Los York > Dexton Deboree
Unbanned: The Legend Of A.J.1
Creative development and art direction for a feature length documentary about Michael Jordan’s AJ1.
Director and ECD Dexton Deboree
Production Company Los York
Creative Director Serge Kirsanov
Main Titles Director Shane “@Grif” Griffin
Post Producer Alex Triviado
Animation Art Directors Daniel Khlohn
Design and Art Direction
Serge Kirsanov, John Qudoe Lee, Daniel Khlohn, Angela Wong, Jose Checa, Chris Phillips, Shane Griffin, Morten Kühl Christensen, Sam Cividanis
Producer Nick Thomas, Chad Cork
The Jordan AJ1 was born amid unlikely circumstances, tapped a cultural nerve deep inside a generation and transcended sport to become a global phenomenon - on and off the court. This film looks beyond its iconic image and much deeper than its inherent connection to its namesake - the greatest basketball player of all time, to explore its role in giving birth to the multi-billion dollar sneaker culture, reshaping the game of basketball and influencing popular culture for over 3 decades.
Unbanned: The Legend Of A.J.1
Creative development and art direction for a feature length documentary about Michael Jordan’s AJ1.
Director and ECD Dexton Deboree
Production Company Los York
Creative Director Serge Kirsanov
Main Titles Director Shane “@Grif” Griffin
Post Producer Alex Triviado
Animation Art Directors Daniel Khlohn
Design and Art Direction
Serge Kirsanov, John Qudoe Lee, Daniel Khlohn, Angela Wong, Jose Checa, Chris Phillips, Shane Griffin, Morten Kühl Christensen, Sam Cividanis
Producer Nick Thomas, Chad Cork
The Jordan AJ1 was born amid unlikely circumstances, tapped a cultural nerve deep inside a generation and transcended sport to become a global phenomenon - on and off the court. This film looks beyond its iconic image and much deeper than its inherent connection to its namesake - the greatest basketball player of all time, to explore its role in giving birth to the multi-billion dollar sneaker culture, reshaping the game of basketball and influencing popular culture for over 3 decades.
I sat down with the director, Dex Deboree, and we started talking about a general idea of what this film wanted to feel like.
From there I created a treatment, with an outline for the main titles, which were to be their own short film, and the art direction for the film graphics which were an integral part of the story telling due to the lack of live action footage.
Dex and I agreed that Shane Griffin would be the artist to create the main titles film. I then worked with designer John Quodoe Lee to develop the visual langauge. We did some early animation tests that set a motion system and an ownable language. Once we knew where we were going we brought it Daniel Khlohn to art direct the animation of the in-film graphics.
From there, Dex looked towards the marketing of the film across the extremely loud sneaker & streetwear spaces. I helped with those efforts working on creative direction across social and OOH in partnerhsip with our IMM partners.
From there I created a treatment, with an outline for the main titles, which were to be their own short film, and the art direction for the film graphics which were an integral part of the story telling due to the lack of live action footage.
Dex and I agreed that Shane Griffin would be the artist to create the main titles film. I then worked with designer John Quodoe Lee to develop the visual langauge. We did some early animation tests that set a motion system and an ownable language. Once we knew where we were going we brought it Daniel Khlohn to art direct the animation of the in-film graphics.
From there, Dex looked towards the marketing of the film across the extremely loud sneaker & streetwear spaces. I helped with those efforts working on creative direction across social and OOH in partnerhsip with our IMM partners.
The Main Titles.
For the main titles, I pitched a short film entirely made in 3D that took us on a “Hero’s Journey.” The conceptual reason for this was to personify the shoe as the protagonist of the film vs. Michael Jordan himself. Go check out the titles sequence on Grif’s site.
Press & OOH Marketing
Nike>Jordan Brand > Content
Jordan Brand CD Desmond Marzette
Director Serge Kirsanov
Cinematography Leo Histin
Editor Josh Hegard
Color Rick Wilson
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‘UNITE’ is Jordan Brand’s rallying cry for the Jumpman community. The campaign features cultural icons from fashion to music and of course sports. Past films have feautured NAS, Virgil Abloh, Kim Jones, Teyanna Taylor.
UNITE Capsule
featuring Neymar Jr.Jordan Brand CD Desmond Marzette
Director Serge Kirsanov
Cinematography Leo Histin
Editor Josh Hegard
Color Rick Wilson
‘UNITE’ is Jordan Brand’s rallying cry for the Jumpman community. The campaign features cultural icons from fashion to music and of course sports. Past films have feautured NAS, Virgil Abloh, Kim Jones, Teyanna Taylor.
I was fortunate enough to direct this film for Neymar Jr. shot in Paris with Jordan’s EMEA team. At the end of the day, hard work is simply that, regardless of where you came from or what you’re dreaming to become. ‘Ney’ finds parallels between hip-hop, basketball, and soccer cultures – tying them together with the fundamentals of dreaming big and working harder than anyone else. As he explains how M.J. was his idol, his narrative comes full circle as he becomes the Michael Jordan of his generation. We shot on digital and 16mm film.
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