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Film and animation workshop Practice Studios, led by directors Mike Slane and Adrian Bishop, has signed for commercial and branded-content representation with Los Angeles- and Oakland, Calif.-based full-service creative production company Where the Buffalo Roam (WTBR).
Slane and Bishop have created commercials, branded entertainment, social media content and explainer videos for such clients as Sesame Street, Evol Foods, Silk Coconut Milk and Waze.
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“You couldn’t ask to work with a nicer, more talented group of folks,” said WTBR Co-Founder and Head of Production PJ Koll in a statement. “The energy and passion Mike and Adrian bring to their craft, not to mention their quirky sense of style, are just a few reasons we wanted them on our roster. We just love them.”
“We feel our unique skill-sets complement WTBR’s diverse roster,” said Slane, also in a statement. “They are kindred spirits who share an appreciation for the kind of mixed-media storytelling we do, while bringing a sense of fun and irreverence to all of it.”
Slane and Bishop started working together directing short films for Sesame Street. They launched Denver-based Practice Studios in 2017, combining Slane’s design and animation skills with Bishop’s live-action skills spanning scriptwriting, directing, and producing. They also tend to incorporate original music into their work, much of which they write themselves.
For example, they produced an animated sing-along campaign for the State of Colorado, which highlighted the seven principles of serving as a steward of the outdoors, values the outdoor-centric state values and promotes highly.
They also created a short film about plastic waste in the oceans called “How Far is Away” that combined 3D animation, puppetry, stop-motion and an original song. The Plastic Pollution Coalition picked up the piece and made it part of its educational program in elementary schools.
“Music is very much a part of our DNA, and it’s always extra special when clients welcome us into that aspect of the creative,” said Bishop. “Even if we’re not writing a song for a piece, we’re always exploring how to inflect musicality into the visual storytelling.”
“We’re constantly exploring new techniques,” Bishop continued. “It’s an especially exciting time to be working in mixed media and having partners like WTBR pushing our art form into the entertainment space and into new opportunities.”