Chipotle's "The Scarecrow" : The Film, The Game and A Look Behind The Scenes.

Following up on the success of their 2012 Cannes Grand Prix winner "Back To The Start" (shown below), Chipotle and CAA Marketing have released a new short film and an interactive game that take an ultra-critical look at Big Food in order to highlight its own sustainably-sourced ethos.

Back to The Start:


“The Scarecrow” is at once an addicting game, a poignant short film, and a project that reflects what the folks at Chipotle believe in. The city of Plenty is a glimpse at a future that may not be far off. Processed food, animal confinement, and the use of synthetic growth hormones, non-therapeutic antibiotics, and toxic pesticides are rampant in our food supply. Educating people about alternatives is a journey for the Scarecrow, and it continues to be a journey for us.

The Short Film


In a dystopian fantasy world, all food production is controlled by fictional industrial giant Crow Foods. Scarecrows have been displaced from their traditional role of protecting food, and are now servants to the crows and their evil plans to dominate the food system. Dreaming of something better, a lone scarecrow sets out to provide an alternative to the unsustainable processed food from the factory.




Produced by Chipotle, the film was created by Academy Award®–winning Moonbot Studios and is set to a remake of the song “Pure Imagination” from the 1971 film classic “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” Beautifully performed by Grammy Award®–winning artist Fiona Apple.

The Scarecrow:


Behind The Scenes:






The Game:


The video is accompanies by a game for your mobile devices.



The Scarecrow needs your help to foil the evil plans of Crow Foods and break the crows‘ monopoly on food production and supply in the city of Plenty. Tilt your device to navigate through each level, outsmart the Crowbots, unlock extras, and restore hope for animals, farms, and the environment, while providing the citizens of Plenty a healthy and delicious alternative.






Download the free app at www.scarecrowgame.com and join the quest for wholesome, sustainable food.

The Chipotle Cultivate Foundation is a non-profit organization established by Chipotle Mexican Grill to continue and strengthen its philanthropic efforts.



Dedicated to creating a sustainable, healthful, and equitable food future, the foundation supports farmers, ranchers, educators, and programs that are working to develop sustainable practices and teaching younger generations about issues in the food chain.

Over the years, Chipotle has contributed more than $2 million to fund initiatives that support sustainable agriculture, family farming, culinary education, and innovation that promotes better food.

Chipotle

Artist Rohitash Rao's Trash Is Most Definitely A Treasure.

If Ralph Steadman, Robert Crumb and Jean-Michel Basquiat ever combined their artistic talents, the result may look something like the whimsical, but edgy illustrative art by California artist Rohitash Rao, known as Ro to his friends.


above: artist Rohitash Rao

Ro is loaded with talent. So much so it was hard to decide what of his I ought to feature on this blog. An art director, film director, animator, illustrator and all around great guy (I speak from personal experience) he has three illustrated children's books to his credit (The fabulous Herbert's Wormhole series ), multiple music videos ( "Speeding to My Death" Official Video by Still Pacific and A Great Big World - "Everyone Is Gay" are must-sees), advertisements for well known brands, his fine art and more. His fabulous 'TRASHart' is what I've chosen to share with you today.




Combining multiple aspects of popular culture - such as the consumption of fast-food, excessive waste, movies, books and cartoon imagery along with graphic design and illustration, Rohitash's work exemplifies the old adage "One man's trash is another man's treasure."  Stomped upon paper cups, crushed cigarette packs, soiled fast food containers, flattened spray paint cans and other garbage serve as the canvases for Ro's illustrated and painted figures, creatures, silhouettes and occasional commentary.






















Since I have the pleasure of knowing Ro personally through both our Alma Mater, Pasadena's Art Center College of Design, and the world of advertising, he graciously offered to answer a few questions about these works for me:

IIHIH: WHEN DID YOU START CREATING THESE?
Ro: Technically I've been painting on stuff I find in the streets since I was kid - mainly because they were free canvases. But I started up again about 6 months when I moved to Venice and discovered all this great trash in the alley behind my studio. The first thing I painted on were these abandoned lottery tickets I found by a dumpster. I painted faces of the people that I imagined angrily chucked them on the ground after obviously not winning. I showed the paintings to a few friends and the response was so positive I did more.

Now i collect trash wherever I go. I was recently in Germany and Malta and I grabbed a few things off the streets while I was there. I am also getting commissions, most recently from Brazil. People are starting to mail me trash from all over the world. I'd love to do series about the geography of trash and collaborate with a litter organization or even someone like Surfrider down the road.

IIHIH: WHAT MEDIA DO YOU USE?
Ro: Everything is a mix of gouache, acrylic and spray paint. It's usually whatever material will work on the different textures. Some fast good cups are plastic coated so water based paints don't adhere to it. It's amazing how much I suddenly know what trash is conducive to what paint product!!!

IIHIH: WHAT OTHER ARTISTS INSPIRE YOU?
Ro: I like gritty, surreal stuff. So I guess the main ones would be Basquiat, R. Crumb, David Shrigley and Francis Bacon.

Let's hope that as long as people continue to make trash, Rohistash Rao continues to turn it into art.

Visit Rohitash Rao's tumblr site to see more.


Buy any of the Herbert's Wormhole Books illustrated by Rohitash Rao here

all images © and courtesy of the artist

The Walking Dead Guitars & Accessories From Peavey With Artwork By Charlie Aldard.

A big hit at the Long Beach Guitar Expo and The NAMM 2013 Show was the newly licensed product line from Peavey Electronics® featuring graphics from The Walking Dead, the award-winning comic and TV show.





Designed for serious collectors and musicians alike by Peavey electronics, one of the world's largest manufacturers and suppliers of musical instruments and professional sound equipment, these new musical instruments will feature highly detailed artwork on guitars and accessories such as the straps and picks shown below.



Order The Walking Dead Zombie Guitar leather and Poly Straps here

“We are very pleased to be working with Skybound, the creators of The Walking Dead,” commented Hartley Peavey, founder and CEO of Peavey Electronics. “The immense popularity of The Walking Dead comic and cable TV show will allow us to get our products in the hands of an entirely new market and will expand our range of designs.”



Order The Walking Dead Characters Guitar Pick Packs here

Shawn Kirkham, Director of Business Development at Skybound Entertainment, added, “The merging of The Walking Dead’s iconic art and the equally iconic Peavey brand is a no-brainer. I’m excited to see fans and musicians strapping on guitars featuring gruesome Walking Dead artwork from Charlie Adlard. These guitars, straps and picks are going to look brutal!”


above: musician Nikki Stringfield with the Walking Dead Guitars

Below are prototype images of the guitars available. The actual products ship in July and will look more like the photographs shown above.

The Walking Dead Issue 100 Cover Rockmaster Electric Guitar:

This guitar will feature the cover art, shown below, from Charlie Adlard's Walking Dead Issue #100:


• The Walking Dead Issue 100 Cover Rockmaster Electric Guitar!
• Features the cover art by Charlie Adlard of The Walking Dead's issue #100 (shown above)
• Full-size electric guitar with a basswood body, maple neck, and rosewood fretboard.

Designed for serious collectors and musicians alike, this The Walking Dead Issue 100 Cover Rockmaster Electric Guitar from Peavy Electronics features The Walking Dead comic book artist Charlie Adlard's highly-detailed art seen on issue #100 of the comic book series. This guitar is a full-size electric guitar with a high-gloss finish of the cover of issue #100 on a basswood body that provides excellent balance and tone. The maple neck and rosewood fretboard on The Walking Dead Issue 100 Cover Rockmaster Electric Guitar enable fast rhythm and lead playing!

Order The Walking Dead Issue 100 Cover Rockmaster Electric Guitar here

The Walking Dead Michonne Rockmaster Electric Guitar:

This guitar features Charlie Adlard's cover art of Michonne from The Walking Dead comic book series:


• The Walking Dead Michonne Rockmaster Electric Guitar!
• Features an illustration by Charlie Adlard of Michonne from The Walking Dead comic book series. (shown above)
• Full-size electric guitar with a basswood body, maple neck, and rosewood fretboard.

Designed for serious collectors and musicians alike, this The Walking Dead Michonne Rockmaster Electric Guitar from Peavey Electronics features The Walking Dead comic book artist Charlie Adlard's highly-detailed art of Michonne from the series. This guitar is a full-size electric guitar with a high-gloss finish of Michonne on a basswood body that provides excellent balance and tone. The maple neck and rosewood fretboard on The Walking Dead Michonne Rockmaster Electric Guitar enable fast rhythm and lead playing!

Order The Walking Dead Michonne Rockmaster Electric Guitar here

The Walking Dead Riot Previews Rockmaster Electric Guitar:


above: Guy Dobson, Chief of Content for Southern Cross Austereo, with an actual photo (albeit blurry) of The Riot Walking Dead Guitars 

This guitar features Charlie Aldard's illustration of The Walking Dead shown below:


• The Walking Dead Riot Previews Rockmaster Electric Guitar!
• Features art by lead artist Charlie Adlard from The Walking Dead comic book series.
• Full-size electric guitar with a basswood body, maple neck, and rosewood fretboard.

Designed for serious collectors and musicians alike, this The Walking Dead Riot Previews Rockmaster Electric Guitar from Peavy Electronics features art from the lead artist in The Walking Dead comic book series. This guitar is a full-size electric guitar with a high-gloss finish on a basswood body that provides excellent balance and tone. The maple neck and rosewood fretboard on The Walking Dead Riot Previews Rockmaster Electric Guitar enable fast rhythm and lead playing!

Order The Walking Dead Riot Previews Rockmaster Electric Guitar here

Shop all the Peavey Electronics Walking Dead Items here