Territory Questions The Digital Age in "Division & Unity"

New York, NY (Jan. 23rd, 2017) – ODD (Office of Development & Design) Creative Director team Territory has released new work questioning the divisive nature of media and technology in our modern age.

“Division & Unity" is a commentary on how our digital age has shaped and influenced us, and a message of how we, the people, are stronger together.

In the film we find ourselves immersed in an abstract landscape, a simulated digital reality, where thoughts on political and social realities are examined.

The bigger social context is explored with questions such as; how there is an abundance of information at our fingertips and everyone can know everything before analyzing the context; how we have all become increasingly more connected yet simultaneously more divided; how we have uploaded our belief systems and fall victim to cyber attacks, political bias and mass surveillance…

All provoke thoughts of today’s culture as norms are shifting throughout the world. Is technology manipulating our consciousness? Are we all unwitting agents of deceit? Is media causing a rift between our claim to privacy and our need to know?

“You can't help but become part of the global conversation,” explains Territory’s David Sheldon-Hicks on the zeitgeist of the work. “We were absorbing everything that happened across Europe and America in 2016. As a result, the work reflects thoughts on technology to spark conversations and thoughts.”

A minimalist score also plays as effective counterpoint, matching the rhythm and contour of both CGI and on-point narration. “We didn’t set out to create a political message,” Sheldon-Hicks adds. “Our aim was to creatively explore the thoughts and concerns we have as individuals and part of a bigger studio family.  It helped to balance everything out with the sound of crackles and organic analog tones to offset the geometric, symmetrical and constructed look of the work.”

“It was fascinating for us to explore all of this,” he continues. “The work raises important questions, but also posed one for us. Being fortunate to work with some of the best storytellers in the world it became a wonderful opportunity to take that learning and apply it directly to our own project.”

Territory continues to work with agencies of note including Grey, Mother, VCCP, Saatchi & Saatchi, adam&eveDDB, JWT & Wunderman DC. Spots includes digital films for AdCouncil, Virgin Atlantic, content for McLaren’s Formula 1 Team, cinematic ads for EA’s Medal of Honor plus a host of hypnotic effects-driven content in Hollywood fare such as, "The Martian," “Prometheus,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Ex Machina” and “Avengers: The Age of Ultron."

ODD is overseen by EP Tim Case. 

www.odd-ny.com

CREDITS

Production Company: Territory Studio / ODD
Creative Director: Andrew Popplestone
Executive Creative Director: Gary Breslin 
Executive Producer(s): Tim Case, Matthew Turke
Producer(s) - Joy Whilby, Gen McMahon
Art Director - Nik Hill
Design - Peter Esenyi, Ryan Rafferty-Phelan
2D Animation - Dan Holjund
Audio - Oli Whitworth