Visual Playground has added two new campaigns to its portfolio including the new opening titles for Neighbours, to mark the 25th Anniversary of Australia’s favourite drama, as well as all the graphics and animated sequences for the 2010 Logie Awards.

A key focus throughout production for the Neighbours graphic package was to ensure the new sequence encapsulated the core values of the show and the expectations of its large and well-established audience.

Warm summer afternoons, soft-lighting effects and an emphasis on characters were the central themes of the artistic vision.

In addition to its customary post production role, Visual Playground was on the Ramsay Street set to shoot a series of scenes featuring the cast in a range of familiar settings. These scenes were planned in order to reconcile the artistic vision with the realities of television production.

The job was achieved using a full digital workflow, from being shot on the RED camera, though to the digital grade, and then finally to post production and delivery.

Eight separate versions of the opener were delivered, from shooting the cast to VFX, to final delivery in less than two weeks. It was directed by John Studley, with cinematography by Wayne Aistrope.

Over to the creation of the 2010 Logie Awards, Visual Playground was approached by Channel Nine to work directly with its team on this event.

“It was important to ensure that the high intensity of the event be maintained throughout the evening whilst at the same time not overshadowing the actual proceedings," said Emily Harridge, creative director, Visual Playground.

"One of the key requirements was to supply the elements in a number of formats to accommodate the unforeseen that is standard with live telecasts. Using After Effects & VIZ, we created all the visual elements as well as the integration of the purpose-shot (35mm film) Live Action opening sequence with the title graphics.”