Hotbox Studios – Web Design, Animation and Branding

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HotBox Studios Photography

Two new collections have been added to Mark Hatchard's photography portfolio website.

The new collections are live music shoots of the singer and songwriter John James Newman - the first a shoot at London's Shepherds Bush Empire, the second at John's album launch party at South Hill Park.

Mark is a Director here at HotBox Studiosand has long been passionate about photography. 

Back in 1996, prior tothe forming of HotBox, Mark began studying photography, and in his words "instantly fell in love with the medium".

Mark continues to work with photography - within multi-medium projects with HotBox Studios, and as independent photographic commissions.

You can view the photos on John's website, www.JohnJamesNewman.co.uk or within the photography section of the HotBox Studios website.

For more information and examples of photography by Mark Hatchard please visit the website:

www.MarkHatchard.com

30 Nov 05

HotBox Studios Animated Installation

HotBox Studios has started production on an animated installation entitled 'Veil' in collaboration with Shirazeh Houshiary.

Veil will be first presented within Shirazeh's exhibition at the Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York, between February 18 and March 25, 2006.

The original version of Veil was created for the Random Dance Company in London, and premiered for the production Amu at Sadlers Wells Theatre in September 2005.

Houshiary's paintings are constructed fromrepeated words. Her early works centered on creating form, which emerged from the canvasses to reveal luminous surfaces.

Houshiary's animation titled Veil is created from the images in her paintings and attempts to reveal the hidden and the invisible. 

Itexplores the idea of absence and presence and was inspired by the Veil of St. Veronica by Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbaran (c.1635).

Houshiary has now developed the animation further and created an independent film from the stage production with the helpof 3D animator Mark Hatchard from HotBox Studios.

The paintings in this exhibition arerepresentative of Houshiary's continued interest in form, light and space achieved through meticulous layers and fine markings. 

Her first, large scale animation will also be projected during the exhibition.

The show is set to tour worldwide in 2006.

Further details and still images from Veil can be found via the link below:

Shirazeh Houshiary - Veil Animation

24 Oct 05

HotBox Studios Animation

The German premiere of Amu is on October 21 and 22, 2005 in Essen.

Amu (of the heart), is Random Dance's most ambitious, emotive and provocative collaboration to date. 

For Amu, the heart is the centre of an inspiring musical dialogue of feeling, devotion and spirituality.

The Project will be a live,large scale contemporary dance and music event, with an orchestra of 50 musicians, 7 singers and 10 dancers.

Random dancers led by the critically acclaimed choreographer Wayne McGregor, in collaboration with visual artist Shirazeh Houshiary and animator Mark Hatchard, will question both the physical functions and symbolic resonances of the human heart. 

Sir John Tavenercreates his first commissioned original score for dance, played live by the Southbank Sinfonia, conducted by Paul Goodwin(soprano) with Patricia Rozario(tenor).

Amu is co-commissioned by Sadler's Wells and The Wellcome Trust, and supported by Arts Council England, Quercus Trust, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the PRS Foundation.

Random Dance is a resident companyat Sadler's Wells, London, and has an international reputation for the creation of award winning, pioneering works, redrawing the boundaries for the humanbody with startling collaborations.

HotBox Studios produced animation & visual effects for Amu (In collaboration with Random Dance and Arts Council England), and also worked on pre and post production including: research and development, and post production for live performance projection.

You can find out more about the project by visiting the Amu portfolio page within the animation and visual effects portfolio - in there you'll find project info, and images and animations of the research and development stages of the animation. 

The Random Dance website also holds info about the project and has full tour dates of all projects we have worked on with Random Dance.

21 Oct 05

HotBox Studios Web design

HotBox Studios have started production on the visual artist Shirazeh Houshiary's website.

Shirazeh Houshiary was born and raised in Iran and moved to London in 1974 to study at Chelsea School of Art.

After graduating, she rapidly established herself as one of the leading artists of her generation.

Initially known for her sculpture, her first works on canvas date backto 1992. 

She has had solo exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art, Oxford, Camden Arts Centre in London, and the Museum Villa Stuck inMunich, among others, and was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1994.

Houshiary is now working with HotBox Studios and in collaboration with Random Dance on Amu - a project inspired by the human heart, and Veil, which is to be exhibited at the Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York next year.

The Shirazeh Houshiary's website is planned to go live in late 2005/early 2006. 

The holding site can be found at www.ShirazehHoushiary.com

12 Oct 05

HotBox Studios Web design

Updates to Watford Ladies FC website have been completed.

Originally the club was known as the Supporters Club Ladies Team, but later became known as 'Willy Walker Wonders'.

Watford Ladies FC in its present form is a combination of WatfordLadies F.C and Watford Town Girls F.C, and the merger has provided an outstanding footballing opportunity for girls and women of all abilities.

The website was designed by HotBox Studios to show the energy of their ladies teams, and to allow for them to update the site themselves. 

The site was designed to be bold and punchy - just like their teams.

The content management system for WLFCallows for items such as match reports, photos, and player profiles tobe updated. 

The site is coded in XHTML transitional and with accessibility in mind - keeping the pages loading quickly, looking good, and allows for fans to keep up to date with the teams progress whether using a mobile phone, a PDA or a web browser.

Watford Ladies FC can be found at www.watfordladiesfc.com

10 Oct 05

HotBox Studios Web design

Following the release of John James Newman's debut album 'Little Whispers', HotBox Studios and Reef New Media are updating the John James Newman website.

As the son of Sandy Newman, the lead singer of 60's Scottish pop act Marmalade,John James Newman has always had music in his life.

The work began atthe humble age of 16 when he left his family and friends to attend the Newcastle College of Contemporary Music.

It is here that John formed his most successful venture to date, the four piece rock outfit Mosey. 

They worked as hard as any band have ever done, gigging, writing and demo-ing but nothing came to fruition and the band disbanded in early 2002.

Ina bid to continue to learn his craft and take some much needed time out,John moved to the US.

He worked stoically as a solo acoustic artistplaying in coffee shops and open mic nights across first the Bostonarea and subsequently around Alaska.

On his return to England Johnapproached his blossoming career with renewed enthusiasm.

With acollection of tunes under his belt he set about finding producers towork with, and in mid 2005 released his first studio album, Little Whispers.

You can view photos on John's website, www.JohnJamesNewman.co.uk or within the photography section of the HotBox Studios website.

The John James Newman website can be found at www.JohnJamesNewman.co.uk

26 Sep 05

HotBox Studios Web design

The HotBox Studios website has been updated and is now live.

The current version is mainly a template and work is still taking place on all areas of the site, but we hope you like how it is progressing.

Please feel free to get in touch and share your comments and queeries.

19 Sep 05

HotBox Studios Animation

Random Dance's piece Amu premieres at Sadler's Wells- London, on September 15, 2005.

Amu (of the heart), is Random Dance's most ambitious,emotive and provocative collaboration to date. 

For Amu, the heart is the centre of an inspiring musical dialogueof feeling, devotion and spirituality.

The Project will be a live,large scale contemporary dance and music event, with an orchestra of 50musicians, 7 singers and 10 dancers.

Random dancers led by the critically acclaimed choreographer Wayne McGregor, in collaboration with visual artist Shirazeh Houshiaryand animator Mark Hatchard, will question both the physical functions and symbolic resonances of the human heart. 

Sir John Tavener creates his first commissioned original score for dance, played live by the Southbank Sinfonia, conducted by Paul Goodwin (soprano), with Patricia Rozario(tenor).

Amu is co-commissioned by Sadler's Wells and The Wellcome Trust, and supported by Arts Council England, Quercus Trust, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the PRS Foundation.

Random Dance is a resident companyat Sadler's Wells, London, and has an international reputation for the creation ofaward winning, pioneering works, redrawing the boundaries for the humanbody with startling collaborations.

HotBox Studios produced animation & visual effects for Amu (In collaboration with Random Dance and Arts Council England), and also worked on pre and post productionincluding: research and development, and post production for liveperformance projection.

The production website for Amu can be found here

15 Sep 05

HotBox Studios Animation

Animation production for Random Dance's new piece Amu is now entering its final stages.

All recent stills and animations are being uploaded to a password protected production website.

If you'd like to see how Random Dance - Amu comes together - come to the premiere on the 15th September.

If you can't make the premiere but would like to see the show, keep an eye on the HotBox Studiosnews area.We will be updating it as often as possible with tour dates.

Also please see the Random Dance and Sadler's Wells websites for premiere and tour info.

Amu (of the heart), is Random Dance's most ambitious,emotive and provocative collaboration to date.

For Amu, the heart is the centre of an inspiring musical dialogueof feeling, devotion and spirituality.

The Project will be a live,large scale contemporary dance and music event, with an orchestra of 50musicians, 7 singers and 10 dancers.

Random dancers led by the critically acclaimed choreographer Wayne McGregor, in collaboration with visual artist Shirazeh Houshiaryand animator Mark Hatchard, will question both the physical functions and symbolic resonances of the human heart.

Sir John Tavenercreates his first commissioned original score for dance, played live by the Southbank Sinfonia, conducted by Paul Goodwin (soprano), with Patricia Rozario(tenor).

Amu is co-commissioned by Sadler's Wells and The Wellcome Trust, and supported by Arts Council England, Quercus Trust, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the PRS Foundation.

Random Dance is a resident companyat Sadler's Wells, London, and has an international reputation for the creation ofaward winning, pioneering works, redrawing the boundaries for the humanbody with startling collaborations.

HotBox Studios produced animation & visual effects for Amu (In collaboration with Random Dance and Arts Council England), and also worked on pre and post productionincluding: research and development, and post production for liveperformance projection.

The public production website for Amu holds all the visual research and early animation stills and movies, and can be found here.

09 Jul 05

HotBox Studios Website

www.HotBoxStudios.co.uk is finally getting a well deserved re-build!

We're currently working on an entirely new design and structure that's planned to go live in September.

Please feel free to take a look and get in contact to let us know what you think.

07 Jul 05

HotBox Studios Design

The logo design for Chiswick Care has been completed.

Chiswick Caresupply residential services and supported housing in the Chiswickdistrict of London.

The logo was designed for use with all of Chiswick Care'spublicity, their stationary, and on their website.

The primary aim whendesigning their logo was to represent their slogan 'RespectingIndividuality'.

Graphic Design: HotBox Studios - Richard (Tricky) Lee

05 Jul 05

HotBox Studios Event Visuals

HotBox Studios performs at the launch party of The Breakthrough Weekender on April 23, 2005.

The Breakthrough Weekender runs May 6 and 7, 2005.

One of the UK's most exciting new production companies, Whitespider, will be presenting the event which will see 18 UK bands showcased at one of the most prestigious venues in the country; Shepherds Bush Empire in London. 

The selected bands will perform 30-minute slots, giving them a chance to shine for industry figures including A&R representatives, publishers, booking agents, producers and venue managers.

All profits from the event will go to Live Aid, to support the charity's 20th anniversary.

The funds will aid those who are suffering from the Darfur Crisis in Sudan.

The launch party was held at the Marquee Club, in London's Leicester Square.

This very special, invite only event, saw the gathering of music celebrities, professionals and bands, all helping to expose the event and the bands performing.

The first Breakthrough in 2004 was run as part of the global music festival, One World Beat.

Ten bands were showcased on one day at Shepherds Bush Empire, with attendance from over 50 record labels, including EMI, Sony, BMG and Virgin.

Nearly 1500 people attended the show, which was featured on the BBC One television breakfast show.

With the success of Breakthrough 2004 and the expansion of the event to two days and a launch party, The Breakthrough Weekender 2005 aims to become a fixture in the music industry calendar; creating a platform for new bands to showcase their music to the A&R community.

For further information contact Chris Poole - Music House 020 8896 8200 mobile 07720 446083 email seapoole@ukonline.co.uk

23 Apr 05

HotBox Studios Collaborator Info

Random Dance perform at South Hill Park - Bracknell, on April, 21 2005.

It's a mixed bill featuring AtaXia Part One, Xenathra (A solo performed by Wayne McGregor), and Polar Sequences.

Directed by multi-award winning choreographer Wayne McGregor, AtaXia follows the urbane success of Random'sNemesis, and comes to the stage after McGregor's recently lauded commissions for Rambert, English National Ballet and The Royal Ballet.

AtaXia redraws the traditional hierarchies of dance to generate a fresh and radical look at human physicality. 

With Random's usually sophisticated ability to co-ordinate muscular movement surprisingly and intimately interfered with, AtaXia explores a dislocating loss of control.

The production previewed in Germany and premiered at Sadler's Wells, London June 2004.

Polar Sequences premiered at The Place, London on Sept 17, 2003 and continues to be performed both nationally and internationally.

Polar Sequences presents three pieces by three decidedly different contemporary choreographers- Rui Horta, Shobana Jeyasingh and Wayne McGregor.

The evening is set to be a great night both for those new to, and familia with Random's work.

21 Apr 05

HotBox Studios Animation

NEMESIS tours to Biennale de la Danse du Val De Marne, Creteil, France, performing on April 5, 2005.

The project was created through the support of a Year of the Artist Award from Southern Arts and was made possible by the Arts Council England.

The piece explores the relationship between body, screen and machine and is described as 'extraterrestrial dance meets reality TV'. At just over one hour long Nemesis captures the image of dance insound, shifting between scattering beats and warm seductive strings,melancholic melodies and pixelated abstraction.

The project is co-commissioned by South Hill Park, Swindon Dance, Sadler's Wells and DanceEast. Hotbox Studios produced animation and visual effects for Nemesis (In collaboration with Random Dance and Arts Council England).

The show premiered on March 1, 2002 at Sandler's Wells, London.

05 Apr 05

HotBox Studios Web Design

Production begins on the Chiswick Care Ltd website.

Chiswick Caresupply residential services and supported housing in the Chiswickdistrict of London. 

The logo was designed for use with all of Chiswick Care'spublicity, their stationary, and on their website.

The primary aim whendesigning their logo was to represent their slogan 'RespectingIndividuality'.

Graphic Design: HotBox Studios - Richard (Tricky) Lee

02 Apr 05

HotBox Studios Animation

HotBox Studios meet with Wayne McGregor to discuss Random Dance's new piece Amu.

HotBox Studios are also about to meet with Shirazeh Houshiary, whose artwork will be the visual inspiration for the animation within the piece.

Amu (of the heart), is Random Dance's most ambitious,emotive and provocative collaboration to date. 

For Amu, the heart is the centre of an inspiring musical dialogueof feeling, devotion and spirituality.

The Project will be a live,large scale contemporary dance and music event, with an orchestra of 50musicians, 7 singers and 10 dancers.

Random dancers led by the critically acclaimed choreographer Wayne McGregor, in collaboration with visual artist Shirazeh Houshiaryand animator Mark Hatchard, will question both the physical functions and symbolic resonances of the human heart.

Sir John Tavenercreates his first commissioned original score for dance, played live by the Southbank Sinfonia, conducted by Paul Goodwin (soprano), with Patricia Rozario(tenor).

Amu is co-commissioned by Sadler's Wells and The Wellcome Trust, and supported by Arts Council England, Quercus Trust, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the PRS Foundation.

Random Dance is a resident companyat Sadler's Wells, London, and has an international reputation for the creation ofaward winning, pioneering works, redrawing the boundaries for the humanbody with startling collaborations.

HotBox Studios produced animation & visual effects for Amu (In collaboration with Random Dance and Arts Council England), and also worked on pre and post productionincluding: research and development, and post production for liveperformance projection.

The public production website for Amu holds all the visual research and early animation stills and movies, and can be found here.

14 Feb 05

Random Dance Nemesis Animation

NEMESIS tours to UCLA, California, USA, performing between January 28 and 29, 2005.

The project was created through the support of a Year of the Artist Award from Southern Arts and was made possible by the Arts Council England. The piece explores the relationship between body, screen and machine and is described as 'extraterrestrial dance meets reality TV'.

At just over one hour long Nemesis captures the image of dance insound, shifting between scattering beats and warm seductive strings,melancholic melodies and pixelated abstraction.

The project is co-commissioned by South Hill Park, Swindon Dance, Sadler's Wells and DanceEast. 

Hotbox Studios produced animation and for Nemesis (In collaboration with Random Dance and Arts Council England).

The show premiered on March 1, 2002 at Sandler's Wells, London.

29 Jan 05

The DC Site Services website has been updated for the forthcoming UK festival and event season. DC Site Services provide services such as event management, stewarding and traffic marshalling to the live event industry - examples include Glastonbury Festival, T In The Park, Reading Festival, Leeds Festival, Homelands, and The Big Chill.

Further details can be found via the DC Site Services portfolio page in our web design portfolio, or via the DC Site Services website

01 Jan 05