Underdog Entertainment, a New York-based production company, announced that “Teenage Popstar Girl,” directed by Daniel Azarian for the band Whisperado, has won Best International Music Video at the 2013 London Independent Film Festival (LIFF).
The 12-day festival showcases filmmaking from the UK and around the world. Time Out Magazine called LIFF a “treasure trove of undiscovered cinematic gems” and “one of Europe’s top indie film fests.” Recent winners of their Champion awards have included Michael Figgis, Bob Hoskins and the British Film Institute. Visit LondonIndependent.org
Hailed as “bubblegum social satire” by Blogcritics and “a great take on modern pop culture” by the award-winning radio program, Following the Nerd, “Teenage Popstar Girl” is featured on AOL Music and recently won at the Robot Film Festival.
The subversive video follows an awkward tween who worships an impossibly perfect popstar – only to discover that her idol isn’t what she seems. According to director Azarian, it’s a satiric account of the way in which singers and celebrities are pre-packaged and mass-marketed like plastic dolls.
“It’s a cautionary tale,” he explained. “A young girl gets manipulated and seduced by a manufactured icon.”
The video stars actress Mary O’Rourke (Something Borrowed, Gossip Girl), who will also star in the upcoming “Infinitely Polar Bear” with Zoe Saldana and Mark Ruffalo. “Popstar” also features a cameo by actress Tara Langella as the sinister record executive.
Azarian is an established director of television commercials and public service announcements (PSAs). His PSA “Save Lolita” was a finalist at the prestigious 2012 Blue Ocean Film Festival as well as winning two Telly Awards. In all, he has won five Tellys – including the Silver Award, Telly’s highest honor. He has directed and produced national spots for 3M’s Scotch-Brite brand and Horizon Organic. Blue-chip telecommunications firms and entertainment networks have licensed Azarian’s work for their US and international mobile networks. He directed the AVP’s “Bullying is Violence” PSA that appeared on PerezHilton.com and “Building the New World Trade Center” for Silverstein Properties. His “Free Morgan” PSA was featured recently on the Huffington Post.
Credits
Title: Teenage Popstar Girl Music Video
Client: Whisperado
Agency: Underdog Entertainment
Producer/Director: Daniel Azarian
Associate Producer: Andrew Baris
Cinematography: Milton Kam
Popstar Makeup Design: Jacqueline Catanese
Stage Set Design: Russell Schramm
Choreography: Maurice Parent
Visual Effects: Daniel Azarian
For more information on the band Whisperado, visit www.Whisperado.com.
Underdog Entertainment (www.UnderdogEntertainment.com) is a New York-based production company active in producing commercial spots, public service announcements and branded and traditional entertainment.
