Looking Back
Los Angeles visual effects design company A52 was launched in 1995 as a boutique – where ad agency creatives, directors and other industry talents could go to work directly with extraordinary visual effects artists in a casual setting. At this time last year, executive producer Mark Tobin added international VFX artist Raul Ortego to the roster, keeping with the company’s vision, and never looking back on his decision.
Needless to say, it didn’t take long for Ortego to get up-to-speed and to begin giving industry creatives, directors and editors new ideas for solving visual challenges and contributing his energy and talents to high-profile projects. His most recent, an interactive project for Lexus via Team One Advertising, is part of current live exhibitions in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York.
Retracing Ortego’s journey up to this point however, demands a look at his long list of notable work. There was the Kenmore spot Magic, directed by MJZ’s Victor Garcia for Y&R Chicago; the recent multi-spot Nike Golf campaign for Smuggler’s David Frankham via Wieden+Kennedy featuring such spots as See Square and Tour Dominance; the ad Scuba Time for client Helio via Deutsch/LA and Moxie Pictures’ director Jared Hess; spots Anthem and Tech for RPA and Acura directed by MJZ’s Phil Joanou; and four :30 SCI FI Channel promos directed by MJZ director Steven Diller.
Also of note, last August, Sam Bayer collaborated with A52 on a :95 project he directed for Saatchi & Saatchi and Toyota, which continues to be shown during each performance during Brooks & Dunn’s Long Haul Tour. That project represents one of Ortego’s standout experiences from his first year with the company. “The footage that Samuel Bayer shot was very good, and the workflow between us and our CG department was very impressive to me, seeing how everything came together perfectly.”
Through his past experiences prior to joining A52, Ortego had done his share of high-profile music video work, and to say the least, that aspect of A52’s business was very appealing to him. So, it’s no surprise that another of his personal highlights in his early days at A52 was again working with HSI’s Samuel Bayer on the “You Only Live Once” music video for The Strokes. “Tim Bird was the lead artist, and I worked on a bunch of shots,” Ortego says. “In my opinion, this little film is a great piece of art.”
With his first year under his belt, Ortego is anticipating his next project, where he will work closely with Andy Hall and director Bruce Dowad. At the moment, the artist is understandably enthusiastic about his role at A52, his colleagues, and future prospects. “One of the great things about working at A52 is the quality of the directors and the production companies that come to work here, as well as the agencies. Since last March, great projects came to us from agencies like Wieden+Kennedy, Sugartown Creative, The Martin Agency, Saatchi & Saatchi, RPA and Young & Rubicam. I’m very comfortable here, the ambience at this company is wonderful, and the jobs that come to my bay are very sweet.”
