Chris Bialkowski
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Stark and Minimal

These frames are from pitched and/or produced projects that lean towards a simple and clean aesthetic--focusing on information delivery without too many distractions.

9.

LFG

LFG

Documentary Film Design + Animation

Directed by The Fines, LFG follows the US Women’s Soccer team’s struggle for equal pay. We designed the film’s main title sequence and all other graphic and archival sequences. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 17, 2021.

Credits

Client:
HBO Max
Directors:
Andrea Nix Fine, Sean Fine
Editor:
Jeff Consiglio
Artists:
Chris Bialkowski, Tim Mearini

8.

selma

Introducing Selma Blair

Documentary Film Design + Animation

Directed by Rachel Fleit, “Introducing Selma Blair” documents Selma Blair’s life with Multiple Sclerosis and treatment with stem cell therapy. The film premiered at South by Southwest on March 16, 2021.

Credits

Client:
Discovery +
Director:
Rachel Fleit
Editor:
Sloane Klevin
Artists:
Chris Bialkowski, Junsik Na

a.

Film Reel

Play the video - including the main title and film animations

7.

shawnmendes

Shawn Mendes, In Wonder

Documentary Exploratory

These frames below are from our first deck exploring different approaches to the Netflix Original film “Shawn Mendes: In Wonder.” This treatment helped us determine what everyone liked and hone in on the right creative for the job. Even though the final film ended up with a straightforward title design, several of these concepts made it very far along in the design process.

Credits

Client:
Netflix
Director:
Grant Singer
Artists:
Chris Bialkowski, Tim Mearini

The Devil Next Door

Documentary Film Main Title Sequence

We designed and animated the main title sequence and map shots for the Netflix series “The Devil Next Door,” a documentary series exploring the trial of John Demjanjuk; a Ukrainian immigrant in Ohio accused of being an infamous Treblinka death camp guard called “Ivan the Terrible.”

Assembled primarily from archival sources, the main title sequence for “The Devil Next Door” is a non-linear story exploring the bizarre reality of a former Nazi hiding in Middle America. We touch on a few story-specific details, but for the most part, this sequence is backstory and atmosphere.

Credits

Client:
Netflix, Ark Media
Director:
Yossi Bloch, Daniel Sivan
Artists:
Chris Bialkowski, Aldo Gonzalez, Kamaur Bonfield
mlx

Who Killed Malcolm X

Docuseries Final Renders

Following our initial exploratory, these shots made it into the final series. We wanted to show that the investigation portrayed in the show was a meticulous process of combing through vintage archival materials (newspapers, FBI reports, letters, etc.)

The main title sequence is a montage of iconic Malcolm X photos overlaid with newsprint visuals. Initially designed to feature live-action archival, this concept evolved in production.

Credits

Client:
Netflix, Fusion TV, Ark Media
Client:
Rachel Dretzin, Phil Bertelsen
Artists:
Chris Bialkowski, Jun Lee, Kamaur Bonfield, Sean Vickery

4.

gogos

The GoGo's

Documentary Film Main Title Sequence

Created for Alisson Ellwood’s Showtime documentary “The Go Go’s,” this main title sequence relies heavily on circa-1980 VHS emulation. The titles began as hand-cut magazine letters, then traditional typography and distressed with VHS distortions. We kept the colors blunt, primary, and “pop” so that the look isn’t too “punk.”

Credits

Client:
Showtime
Director:
Alison Ellwood
Editor:
Brett Banks
Artists:
Chris Bialkowski

3.

Main Titles mxf Still

Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine

Documentary Film Design + Animation

This main title sequence embraces the archival footage’s retro quality and composites credits on-screen with a low-fi touch. We used Apple’s classic Chicago font for the credits. We also designed and animated the film’s titles, transitions, and archival recreations.

Credits

Client:
CNN Films, Jigsaw Productions
Director:
Alex Gibney
Artists:
Chris Bialkowski, Jun Lee, Junsik Na

2.

saltfatacidheat

Salt Fat Acid Heat

Docuseries Main Title Design

Design & animation, for the Netflix series Salt Fat Acid Heat. Created at Union Editorial for Jigsaw Productions with Junsik Na and edited by Nadine Mueller. The Main Title sequence was nominated for a 2019 Emmy.

Credits

Client:
Netflix, Jigsaw Productions
Showrunner:
Caroline Suh
Editor:
Nadine Mueller
Artists:
Chris Bialkowski, Junsik Na

1.

EverythingIsCopyKenBurnsReel.mov.00 00 04 04.Still003

Everything is Copy

Documentary Film Design + Animation

Main titles, design, and animation for the HBO documentary film on the life of Norah Ephron. It was created at Union Editorial with Junsik Na and Jun Lee. The film was nominated for 2 Emmys in 2016.

Created for “Everything Is Copy,” a feature documentary directed by Jacob Bernstein about his mother, Norah Ephron, this main title took the film title literally and used only typographical elements in its design. In addition to the main title design, we animated many archival photographs for the film.

Credits

Client:
HBO Films
Directors:
Jacob Bernstein, Nick Hooker
Artists:
Chris Bialkowski, Jun Lee, Junsik Na

a.

Film Reel

Play the video - including the main title and gfx highlights from the film