ExxonMobil Biofuel Campaign through The New York Times

Back in the summer of 2017, I was awarded the opportunity to be on the roster of animation filmmakers who would bid on projects through the branded content creation arm of the New York Times, T Brand Studio.

This is my first collaboration with them and we dove right in!

In promoting ExxonMobil's biofuel initiative, I wanted to create something forward-looking, futuristic, clean, and elegant. I decided to work using some processes I'd only touched upon in the past: 3D printing objects and laser-cut acrylics.

Stylistically, this is pretty different from anything I've directed before and I'm really excited about how everyone's hard work came together.

Algae are tiny, but potentially mighty. They grow in saltwater and can produce bio-oil that one day could fuel our transportation needs. See how ExxonMobil is researching this renewable fuel. To learn more, visit: https://paidpost.nytimes.com/exxonmobil/algae-may-be-small-but-its-impact-could-be-big.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out more content from T Brand Studio: Website: http://www.tbrandstudio.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tbrandstudio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TBrandStudio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbrandstudio/ T Brand Studio is the brand marketing unit of The New York Times.

Scientists at ExxonMobil are working to transform plant waste into biofuel. What they create could one day be used to power jets, trucks and trains, all while producing fewer emissions. To learn more, visit: https://paidpost.nytimes.com/exxonmobil/from-farm-waste-to-fuel-tank.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out more content from T Brand Studio: Website: http://www.tbrandstudio.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tbrandstudio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TBrandStudio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbrandstudio/ T Brand Studio is the brand marketing unit of The New York Times.

Production Credits:

Director/Producer........................Pete Levin

Writer........................Steve Murphy

Editor........................Nathaniel Miller

Director of Photography........................Matt Hazelrig

Lighting Technician........................Scott Beardslee

Animator........................Kent Burton

Animator........................Melissa Shepherd

Animator........................Savannah Steiner

Storyboards........................Greg Sesma

Art Director........................Emily Franz

Production Designer........................Jeffrey Bounthavong

3D Design........................Astral Design Studio

3D Printing/Cast & Mold........................SNL Creative

Laser Cutting........................Phantom Forms

Fabricator/Painter........................Marc de Leon

Fabricator/Painter........................Hannah Field

Fabricator/Painter........................Meirav Haber

Fabricator/Painter........................Stephanie James

Fabricator/Painter........................Felicia Rein

Specialty Prop Fabrication........................Machine Histories

Production Assistant........................Daniel Olivas

Production Assistant........................Jay Shipman

Narrator........................Arwen Fonzen

Composer/Sound Designer........................Ben Wise

Sound Recording........................Rocky Mountain Recorders

Lead VFX Artist........................Brian Kokoszka

VFX Artist........................John Ikuma

VFX Artist........................Mario Kim

VFX Artist........................Justin Sarcena

VFX Artist........................Joe Statom

Color Timing........................Technicolor

Behind the Scenes Documentarian........................Jenn Harrington

A HUGE thanks to 

Adam Loeb, Deanna Urciuoli, Abby Wood, Adam Aston, and the team at T Brand Studio

Carrie Rossman, Jenny Sundel, and the team at UM

Shot at Digital Twigs Studio in Los Angeles, CA.