Chris Bialkowski

Stark and Minimal

Simple and clean--focusing on communication and information without distraction.

Index:
LFG
INTRODUCING SELMA BLAIR
SHAWN MENDES
THE DEVIL NEXT DOOR
MALCOLM X – PRODUCTION
THE GOGO’S
COOKED
STEVE JOBS
SALT FAT ACID HEAT
EVERYTHING IS COPY

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

Infographics

Play the video reel

Archival

Play the video reel

More Stills

Stills frames detailing the main title sequence, infographic animations, and archival reproduction

LFG

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

Film Reel

Play the video - including the main title and film animations

selma

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

shawnmendes

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

Maps

Play the video reel

More Stuff:

Main title sequence and maps detailed in still frames

devilnextdoor
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

Highlights Reel

Play the video - various animations from the series

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

gogos

Cooked

Docuseries 2D/3D Design + Animation

Credits

Client:
Netflix, Jigsaw Production

Editor:
Andrew Doga

Artists:
Chris Bialkowski, Kamaur Bonfield, Garret Walter, Adam Stockett

mpv shot

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

Main Titles mxf Still

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

saltfatacidheat

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

Film Reel

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

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