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

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

a.

Main Title Sequence

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b.

Infographics

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c.

Archival

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d.

More Stills

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

8.

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.

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

a.

More Stuff

More frames detailing the full exploratory

6.

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

a.

Main Title Sequence

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b.

Maps

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c.

More Stuff:

Main title sequence and maps detailed in still frames

5.

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

a.

Main Title Sequence

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b.

Highlights Reel

Play the video - various animations from the series

c.

More Stuff:

A larger selection of images from the series

4.

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

a.

Main Title Sequence

Play the video

3.

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

a.

Main Title Sequence

Play the video

2.

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

a.

Main Title Sequence

Play the video

1.

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