We are very proud of Anthony Baptiste recent graduate of the Digital Media Studies program in UTT.. He is one of 15 International applicants to be accepted into the prestigious Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning.
Here is an excerpt from an inspirational backgrounder on Anthony written by Katrin Callender:
I’m sitting across from Anthony Baptiste, completely engaged in the story of his life. I’ve seen him a million times as I rushed about campus- his concentration fixed on his computer. I would never have guessed that such an unassuming guy would have a background that reads like a novel. And I am certain that there are many more surprises in store.
Baptiste was raised at St Dominic’s Children’s Home. Although he loved to spend his time by himself while there, he credits St. Dominic’s with teaching him how to be a gentleman, teaching him etiquette and instilling in him such lessons as the importance of getting an education; taking life seriously; making something of yourself; and giving back to society. He was also taught, and believes that if he goes after his dreams, they will come true.
It was while living with his sister, after leaving St Dominic’s, that Baptiste began exploring different career options in the field of graphic design. He had been interested in Animation since seeing the film Toy Story, but did not know that such a job existed or that Animation was even taught in Trinidad and Tobago.
It was Chance that illuminated Baptiste’s first steps along his path, in the form of a graphic designer who visited his secondary school. He introduced Baptiste to computer software, showing him how animation was done.
Eager to pursue a career in the field, the self-motivated Baptiste attended film festivals and listened to industry professionals, both local and international, as they shared their experiences. Baptiste also began researching schools, as he was and remains, desirous of expanding his knowledge of the field. Then Baptiste found out about the Diploma in Digital Media Studies: Animation, offered by the University of Trinidad and Tobago. He was very interested and enrolled. Baptiste describes the experience as a great one. The learned to use software and acquired the skills necessary to produce his own work.
Upon graduation and with the understanding that he would have to study more to achieve his goal, Baptiste continued research schools that offered Animation programmes. He found programmes that interested him and began the lengthy application process with the assistance of Mario Lewis, one of his lecturers while he had been a student at UTT. He acknowledges Lewis’s role in helping him to prepare a portfolio that spoke to the level of professionalism he works at.
Of the schools he had applied to, his preference was Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. This institution has offered animation classes since 1971 with a high rate of success, as students are taught by industry veterans, and graduates are usually snatched up by top studios in the industry.
Additionally, the college is known for its commitment to continuous advanced research, so that students are always at the cutting edge of technology. Naturally, Baptiste was elated when he learned that out of all the applicants for a place at this institution, he was numbered among the fifteen students selected.
Baptiste explains that his plans for the future include working in the field of Animation after completing the programme at Sheridan, in order to gain the experience of working in a studio, and produce work that is up to industry standards, before returning home to share his expertise and help to develop the local Animation industry.
He is committed to sharing his knowledge with at risk youth to let them know that anything is possible. Baptiste has worked hard and remained focused on his dream, and will continue to do so until they are accomplished. The honour of attending Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning will facilitate not only Baptiste’s growth, both academically and personally, but it sends a powerful message to youngsters who would pursue a similar course. The talent and dedication that Baptiste has exhibited, in spite of the challenges he has faced and conquered are an inspiration to us all.
This skilled son of the soil needs your assistance to raise the funds necessary to pursue studies that will allow him to contribute to our developing Animation industry. Your support will allow him the opportunity to continue to make us proud.
On Thursday May 10, 2012, join us in showing support for Anthony as he turns his dreams into a reality.
Director Alex Smailes was one of 18 photographers from 7 countries around the region to be selected for this stunning representation of contempory photography and visual makers.
Pictures From Paradise is a photographic essay book launched on Thursday April 26th, 2012 as part of the Bocas Lit Fest.
The book was published by Robert and Christopher Publishers, designed by Richard Mark Rawlins, edited by Melanie Archer and Mariel Brown and the essay was written by O’Neil Lawrence.
On Friday April 27th, the Medulla Art Gallery hosted an event where several of the artists spoke about their work and contemporary Caribbean photography in general.
Pictures From Paradise features the work of EWAN ATKINSON, MARVIN BARTLEY, TERRY BODDIE, HOLLY BYNOE, JAMES COOPER, RENEE COX, GERARD GASKIN, ABIGAIL HADEED, GERARD HANSON, NADIA HUGGINS, MARLON JAMES, ROSHINI KEMPADOO, O’NEIL LAWRENCE, EBONY G PATTERSON, RADCLIFFE ROYE, ALEX SMAILES, STACEY TYRELL, RODELL WARNER
We’re already fascinated by how the Internet has become the single most important tool for information gathering, networking, social interaction, and virtually every aspect of our personal activities.
Over the last 7 years, our ability to connect with virtually anyone from across the globe has been simplified thanks to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and several other social networking mediums.
While the progression of these tools are creating opportunities, it is important to understand how these tools have shaped, improved or shifted our interpersonal relationships, and more importantly our ability to communicate effectively:
A couple of questions I think need to be taken into consideration:
1) Are we communicating more because of the increased capacity to contact anyone from a distance? If so, how are we communicating with them?
2) Are we getting involved in networking and community activities?
3) What sense of ‘belonging’ to communities do networked people have?
4) Are we sending the right messages to the right people?
5) How sure are we that the receiver of your intended message(s) understands your message?
Our increased ease and ability to send and receive messages in real time can become a double-edged sword.
We are inundated with information, messages, calls to action, ads, products…and the list goes on. It’s easy to blast out a broadcast message to everyone on your contact list to get your message across; however, the responses are less likely to be favourable from someone who has no interest whatsoever. Wouldn’t it be better to personally contact the people you know would have a vested interest or who would benefit from your message? I mean are we becoming that lazy?
Another important element of any form of communication is ensuring that your intended messages are clear and understood by the intended receiver.
Ask yourself this: are we following up with them, or are we merely assuming that because they received your e-mail, text, bbm or phone call, your intended message was delivered? Failure to clarify this could be detrimental.
Are We Connecting?
The Internet has provided us with the ability to expand our reach and connect with anyone at anytime. As a result, we are witnessing a movement towards ‘networked individualism’.
The social network revolution has provided the opportunities — and stresses — for people to reach beyond the world of tight groups…People function more as networked individuals and less as group members.”
- Prof. Barry Wellman, S.D. Clark professor of sociology at the University of Toronto
We’re moving towards a networked society where people are adapting to new forms of interacting (online chatting, IM, online communities) mainly from indoors rather than the visible outdoors…another facilitator towards the privitisation of community.
Are we effectively leveraging our communication tools and more importantly, are we really functioning better as networked individuals?
What are your thoughts?
*This post was taken from the author’s personal blog
Suggestive charades, push-up pies, and karaoke are just a few of the activities you can expect at a Bar Wars tour.
Bar Wars is a new project produced by Abovegroup Ogilvy and brought to you by Carib Brewery Limited. It comprises of a 15-week TV series.
The Bar Wars events are set to occur three times a week from Thursday – Sunday and Tuesdays between the hours of 6-8pm. We will be visiting 24 bars over the next two to three months, in order to select the top eight teams (the top scoring teams) from the Bar Wars run.
Each event includes 5 rounds of questions in the following categories: Music, Sports, General Knowledge, Entertainment and a final qualification round involving karaoke.
On Friday (March 23, 2012) we kicked off Bar Wars at Darin’s Bar in Diego Martin, followed by a crowded Smokey & Bunty’s on Saturday March 24th where the street adjacent was closed off for the event.
Smokey & Bunty’s was jam-packed with enthusiastic and highly energetic patrons eagerly trying to assist the teams with the trivia questions and jeering on the participants.
The crowd went wild as the teams were acting out the suggestive charade words and Bar Wars host, Sunny Bling from 94.1, provided his colourful and comical commentary.
Here are a few snapshots from the event:
The scoreboard after round 1.
Bar Wars Babe gives us a demonstration on “push-up pies”
Some encouragement from a member of the audience
Sling ‘d beer in full swing
Final round…Karaoke
A special thanks goes out to our AV Production Assistant, Richard Taylor for the Bar Wars animations and our in-house photographer and Brand Strategist, Kibwe Brathwaite for the photography.
Ceremonies in Sarajevo mark 20 years since the start of the war in Bosnia-Hercegovina, a conflict that saw the worst atrocities in Europe since World War II.
The conflict began in April 1992 as part of the break-up of Yugoslavia. About 100,000 people were killed and nearly half the population forced from their homes. For three years and eight months in the early 1990s, Sarajevo was a city under siege, more than 600 children were killed in the 43-month siege by Serb forces that held the hilltops.
The mainly Muslim population lived in terror, as Serb gunners barraged the city from the hills surrounding it. Queuing for water or shopping at the market during the siege, Sarajevans were picked off by snipers and random shelling. Running out of burial places, many of the bodies were interred beneath a hillside football pitch.
The worst single atrocity during the war was at Srebrenica, in eastern Bosnia, in July 1995. Bosnian Serb forces, led by Gen Ratko Mladic, overran what should have been a UN safe haven. About 8,000 Muslim men and boys were taken away and killed.
As a result the UN changed the mandate for its mission and allowed force to be used.
The anniversary finds the Balkan country still deeply divided, with power shared uneasily between Serbs, Croats and Muslims in an unwieldy state ruled by ethnic quotas. It languishes behind ex-Yugoslav neighbours on the long road to the European Union.
One of our Directors, Alex Smailes spent a few months in the Balkans two years after the Bosnian ceasefire working for CARE international and IRC, US and UK aid agencies. But while crossing the border into Kosovo in 1998, sadly another conflict flared up in Pristina continuing the regions struggles.
Here are a few images from the archives:
A grim message on the main road from the airport notoriously dubbed ‘sniper alley’
Unable to bury the mounting victims, sports grounds and cemeteries became overcrowded
A survivor from the U.N. safe haven in Srebrenica, which fell in July 1995 to Serb forces, who then massacred 8,000 Muslim men and boys
Children played with firearms which littered the post conflict countries. Landmines, booby-trapped forests and buildings continued to mame for many years after
Life slowly returned to a surreal reality in both Republika Srpska - the Serbian entity - and the Federation of Bosnia-Hercegovina - made up of Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) and Croats
Part of the 1.8 million displaced were Roma minorities who got caught up in the ethnic mix
Women and female only families from Srebrenica.
In April 1993, the United Nations declared the besieged enclave of Srebrenica in the north-eastern part of Bosnia a “safe area” under UN protection. However, in July 1995, the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR), represented on the ground by a 400-strong contingent of Dutch peacekeepers were overrun and failed to protect it from a paramilitary unit from Serbia known as the Scorpions participated in the massacre.
Excerpts from Reuters and BBC. Photography courtesy of Alex Smailes
The 2012 IDEAS contest calls for innovative proposals that promote sustainable energy technologies in the Caribbean. Here’s a brief summary of the initiative:
• The 2012 IDEAS Energy Innovation Contest for the Caribbean was launched on February 15, 2012
• Awards of up to US$200,000 are offered for projects and enterprises which promote energy efficiency and access to renewable energy in the Caribbean region
• Applications from Antigua and Barbada, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago are invited
UKAid from the Department of International Development (DFID), GVEP International, South Korea and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have launched a contest to develop innovative ideas to improve energy efficiency and expand access to renewable energy in the Caribbean.
The contest, launched with a regional marketing campaign What’s your bright IDEA?, is intended to promote innovative solutions to energy problems that have local or regional benefits, provide jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Award winners will receive up to US$200,000,as well as technical and business development support to implement or scale up their ideas.
Individuals, enterprises and organizations based in the Caribbean are invited to submit proposals focusing on adoption, innovation, assimilation, development and transfer of technologies in renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate change mitigation and fossil fuel substitution by April 30, 2012.
Applications should be submitted electronically - details and guidance are available at http://www.iadb.org/ideas Gran.t winners will be announced July 15, 2012.
“The Caribbean has great potential for economically and environmentally sustainable enterprises in renewable energy and energy efficiency,” said Simone Banister, Climate Change Adviser at DFID Caribbean. “Simple innovations could have a dramatic effect on energies supplies, prices and the way businesses and markets operate in the region.”
Energy in the Caribbean is currently produced almost exclusively from imported fossil fuels, Banister explained. “As a result, consumers are paying high prices for electricity, transport fuels and other forms of energy. So far, the use of alternative sources of energy, particularly renewables, has been limited. We’re hoping to help change that.”
“Local innovation and the adaptation of existing technologies to local circumstances are key to boosting the competitive supply of renewable energy services and tackling environmental concerns”said Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho, Lead Energy Specialist at the IDB.
What is IDEAS?
IDEAS is an Energy Innovation Contest to support the development of innovative projects promoting renewable energies, and improving energy efficiency.. IDEAS was first launched in February 2009, with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Government of Korea, non-governmental organization GVEP International and the German Technical Cooperation for Development (GIZ), and funded by the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ) and the Netherlands Directorate-General of Development Cooperation (DGIS). It received over 1,000 applications from 28 Latin America and Caribbean countries. A total of 26 winners were selected in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, and Saint Lucía.
A second phase of IDEAS was launched on September 15, 2011, in cooperation with the Mexican Secretariat of Energy with the support of the Sustainable Energy Fund (FSE), the IDB and the South Korean Government to promote innovation in sustainable energy. More than 700 applications were received from Latin America and the Caribbean, and 15 winners were selected from Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Mexico. For more information: http://www.iadb.org/ideas.
Our media landscape today is a strange one. Online features and stories fill the traditional press; which in turn, the online community continues to emulate. No longer do we find clearly defined boundaries, as the chicken and the egg are in a constant pas de deux with each other. At a time when editorial staff are being forced to look beyond the realm of traditional communication; Editor in Chief Melissa Gabriel, with the help of an elite Abovegroup Ogilvy team; launched her highly successful fashion blog Trinidad Lookbook as a full-fledged print magazine.
According to AGO Director, Alex Smailes, “When Melissa Gabriel asked if we’d help relaunch LookBook, her immensely popular homegrown fashion commentary blogsite into a print version; in the midst of the Great Recession, global print magazines 6-ft under several years ago, print advertising sales continuing to plummet regionally and a general fear and caution still clearly pervasive into 2012. For us, it was a resounding; Yup – a no brainer.” The team, comprising Creative Director Marlon Darbeau; Art Director Tanya Marie Williams, Designer Tricia Dukhie; Photographer Kibwe Brathwaite and AGO Director Alex Smailes; attacked the undertaking with gusto.
“I was excited about print and the opportunity to design a fashion magazine with stories. I was ready to put something fresh out into the Trinidad magazine landscape!” recalls Williams.
Smailes further explained, “...What a person does outside of work speaks volumes and is a clear indication of what and how they will contribute to the modern creative-business environment.” Trinidad Lookbook was already quite a successful online example of this; translating it into a tangible thing was clearly a good move.
The next hurdle was tackling the capricious fashion demographic, while maintaining creative integrity. Marlon Darbeau intimates, “The magazine is a sign of many great things to come, especially because it’s influenced by pop culture; not only in fashion but even design and photography. When people think of culture they often discount popular culture, and we feel that the publication is a solid contribution to this very valid part of our cultural existence.”
Indeed, in attempting to capture the newly burgeoning fashion demographic, the AGO Lookbook Creative Team knew they had to infuse the publication with their own style and flair. “The designers were encouraged to inject their own personalities into the project. It was about convergence of ideas and bringing minds together. It was about us contributing to the landscape,” Darbeau says.
Even with this carte blanche approach to the process, the team understood that the niche they were exploring was quite a demanding one. Tricia Dukhie explains, “Fashion magazines usually sanction radical layouts and exquisite photography, and I knew Lookbook would not be an exception.”
About his relationship with Fashion Photography, photographer Brathwaite reveals, “I realized that after years of looking at photos and dissecting images, performing commutation tests in my mind; replacing signifiers like hair color, skin color, camera positioning or model positioning, I developed an aversion to the conventions that everyone used.
“I never understood the contorted model poses, the super obvious flashy lighting techniques and the overall excessiveness of a frame that could have effectively communicated the same message with less than half of the things in them.”
What ultimately happened is that they produced a piece of work that embraced the Caribbean perspective and high fashion with candor. Smailes reveals, “We’re our harshest critics and by constantly refusing to settle for me-too design or copy-cat publications, the team never once sat back.“
Trinidad Lookbook currently graces the shelves of several fine establishments and will continue to shatter industry norms with great fervour.
Get your copy at:
- Meiling | No. 6 Carlos Street, Woodbrook
- Bang Bang | Frederick Street, POS
High Street, San Fernando
Trincity Mall
- Blaanix by Bang Bang, Aboutique Mall, Frederick Street, POS
212 Location, Aboutique Mall, Frederick Street, POS
- Runway Street | SimpliCity, 45 Murray Street, Woodbrook
- Indulge Clothing | Tragarete Road, POS
- The Pallet Stick | Havelock Street, St. Clair
- So Chic Boutique | Francis Plaza, Chaguanas
- SuperPharm | Westmoorings
Maraval
Valsayn
Tunapuna
Trincity
Posted in BrandingDesignPhotography on 30th Jan 2012.
At Abovegroup Ogilvy, we believe in making the world a brighter place. A key tenet of that vision is making the world a fairer place.
That’s why we strongly believe that discrimination in any form - race, religion, culture, gender, socio-economic background and sexual orientation, is unacceptable.
While the right to free speech is sacred, the spread of misinformation targeting specific groups and encouraging discrimination is a clear abuse of this right. We’re disheartened by what we have seen recently in the press, paid advertising or not. Apart from being completely at odds with what is actually true, the advertisement is divisive and an embarrassment.
At this point in our nation’s history, we need to always act in ways to bring us together, rather than drive us apart. We need to push aside the forces of intolerance and bigotry, and accept that only together can we achieve what we aspire to as a nation.
Kudos goes out to our own Art Director, Roger A.Pierre for his well-received illustrations in a new book that was launched yesterday.
Last night we had the privilege of enjoying the launch of an illustrated biography of the late artist, Ian Ali at the National Museum Courtyard where Roger exhibited his most recent work.
Roger provided the illustration of the book “Ian Ali” written by Patti-Ann Ali. This book was part of the Great Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago Series.
Over 100 people attended the launch including several dignitaries, Ministers, fellow employees and the family of Ian Ali. Roger’s illustrations had a positive impact on all the attendees and his work was highly regarded as groundbreaking – following in the footsteps of Ian Ali.
Earlier this year Abovegroup Ogilvy coordinated a program with Wendell McShine, Coconut Growers Association (CGA) and the art students of Success Laventille Secondary School called Art Connect. The program involved McShine teaching the students various levels of visual artistic expression, allowing them to explore their talents through workshops and by engaging in a series of visual installations around the community.
To date, the most visually engaging aspect is the mural painted on the CGA wall along the Eastern Main Road. In addition to sponsoring the project, CGA also donated a substantial section of their front wall to be used as a canvas, thus allowing McShine and students from the school to embark on the creation of a public art installation. The installation is a collaboration of their individual paintings that fluidly transition into each other, expressing a narrative through organic shapes and vivid color.
In addition to capturing various aspects of the creative process from its inception, the entire Art Connect project was thoroughly documented by film director Miquel Galofré and made into a film ‘Art Connect in Laventille’. The film, soon to be released, is an in-depth exploration into the Art Connect project, highlighting the unique experiences and the impact the inspirational project had on individual students. Take a look at the latest trailer for the film.
We also created portraits of the students in their exuberance, producing their own public signatures for the live audience of pedestrians and commuters of mid day traffic.
Garvin Mortley and Akiler Holder
Anna Campbell and Ateion Jones
Maliq Noel and Sherise Jones
Isis Gerry and Salif Calliste
Posted in ArtCommunity OutreachPhotographyVideo on 30th Nov 2011.
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Our multi-versatile database of Trinidad and Tobago’s best and brightest talent, boasts of models, photographers, radio announcers, singers and actors ranging in age between 3 months to 70 years! Join us!
Creative thinking and a bit of drinking
Show & Tell is a monthly event hosted by Abovegroup Ogilvy in our studio. Speakers come from a range of backgrounds and interests. Admission is free and the atmosphere is easy.
Garvin Mortley and Akiler Holder
Anna Campbell and Ateion Jones
Maliq Noel and Sherise Jones
Isis Gerry and Salif Calliste
