Blac Ionica Interview
Blac Ionica is a Visual & Audio Director Team producing a multitude of Motion graphics for clients all over the world. Their work ranges from adverts and music promos to titles and idents..
We grab a chinwag with the Blac Ionica boys...
What's happening fellas?
Tell us a little bit about yourselves...
Well, we started Blac Ionica about a year ago officially, But we?ve been doing stuff together for about a decade. We've done everything from Firebreathing and Print work for Fatboss & Blues and Soul to Djing at the Big Beat Boutique and Skateboarding. About a year and a half ago, one of us was working at a production company in Soho while the other had just returned from Djing in the Alps. We met up and decided it was time to join forces to form Blac Ionica.
What's behind the name Blac Ionica?
A two headed winged taloned creature.
Which film makers/screenwriters float your boat?
The Beard (Spielberg) anyone who managed to direct a film like Duel at the age of 22 is a master, Darren Aranofsky, Michele Gondry, Chris Cunningham, Jonathan Glazer, Peter Jackson, Wong Kai-Wai, Mathieu Kassovitz, David Fincher, Edgar Wright, Woody Allen, Terry Gilliam, Tim Burton, Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Sans Alien 3) and many many more.
Give us a rundown of the last year, what's been on your plate?
Mostly setting up Blac Ionica and doing Title Sequences for Terrestrial TV, Idents for MTV, working on a few Music Videos and Commercials while still being committed to Darts, Pubs and writing. Basically laying the foundations while still doing some nice work.
Is it true that your MTV sequence was shown in Times Square? How did that happen?
Apparently so yes, we won a pitch to be part of 2004?s MTV ?Art Breaks project? to design an MTV ident that would be broadcast internationally. It was shown in Times Square as part of the screening with MTV. The same piece got us onto the Creative Review DVD10, Televisual Magazine and Shortlisted for Rushes Soho Shorts festival 2005.
We heard you guys are into your darts. Have you played any tournaments?
No not yet although we?ve challenged most other Director mates so we hope someone will play us eventually. Failing that we?ve been thinking about taking up the Javelin as an extreme version of darts
You do all of your own sound as well. What style would you say it is?
It varies massively depending on what its for and what we?ve been listening to recently. Its definitely electro and breaks influenced but there?s all kinds of stuff thrown into it. The best way to describe it is to have a listen on our website and make your own mind up.
When the studio speakers are pumping, who would we expect to hear?
A really wide range of stuff goes through the speakers including: - Tom Waits, any Anticon stuff as it's the most original Hip Hop there is, Old school Mo Wax as it really was groundbreaking back in the day, the occasional 80's power ballad (Mister Mister), most stuff on Leaf, Grand Central, and Ninjatune, more recently Jackson and his computer band (best album of last year we think). We quite often go charity shop trawling for interesting oddities and end up with things like the best of Johnny Mathis or Brazilian salsa records. Oddly we have a theory that all charity shops have at least one Johnny Mathis album. We would be very interested if anyone who can disprove this theory.
Lunchtime sandwiches are on the table... tuna mayonnaise, cheese and spring salad on three malt and sunflower bloomer bread or Lemon Curd... who wants what?
Knowing our rather odd eating habits we?re likely to mix it all together just to see what it tastes like. If its rubbish we?ll feed it to 'the beast'.
What would be your dream pitch?
At the moment, to direct a remake of Nightbreed and 80's classic Robot Jox then write a screenplay of the Wasp Factory and then direct it too.
