Production Paradise

Production Paradise is proud to present the second issue of Showcase Amsterdam. Please also remember to visit www.productionparadise.com for our full directory of the Dutch capital's best visual media companies.

Our cover photo was shot by Paul Bellaart.

ams photography/photo agents: ABSOLU MANAGEMENT

Absolu Management is a multimedia talent management agency based in Amsterdam, exclusively representing creative talent in the fashion and multimedia industry.

The talent represented by Absolu Management work on advertising campaigns, editorial photo shoots, fashion shows and television concepts, bringing their own style, a fresh eye and creative ideas to each project.

Recent work includes:

• Maybelline print campaign for the Netherlands.
• Top model Yfke Sturm for the Samsung print campaign.
• Snow event 2006 at the Winter Efteling.
• Campaign for Dutch jewellery designer Bibi van der Velden.

ams photography/photo agents: UNIT CREATIVE MANAGEMENT AMSTERDAM

Unit C.M.A is a creative representation agency based in Amsterdam working for various international clients.

The agency currently represents 23 photographers and 24 illustrators on an exclusive worldwide basis.

Besides working the market extensively with various sales tools, Unit C.M.A also offers a full in house production service and financial department.

For additional information please visit their website or contact one of their producers.

ams photography/photographers: FAAS MM

For fashion and beauty photographer, Fritz Kok 2006 was a busy year, working for editorial and commercial clients across Europe, such as magazines AvantGarde, Esquire, Madame, Style and the Family Tunes, and brands like Martini and L'Oréal.

He exhibited a new art series in Galleria Il Ponte Contemporanea in Rome, and won a Best Editorial Award. He combines elements from 40s beauty ads, classic Hollywood movies and science fiction, and does most of his postproduction himself.

Kok is represented worldwide by FAAS MM, which is also the agency for makeup artist Ellis Faas, illustrator Sieb Posthuma and the most recent addition to the roster, photographer Paul Bellaart.

ams photography/photographers: SIMON WARMER

Simon Warmer has been a photographer since 1988. You could say he is known for making common things interesting. He says he is 'probably' classified as a still photographer by advertising agencies, although quite a lot of his work is shot on location.

Warmer says, 'I prefer to shoot everything in one shot and keep post-production as simple as possible. However, all my images do go through post-production and I see Photoshop as a modern darkroom. I like to keep it genuine'.

ams photography/photographers: KATRIEN FRANKEN

[ new talent ]

Dutch photographer Katrien Franken, based in Amsterdam, delivers inspiring work on architecture, interiors and fashion.

She recently held an exhibition with work from the University of Amsterdam and photographed beautiful series for Euronext, The Amsterdam Theatre and Beurs van Berlage. 

Katrien is represented by KL3IN.

ams photography/photographers: OTTO VAN DEN TOORN

[ new talent ]

Based around Amsterdam, Otto van den Toorn specialises in photographing people, beauty and fashion.

He works primarily for editorial and model agencies, using artificial or available light, and digital. His stated aim is 'to create pictures of spotless beauty'.

Among his latest works are pictures for Pakkend, CoiffureAward, BjornBorg, several modelling agencies, SOS.

ams production/photo production: PHOTOGRAPHIC PRODUCTION SERVICES - GUUS WENSVEEN

ams production/commercial production: ARTCORE PRODUCTIONS

Saving Cindy: 'If it weren't for the Guess model scouts, many a stunning model would have never reached the limelight... It's a dirty job but somebody's gotta do it...' This viral, a mini feature film that is loosely based on the Cinderella tale, promotes the Guess global model search.

Cindy, is a budding aspiring model, at the mercy of her evil stepmother. We see her scrubbing the floors of a huge luxurious mansion on all fours. At one stage, she furtively takes out her mobile phone and types in a text message, it reads: "[recipients name] please save me! Cindy." Note that the recipients mobile phone number has been given by the sender of the viral, so that when the recipient sees his name, he simultaneously receives a text message from Cindy.

The commercial ends prompting the viewer to join the Guess global model search.

ams production/commercial production: HAZAZAH FILM & PHOTOGRAPHY

Production company Hazazah started in 1997 and today makes commercials with four directors, and advertising photography with five photographers.

The company works for Dutch and international agencies. They modestly say 'we are not one of the smallest and we do have some experience'.

Their work is influenced by the projects of people that they work for, and believe in. The 2006 results of such a philosophy has included:

• a Golden Globe Award
• an Oscar nomination for 'Paradise Now'
• two Silver Lions in Cannes for a Nokia internet game
• the best European anti-AIDS commercial and
• a big photo book due out this spring in New York.

ams photography/post production: MAGIC GROUP

MagicGroup is an independent creative digital retouching company. Founded in 1999, they have clients worldwide, and in September last year, they opened their Barcelona office.

The company's goal is 'to create images of the highest quality'. With a team of eight retouchers, Magic Group is able to operate its post-productions on-site anywhere in the world. Technical support is provided from out of Amsterdam.

With full input/scanning and proofing facilities, the company provides a complete production service and looks to provide, and extend, its services by making use of cutting-edge technology - such as CGI - in order to offer clients the best creative solutions.

ams film/film post production: MASSIVE MUSIC

MassiveMusic does Music - 'in Amsterdam, in New York - all over the place'. This means that they do (re)search, composition, sound design and licensing for commercials and broadcasting.

Their researchers dig up musical gems wherever they can. This, combined with a good selection of European and US composers, means that MassiveMusic take on any music genre or direction you care to throw at them.

The company's team of producers gather your needs, and translate them into great music, as they have already for clients like BMW, Adidas, Siemens, Nokia, Coca-Cola, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Heineken and Nike as well as broadcasters like BBC, ARD, Disney and Sky.

Visit MassiveMusic at their website or drop by in Amsterdam or New York.

ams film/film post production: STUDIO DE KEUKEN

Studio De Keuken and Dangerous Kitchen Music offer Music Composition & Sound Design 2.0, 'a true integration of all things audible'.

With five sound studios, three composers and four sound designers, they say they can create any kind of soundtrack for brands and agencies worldwide.

Their composition and sound design for last year's MTV Benelux's "Just Like Daddy" campaign got such rave reviews at festivals worldwide, that agency John Doe Amsterdam invited them again for international campaigns for MTV Canada ("Rain", Finalist LIAA, Orig. Music with Lyrics) and MTV UK/Ireland ("Brassband")

website dangerous kitchen music .

ams talent/model agencies: ULLA MODELS

Despite the fact that Ulla Models celebrates its 30th birthday this year, the agency keeps on re-inventing itself in the international modelling game.

Latest news is that the agency recently placed their new discovery Nici with IMG Paris and signed international Arsenal player Robin van Persie to their celebrity department. His first ever fashion photo shoot can be seen in the upcoming issue of JFK magazine.

Ulla models also announces its brand new Management department, which features upcoming actors and TV hosts. First placements are Evelyn Struik with RTL 5 and Karlein Nolet with Veronica.

ams event/photo events: YOUNG IN PRISON

Art for a Charitable Cause: Young in Prison

Worldwide, there are more than a million children in prison, for large and small offences. Unfortunately, where the goal is correction, in reality it causes more harm than good... 

A simple broken window can lead to months in prison, awaiting trial in an overcrowded dark cell infested with vermin. The child has to stop going to school and loses contact with his family. Sometimes, children of pre-school age have to share a cell with adults.

Young In Prison (YiP) say that prison should be a chance for 'correction through development, not trauma through abuse'. The organisation has been active in detention centres in a number of countries since 2002, offering practical solutions and organising activities with a focus on life after prison.

YiP ART was set up to raise funds and awareness. The photos shown here are from a recent exhibition which raised 70,000 Euro to help fund the charity's work.