WALL OF FLAMES

TitleWALL OF FLAMES
BrandNSW RURAL FIRE SERVICE
Product / ServiceNSW RURAL FIRE SERVICE
CategoryC01. Animated Digital Screens
EntrantWUNDERMAN THOMPSON Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Idea Creation WUNDERMAN THOMPSON Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Media Placement SILVERCAST MEDIA New York, USA
Production WUNDERMAN THOMPSON Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Post Production WUNDERMAN THOMPSON Sydney, AUSTRALIA

Credits

Name Company Position
Simon Langley Wunderman Thompson Chief Creative Officer
Sinead Roarty Wunderman Thompson Creative Director
Jack Elliott Wunderman Thompson Associate Creative Director
Lochie Newham Wunderman Thompson Associate Creative Director
Angela Morris Wunderman Thompson National Chief Strategy Officer
Ana Lynch Wunderman Thompson Partner
Rebekah O’Grady Wunderman Thompson Engagement Manager
Chloe Marshall Wunderman Thompson Producer
Kel Gronow Wunderman Thompson Senior VFX Artist

Cultural / Context information for the jury

In summer 2019/2020, the world watched as Australia faced its worst bushfires in living memory. These fires burned over 24 million hectares, and firefighters fought flames as high as 70 metres.

Tell the jury about the animated component of the work.

The goal of this billboard’s vfx was to put people in the shoes of a firefighter battling a bushfire front. To do that, we used 3D Particle Animation to simulate a life-size burning forest, demonstrating both the speed and height that actual bushfire flames can reach. In a bid to stand out from Times Square’s usual bright lights, the animation began with an entirely black screen featuring one small super that read: “Imagine fighting a bushfire higher than this billboard”, before it was engulfed by flames ravaging through a forest.