About the Project
The FITC new media festival has become something of an institution, and is widely regarded as the foremost conference of its type; people from all over the world travel to attend its sessions, which now occur in such diverse locations as Toronto, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, and Korea, and it has consistently attracted the world’s finest designers as speakers. So when festival organizer Shawn Pucknell asked if Hoggworks Studios could provide something to help build buzz for the shows prior to their taking place, and to provide something additionally special to attendees, we jumped at the chance.
The result is Gideon, the world’s most famous designer, and host of “Gideon Talks,” an interview show where he talks with many of the speakers at the festival. Gideon is at the same time a caricature of new media art directors and a celebration of the new media space; he is conceited and egotistical, but he really loves the industry, and underneath his pompous exterior, just wants people to like him.
In advance of the 2008 Toronto show, Gideon interviewed a number of new media luminaries, including Phillip Kerman and Greg Sadetsky, and during the conference he interviewed a number of others, including Colin Moock, Joshua Davis, and Geoff Stearns. The interviews were featured on both the FITC’s site, and Hoggworks’ own feeds. In addition to these coordinated interviews, Gideon ran around the show floor, ambushing speakers, attendees, and exhibitors alike, asking them hilarious questions before moving on to the next person.
The inaugural “Gideon Talks” was considered a rousing success by festival owner Shawn Pucknell, and additional installments, in support of upcoming FITC festivals, are currently planned.
What we Did
We designed the puppet, built him, and did all of the performing, filming and editing.
Credits
Puppet design and construction by Brian Hogg.
You can view the rest of the Gideon Talks videos on Youtube, by clicking here.