Production Paradise

Hello and welcome to the fourth issue of Showcase Amsterdam, proudly brought to you by Production Paradise. Presenting a comprehensive round up of all the latest news from some of the very best visual media companies, as usual more information can be found on our Directory pages.

Some up coming events you may want to add to your agenda, should you be in or around Amsterdam over the next few weeks:

Our cover was shot by Brigitte Vincken.

ams production/commercial production: HOLLAND PRODUCTION SERVICES

Holland Production Services offer dedicated production services that focus entirely on client needs.

The company understands how difficult it can be to shoot abroad and so provide professional knowledge, dedicated suppliers and trusted friends to make clients feel at home.

Recent productions include a Spanish BMW commercial for Alamo Films, a commercial for Korean investment company Woori for Keystone Films, a series of TV idents for Kemistry out of the UK, and a Honda (Top Secret) photo shoot for Twin Planet based in Tokyo and Los Angeles.

The company's credo is "Service, Service and more Service! Let's keep it simple and make it fun!"

ams production/photo production: ERIC ELENBAAS AGENCY

Eric Elenbaas Agency presents upcoming talents Petrovsky & Ramone, who recently returned from their inspiring trip to Los Angeles.

In the City of Angels the innovative duo shot several stories, such as the campaign 'Six, Six, Six in the Face' for a t-shirt line by Tony Ward.

Soul musician Amy Winehouse was photographed in the hot streets of downtown LA. P&R portrayed the rebelling artist in a unique way.

Another project was a dusty desert story for Elsevier. For this shoot P&R collaborated with stylist Alex van der Steen, also represented by Eric Elenbaas Agency.

ams production/animation production: UNIT CREATIVE MANAGEMENT AMSTERDAM

Four new talents recently joined Unit C.M.A. The latest addition to the company's roster of illustrators is Carine Brancowitz, whilst in the photography department Unit took on three new, young and very talented photographers, Levi van Veluw, Isabella Rozendaal and Robert Charbonnet.

The company is also proud to announce that five of its talents were submitted to the latest illustration overview, Fashion Unfolding. The featured Unit CMA creative artists are Catalina Estrada, James Dignan, Kustaa Saksi (who designed the cover), Maren Esdar and Yke Schotten.

ams production/animation production: MAGIC GROUP

Founded in 1999, Magic Group is an independent creative digital retouching company based in Amsterdam. As a source for creativity, the company has mastered the challenges of image manipulation, retouching and correction.

It says its dedicated team of digital operators "provides comprehensive and creative imaging services that are supported by industry-standardised colour management and digital proofing".

Services include scanning (slide, Polaroid, negative), digital image processing of raw data, digital proofing, portfolio printing, art printing, project and campaign management, Magic Suite, and on-location digital image support.

Magic Group includes MGCA, representing digital illustrators with a diverse variety of styles, and MAGICO Barcelona, founded in 2006 and also specialising in creative retouching and postproduction.

ams production/commercial production: CAP PHOTO & FILM PRODUCTION SERVICES

CAP is a full service production company located in the heart of Amsterdam, supplying production services for film and photography clients in both the Dutch and international markets.

CAP provides quality services at every stage of the production process, including location research, casting, crew, equipment, studio, hotel, transportation and postproduction.

The company has vast experience working with national and international clients.

ams photography/photo agents: INN

Inn are proud to present renowned stills photographer Marcel Christ, who lends an unmistakable life-force to ordinary objects, transforming them into sleek art forms.

Clients are inspired by Marcel's way of working, using not only his photographic techniques like high speed photography but also his input and ideas before and during the creative development process.

Featured in this Showcase are some images entitled 'Holland' from the series for NLD Magazine. He continues to work on personal projects and has also just launched an updated portfolio. Contact the agency to view.

ams photography/photographers: BARRIE HULLEGIE

Photographer Barrie Hullegie focuses on the psychological challenges faced by his models. In his attempt to capture their thoughts and feelings, he always leaves behind a piercing and mysterious image.

His photos make observers think twice about the true nature of his subjects. Barrie is inspired by work that is dark and mysterious - like that of filmmakers François Ozon and David Lynch.

Barrie's own cinematic approach suggests that there is a darker, intangible world behind his images. This makes his work very applicable to conceptual fashion photography.

Hullegie works on a regular basis for fashion magazines such as Blend Magazine and L'Officiel.

ams photography/photographers: DAVID DE JONG PHOTOGRAPHY

David de Jong has worked for more then twelve years as a commercial and editorial photographer. Whilst editorial work demands innovation and on-the-spot flexibility, commercial jobs are about interpreting ideas in the best possible way.

"Take the best of these two worlds and be versatile" is what David thinks about being a photographer.

Recent work has included images for ING, Readers House Hearst and Porsche.

ams photography/photographers: SIMON WARMER

Photographer Simon Warmer is known for making common things interesting.

He is most likely classified as a still photographer by advertising agencies, although quite a lot of his work is shot on location.

He prefers to shoot everything in one shot, keeping things as natural as possible and limiting postproduction to a minimum. However, he sees Photoshop as "a modern dark room".

Simon recently completed work for Autotrack. He shot two campaigns with the client for new and second-hand car brands on the Internet. As Simon says, "The nice thing about it is that we're advertising cars without showing them!"

ams talent/casting agencies: DUTCH CASTING AGENCY

Since the foundation of Dutch Casting Agency in 1995, the company has remained one of the leading agencies in the international casting world, and is one of the largest and most prestigious bureaus located in the Netherlands.

Over the past twelve years, Dutch Casting has built a database of more than 28,000 different faces, and continues to grow still to this day. The bookers at Dutch Casting are professional, versatile and inventive in handling the many varied assignments requested by clients.

ams talent/model agencies: THEA MEULENBERG CASTING

Thea Meulenberg Casting's many years of experience show how well-regarded the company is among European businesses. The company says it "always looks for the right character for the right part".

The following are recent commercials cast by the company:

• New ING Films with Frederik de Groot, Canada
• BMW for Barking Dog Film. Director: John Trapman, Spain
• Vesteda for TV West. Director: Jacqueline Karelsen
• Calgonite with Vamanos film for Euro RSCG NL
• Energie Direct for Comrad. Director Joris Hoebe. Agency: SVH
• Steradent for CineteamFilm Frankfurt. Agency: Euro RSCG NL
• Vanish for Keller Films. Director: Flip van Vliet. Agency: Euro RSCG NL
• Volmer Kaas for Hazazah Film. Director: Bram Schouw. Agency: Liberty
• Auping for Caramel Pictures. Director: Will van der Vlugt. Agency: Colonel Parker
• Pan Goccioli Kids for SevenbySeven TV Italy. Agency: BRW&Partners, Milan
• @home TV for First On Mars Film. Director: Herman Poppelaars. Agency: Ubachs Wisbrun/JWT

Thea Meulenberg Casting also work with the main talent agencies throughout the Netherlands, supplying models for fashion and photography campaigns.

ams hotel/hotels: LUTE SUITES

A row of beautiful 18th Century houses overlooking the river Amstel has been converted by designer Marcel Wanders into seven individual suites. Guests enjoy complete freedom as well as a real homely environment.

The suites are furnished with every imaginable comfort and the interior design is unique in every way. The classic modern décor helps to create a pleasant, warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Each suite has a living room, bathroom, bedroom and its own private entrance. For furnishings and fittings, stylish Cappellini furniture has been combined with surprising items from the interiors label Moooi. In the bathrooms, specially designed sanitary fittings by Boffi blend seamlessly with the Bisazza mosaics.