.com/bravodesignince

Skyfall

Posted on November 8, 2012 by skulkaew

Daniel Craig is back in his third performance as James Bond in the series’ 23rd Bond film 50 years after the franchise was launched with Dr. No in 1962. In Skyfall, Bond is tasked with investigating an attack on MI6, which turns out to be part of an assassination attempt on M (Judi Dench) by former MI6 operative, Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem). At this point, that’s pretty much all I have for you in terms of a synopsis. Just like with The Dark Knight Rises, I’ve held out on seeing trailers and have yet to hear the new theme song sung by the critically acclaimed Adele. What I do know is that the movie is going to be awesome.

Betsy Sharkey of The Los Angeles Times writes, “In Skyfall, Sam Mendes [the director] gives us a thrilling new chapter in a franchise, that by all rights should have been gasping for air, with a well-cast, smartly acted film that shows Bond’s inner turmoil and back story and keeps the action, style and mission solid and entertaining.”

Casino Royale opened at just under $41M, and Quantum of Solace opened at $67.5M. HSX predicts that the Skyfall will open to a modest $72M, but Fandango reports that the most recent spy flick is selling twice as many tickets as the most recent film, Quantum of Solace. In the two weeks it’s been out overseas, the film has already generated a whopping ~~$289M~~ $321M before opening in the US, so I’m taking the over and guessing that the buzz will help Skyfall earn anywhere between $85M-$100M in its debut weekend.

To download James Bond related media or find tickets for a theater near you, navigate to the official Skyfall website.

Rating: PG-13 // Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime // Runtime: 2 hr. 23 min. // Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris// Directed by: Sam Mendes // Written by: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, John Logan // Produced by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Danjaq, Albert R. Broccoli’s Eon Productions, Sphere Studios// Distributed by: Columbia Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Edit 11/12/2012: According to Box Office Mojo, Skyfall earned $90M through the weekend in its opening release. “$72M.” Ha.

Edit 12/13/2012: Deadline.com reports that Skyfall has set a new record for Sony Pictures’ highest grossing movie ever beating Spiderman 3’s $890M, and it still hasn’t been released in China.

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Argo and Here Comes the Boom

Posted on October 12, 2012 by skulkaew

In 1979, when the Iranian revolution reaches a boiling point, Islamic militants led by the Ayatollah storm the US embassy in Tehran taking 52 Americans hostages. Unbeknownst to the Iranians, six are able to escape and take shelter at the Canadian ambassador’s home. The Central Intelligence Agency decides that they can’t stay there because if they are found, they along with the ambassador will be publicly executed in the streets. With the CIA at a loss to figure out how to smuggle the hostages safely out of Iran, exfiltration specialist, Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), hatches a plan to extract them under the guise that they are a Canadian film crew scouting out locations for a made up science-fiction movie, set in space, called Argo. Where, after having established their covers, they’ll then be able to walk right past the Revolutionary Guard using their new fake identities with no one the wiser. As Mendez’s boss, Jack O’Donnell (Bryan Cranston) puts it, “This is the best bad idea we have.”

Rex Reed of The New York Observer writes, “Gifted, intelligent and full of cogent ideas, Mr. Affleck can almost always be depended on to come up with something fascinating, coherent and thoroughly cinematic. Argo, his third feature film as a director after Gone Baby Gone (2007) and The Town (2010), is no exception. It grabbed me by the lapels and held my attention for two solid hours without a sideward glance, and I can’t wait to see it again.” HSX predicts that Argo will open at $18.8M. From the raving reviews we’ve seen thus far, we think the film will crush those expectations.

To see if you have what it takes to be part of a major CIA operation, click here.

Rating: R // Genre: Drama, Thriller // Runtime: 2 hr. 0 min. // Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin and John Goodman // Directed by: Ben Affleck // Written by: Chris Terrio, Joshuah Bearman // Produced by: GK Films, Smoke House, Warner Bros. Pictures // Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

In Here Comes the Boom, Scott Voss (Kevin James) is a 40-something burned out high school biology teacher about a decade past his “teacher of the year prime” who is stirred to action when one of his colleagues (Henry Winkler), a teacher who is still inspiring children well into his career, faces the chopping block due to cutbacks in extracurricular activities at his school. In an effort to raise money, Voss picks up a side job moonlighting as a competitive mixed martial arts fighter. Lucky for him, and the school, Voss was formerly a collegiate wrestler. But despite the fact that he’s pretty well over the hump, and everyone thinks he’s crazy, Voss becomes a sensation when he rallies the entire school.

Roger Moore writes, “Kid-friendly funnyman Kevin James is at his cuddliest in Here Comes the Boom. He’s developed a comfortable screen presence that takes away the impression that he was working too hard for laughs. James, [Henry] Winkler, [Salma] Hayek and [Bas] Rutten make an amusing ensemble and click together.” HSX is predicting that this film opens at around $15M.

Rating: PG // Genre: Action, Comedy // Runtime: 1 hr. 45 min. // Starring: Kevin James, Salma Hayek and Henry Winkler // Directed by: Frank Coraci // Written by: Kevin James, Allan Loeb, Rock Reuben // Produced by: Broken Road Productions, Columbia Pictures, Happy Madison Productions, Hey Eddie, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) // Distributed by: Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures

Bravo Design, Inc.

Design Studio in Los Angeles, CA

Films & Media

The Heat and White House Down

The Heat

White House Down

Man of Steel

The Internship

After Earth

Epic and The Hangover III

The Great Gatsby

Key Art & Print Production

But what is key art?

Observations From CincemaCon 2013

42: The Jackie Robinson Story

Evil Dead

The Croods

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

Jack the Giant Slayer

The 85th Academy Awards

A Good Day to Die Hard

Bullet to the Head

Broken City

Gangster Squad

The Hobbit

Life of Pi

For Your Consideration

Skyfall

Argo and Here Comes the Boom