Production Paradise

Production Paradise is proud to present the first edition of SHOWCASE ZURICH. According to a recent survey, Switzerland's largest city has the best quality of life in the world. It also offers some of the best production services, some of which we have featured in this magazine.

The 8th Art International Zurich is currently running at the Kongresshaus Zurich until 22 October, focusing on visual art from outside Europe, and featuring Young Korean Art and a selection of galleries from 20 countries.

Nike Fine Art Switzerland features historical photographs from 1970s artists, among them portraits of Joseph Beuys, Wolf Vostell, Alice Aycock, Alan Sonfist, Ben Vautier, Harry Kramer and Andy Warhol.

Our photo of the month is by Sven Bänziger, shot for Swiss magazine Annabelle. Don't forget that you can find more information and service providers in our Zürich city directory at www.productionparadise.com.

zrh photography/photographers: GüNTHER KATHREIN

Austrian-born photographer, Günther Kathrein, is based in Zurich and specialises in beauty and fashion, with international clients that include: Giorgio Armani, Wolford, Vivienne Westwood, Hanro of Switzerland and Schwarzkopf.

Recent projects by Günther include:

• A shoot for fashion label Hucke's international image campaign with Eva Padberg and Brenda Costa.
• The spring collection 2007 shoot for Public, with Irina Bondarenko.
• Luxury label Wolford's current lingerie collection with Madeleine Hjört for - images are being shown worldwide.
• The Body and Legwear Campaign 2007 for Giorgio Armani, again for worldwide use.
• The campaign for international tap company, Hans Grohe.

zrh photography/photographers' agents: TINA AICH

Photographers' agent, Tina Aich, has been operating in Zurich since 1994 and works throughout Switzerland and internationally.

Her focus is advertising and fashion, and clients include: Alpha Romeo, Bucherer Montres, Clariant, Fogal, Globus, Linde, Loewe, Mercedes-Benz, Migros, Sunrise, Swiss and UBS.

Tina Aich represents well-known, established photographers as well as those that are new and up-and-coming: Stephan Schacher, Sven Bänziger, Valentin Jeck, Claudia Knoepfel + Stefan Indlekofer, Sarah Maurer, Christian Knörr, Oliver Lang, Roland Tännler, Serge Hoeltschi, Philipp Keel, Klaus Andorfer, Bruno Bisang and Sandra Seckinger.

zrh photography/photographers: SCHEFFOLD.VIZNER

Fabian Scheffold and Istvan Vizner say that they have shared "a passion for the visionary" since forming their creative partnership twelve years ago.

What began as doing "laid-back projects" has developed over the years into a model of "fine-tuned and well-rehearsed teamwork" that combines their knowledge and experience of over 40 years in the advertising industry.

At shoots, they offer a strong combination of creativity, photography and graphic-illustration as well as using their postproduction skills as a complimentary tool.

Fabian and István say that it is unimportant who did what; they say, "it is more important to clarify the creative goals and provide an atmosphere in which a constructive debate can take place to bring the project to a level that exceeds the client's expectations".

Their quest for technical and artistic challenges led them to being among the first photographers worldwide to use CGI in their artwork.

zrh photography/photographers: DANIEL INFANGER

Photographer Daniel Infanger is based in Basel, and specialises in people, transportation and landscape work.

His client list includes Mercedes, Lexus, Toyota, Swisscom, Credit Suisse, EMI Music, Annabelle and Swiss Solidarity.

Showcased here is some of his recent work, for two editions of the Mercedes Benz Magazine - one shot in the Swiss Alps, and the other produced in Spain.

Visit Daniel's new website for more details and photos.

zrh photography/photographers: CHRISTOPH LäSER

Christoph Laeser specialises in fashion, sports, beauty and people photography, with a strong emphasis on mood and movement in his pictures.

He just finished the winter sports shoot for Manor and is leaving for Holland and Spain for a Dutch fashion client.

zrh photography/photographers: TOBIAS R. DüRRING

Photographer Tobias R. Dürring focuses on people, portrait, advertising and fine art.

He has recently been working on the UBS bank annual report, the yearbook for the Art-Directors-Club of Switzerland, the Reebok image campaign, as well as portraits of stars such as Ice T, Luther Allison, Thomas D. and INXC.

Tobias is also constantly working on his own projects, such as the "lan Soldiers" series which will be exhibited later this year at the Kunsthalle Basel.

zrh photography/rental studios photo: PROSTUDIO

zrh photography/rental studios photo: SWISSTUDIO

Swisstudio is one of the largest rental studios for photo and film productions in Switzerland, offering generous studios equipped with the latest technology, for optimum production conditions for photo shoots and filmmaking.

Standard through to high-end studios are available:

Studio 1 - open-plan studio with a 168 curved horizon, production surface of approximately. 360m2, 20.5m long, 18m wide, 8m high.

Studio 2 - standard open plan studio, production surface of about 323m2, 17.5m long, including director's room and gallery.

Studio 1XX - extra large studio (studio 1 and studio 2 combined).

Studio 3 - still life, people and fashion studio, with a production surface of around 80m2 (without ancillary rooms), 14.5.m long and 5.5m wide.

For more information, visit their website www.swisstudio.com.

zrh production/photo production: AVOCADOPRODUCTIONS GMBH

Avocado was established in 1998 in Moscow by Swiss photographer Urs Wyss. The company presents international and local photographers, in the areas of people, lifestyle, fashion, beauty, stills, cars, architecture and landscapes. A full production service is offered in Russia and ex-Soviet Union countries.

Recent projects produced by Avocado include:

• Cifrograd photographed by Urs Wyss, via Ark Thompson Moscow.

   

• Johnsons Baby photographed for Johnson&Johnson Russia, via Adventa Moscow.

   

• Flagman Vodka by Paris-based photographer Dimitri Tolstoi.

   

• BonAqua Coca-Cola Russia through McCann-Erickson photographed by Serge Guerand who recently started working with Avocado.

   

zrh talent/artists & stylists: RUTH BUGMANN

Basel-based stylist Ruth Bugmann says she "makes impossible productions possible".

For ten years, she has been developing ideas for fashion, advertising, film and art. She also produces her own shoots now and again (website i-love-u.ch), and has a small pool of models in case of emergency (website r23.ch).

Recent projects:

• Styling for the Rivella lemonade campaign, working with Emilie Boiron, Patrick Nuo and Boris Becker, photos were by Nathan Beck. (c/o Beatrice Mächler)
• Production of a shoot with photographer Franziska Frutiger for the Art Hotel Castell in Zuoz.
• The special models for client Smart came from the r23.ch model pool, photographer was Neil Wilder. (c/o René Hauser)
• Styling and casting of the new underwear campaign for Migros, photos by Diana Scheunemann. (c/o René Hauser)

More details can be found at Ruth's new website.

zrh talent/model agencies: SCOUT MODEL

In a country as multi-cultural as Switzerland, there are countless interesting new faces waiting to be discovered for fashion and advertising campaigns - and SCOUT are constantly looking out for them. They say that they are "the place for up-and-coming models who are striving for an international career at the highest professional level".

The agency also concentrates on the over-30 segment, which is increasingly in demand in advertising and fashion.

to find out more about SCOUT's talents, visit their website.

zrh talent/casting agencies: STREETCASTING

Streetcasting.ch is a people agency based in Basel and Zurich.

They have a pool of around 1000 amateur models: "trendy youngsters, international characters, Asian business people, ballerinas, senior citizens and many more". They also offer services in project-specific street castings, life castings and styling.

Recent projects by Streetcasting include scouting for "German-looking" Koreans for Hyundai; looking for special characters according to special products for Migros; and searching for persons wearing glasses for their own image campaign.

Contact details for enquiries can be found at the website.

zrh event/photo events: MUSEUM FüR GESTALTUNG

30 August to 3 December - Japanese Posters

Japanese posters have developed in a particular way since the Second World War, as a support medium for massive economic growth.

Japanese graphic design is still highly regarded all over the world, and is characterised by an unmistakable style, graphic expressiveness and masterly printing technique.

The exhibition juxtaposes long-standing distinguished designers - including Yusaku Kamekura, Ikko Tanaka, Kazumasa Nagai and Shigeo Fukuda - together with designers from the younger generations, including Kazunari Hattori, Nagi Noda and Kenjiro Sano. Thus, "tradition and modern work confront each other in an exciting way"

The exhibition concentrates on the last 15 years, with a selection of over 150 posters on display.

zrh event/photo events: KUNSTHAUS ZüRICH

Exhibition: "The Alps"

"The Alps - no other landscape has inspired such a wealth of images, none has so radically formed and altered artists’ vision."

In a positively "kaleidoscopic" exhibition, featuring work by artists and amateurs, Kunsthaus Zürich presents a fascinating panorama of this region, with over 300 works vividly showing how this chain of mountains, which extends from France to Slovenia, changes from one natural or cultural region to the next.

The exhibition runs until 2 January 2007.