Imaginary Forces

Imaginary Forces creates magical sequences for "The Spiderwick Chronicles"

Los Angeles, CA – (Fed. 14, 2008) – On February 14th, the Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies feature film, “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” will open nationwide. Based on the beloved best-selling series of fantasy adventure books, the film opens with a riveting prologue created and produced by entertainment and design company Imaginary Forces (IF).

Director Mark Waters and Producer Kathleen Kennedy also tapped IF to produce two key flashback sequences in the film, the whimsical end titles, as well as the teaser trailer. The prologue, flashback sequences and end titles were designed and directed by IF Creative Director Ahmet Ahmet. They were produced by IF’s Kathy Kelehan.
"I can't imagine ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ without the incredible contribution Imaginary Forces made to three crucial sequences,” says Director Mark Waters. “Ahmet [Ahmet] and Kathy [Kelehan] and their team added texture and nuance and mystery in a way that really sucks the audience into the world of Spiderwick."

“Imaginary Forces definitely lived up to its name,” adds Producer Kathleen Kennedy. “Between crafting a lush and lyrical title sequence and shaping the look and style of segments within the film itself, their creative contributions to ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ really helped to elevate the story’s magical realism. I look forward to collaborating with them again on future projects.”  

The suspenseful opening sequence takes viewers back 80 years to the secret study of Arthur Spiderwick. For the two-day prologue shoot at Paramount, Ahmet collaborated with renowned Director of Photography Caleb Deschanel.
 
“Ahmet and the team from Imaginary Forces brought great ideas and a wonderful visual and rhythmic sense to all the sequences they created for Spiderwick,” comments Deschanel. “They worked with Mark Waters to develop the storylines, then found powerful visuals to get those ideas across. They were a delight to work with, and the results of their work made everyone involved in Spiderwick excited and proud. Ahmet’s end titles make you want to stay to very last note of the movie – clever and fun. I look forward to getting a chance to work with them again.”

“Working with this team of talented filmmakers enhanced the entire process,” concludes Ahmet. “There was a level of dialogue that allowed us to hone our ideas, and focus on the storytelling and creative content within the sequences to produce something quite unique. The sequences, while imbued with magic and mystery, are set in a tangible scientific world. Spiderwick’s meticulous documentation of scientific discoveries in his field guide, coupled with the macro photography of collected specimens, lab jars and collaged book pages, helped to propel the narrative and convey his obsessive character.”

Studio: Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies
Production Company: The Kennedy/Marshall Company
President of Nickelodeon Movies: Scott Aversano
Director: Mark Waters
Co-Producer: Tom Peitzman
Post Production Supervisor (Paramount): Ben Rosenblatt
Editor: Michael Kahn
Director of Photography: Caleb Deschanel
Producer: Larry Franco

Project: The Spiderwick Chronicles – Prologue, Footlocker and Lucinda Flashbacks

Designed & Produced by: Imaginary Forces (IF)
Creative Director: Peter Frankfurt
Director/Art Director: Ahmet Ahmet
Editor: Jeff Consiglio
Producer: Kathy Kelehan
Designers: Ahmet Ahmet, Karin Fong
2D/3D Animators: Gary Hebert, Charles Khoury, Juan Monasterio, Ben Lopez
Storyboard Artist: Wayne Coe
Lead Inferno Artist: Rod Basham
Inferno Artist: Matt Spencer
Coordinator: Heather Dennis
Head of Production: Ben Apley

Project: The Spiderwick Chronicles – Main On End Title Sequence

Designed & Produced by: Imaginary Forces (IF)
Creative Director: Peter Frankfurt
Art Director: Ahmet Ahmet
Producer: Kathy Kelehan
Designers: Ahmet Ahmet, Jason Walker, Brett Krauss
2D/3D Animators: Sal Rangel, Nate Homan, Juan Monasterio, Miguel Lee, Orlando Costa, Stan Lim, Greg Reynard, Tom Allain, Chris Villa, Don Phillips
Editors: Justine Gerenstein, Jeff Consiglio
Inferno Artist: Andy Dill
Coordinator: Heather Dennis
Head of Production: Ben Apley