Ghost Robot
{{Short description|American creative studio}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Ghost Robot, Inc.
| logo = File:Ghostrobot logo.png
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| foundation = {{Start date|df=yes|2002}}
| founder = Zachary Mortensen
Mark De Pace
| defunct =
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| location = New York City
| locations =
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people =
| industry = Media production
| products =
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| homepage = {{URL|ghostrobot.com}}
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}}
Ghost Robot is a creative content studio based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/growing-its-music-video-roots-shop-has-branched-all-areas-advertising-154900/|title=Growing From Its Music Video Roots, This Shop Has Branched Into All Areas of Advertising|publisher=AdWeek|accessdate=January 16, 2014}} The company produces projects in a variety of media.
History
Ghost Robot was founded in 2002 by Zachary Mortensen. The company derived its name from the theme of a music video Ghost Robot was producing at the time. The video was for the song "In The Waiting Line" by the band Zero7, directed by Tommy Pallotta. "In The Waiting Line" was the first commercial use of machinima using the animation engine from the Quake video game. The video won awards at the first Academy of Machinima Arts and Sciences awards ceremony at the Museum of Moving The Image in New York City.{{Cite web|url=https://www.creativeplanetnetwork.com/news/academy-machinima-arts-announces-2003-award-noms-396342|title=Academy of Machinima Arts Announces 2003 Award Noms|publisher=Creative Planet|date=October 25, 2003}}
In 2005 Mark De Pace joined the company as a full partner and spearheaded the formation of the company's roster of directors for commercial representation. The addition of De Pace repositioned the company within the industry and began their official move into advertising and commercial production.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}
Music videos
Ghost Robot established its position in the industry with the production of music videos. Notable productions include RJD2’s “Work It Out” which features a performance by dancer and artist Bill Shannon, shot in one take on the streets of New York City.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2007/07/video-crutch-da/|title=Wired Magazine - Video: Crutch-Dancing the Streets of NY (RJD2 – "Work It Out")|magazine=Wired|date=July 23, 2007}} The video was featured in the Saatchi New Directors Showcase in Cannes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3047800/25-years-25-directors-saatchi-marks-a-quarter-century-of-its-new-directors-showcase|title=25 Years, 25 Directors|publisher=Fast Company|date=June 24, 2015}}
In 2008 Ghost Robot produced the music video "Wanderlust" for Björk. The video was directed by long-time Ghost Robot collaborators Isaiah Saxon and Sean Hellfritsch of Encyclopedia Pictura in New York City in stereoscopic 3D. The video involves a mixture of large scale puppeteering, live-action acrobatics, miniatures, and CG. The video took nine months to complete and required the creation of a custom-built 3d camera and playback system.{{Cite web|url=http://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2008/February-1-2008/COVER-STORY-BJORKS-WANDERLUST-MUSIC-VIDEO.aspx|title=Björk's 'Wanderlust' Music Video|publisher=Post Magazine|date=2016-04-17}}
Entertainment
Partners Zachary Mortensen and Mark De Pace, both graduates of NYU Film School, began their careers in independent film in New York City. Ghost Robot has produced feature films, documentary films, and comic books. In 2008 the company produced Against the Current, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2009/01/peter-callahan-against-the-current-imagination-stress-and-the-70s-70960/|title=Peter Callahan, "Against the Current": Imagination, Stress, and the '70s|work=IndieWire|date=January 8, 2009}}
Benjamin Dickinson directed Ghost Robot's feature film Creative Control, which had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 14, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://schedule.sxsw.com/2015/events/event_FS18029|title=Creative Control|publisher=South by Southwest|accessdate=March 24, 2016}} It was released on March 11, 2016, by Amazon Studios and Magnolia Pictures.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/amazon-creative-control-sxsw-1201610499/|title=Amazon Studios Acquires SXSW Film 'Creative Control'|work=Variety|first=Ramin|last=Seetoodeh|date=October 5, 2015|accessdate=March 24, 2016}}
In 2014 Ghost Robot launched its first comic book with the publication of The Gatecrashers: A Night of Gatecrashing. The book found critical acclaim{{cite web|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2014/12/17/2014s-best-comics-and-graphic-novels-put-the-real-in-surreal/|title=2014's Best Comics and Graphic Novels Put the Real in Surreal|date=17 December 2014 |publisher=The Village Voice|accessdate=December 17, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/01/07/spotlight-indie-comics-15-best-2014-edition/|title=Spotlight On Indie Comics: The 15 Best Of 2014 Edition|date=7 January 2015 |publisher=Bleeding Cool|accessdate=January 7, 2015}} and continues as an ongoing comic series.
Branded content
Ghost Robot produces advertising and branded content for international brands, including for the relaunch of the 2013 Ford Fusion.{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1682781/ford-channels-real-tweets-into-random-acts-of-fusion-campaign|title=Ford Channels Real Tweets Into "Random Acts of Fusion" Campaign|work=Fast Company|date=April 15, 2013}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.ghostrobot.com}}
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Category:Mass media companies based in New York City
Category:American companies established in 2002
Category:Mass media companies established in 2002
Category:Design companies established in 2002
Category:Video production companies
Category:American animation studios
Category:Visual effects companies
Category:Design companies of the United States