Design Firm Continues Innovative Production Method for International
Locations, Delivering Second Season to FINE LIVING Network
HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- How do you top producing a
"vacation rental homes" series that map-hops six continents, 28 countries,
22 states, and 88 cities, and stays on budget? Get reupped for season two,
shoot 91 new homes spanning the globe, and just like the first season, do it
without ever leaving Southern California. Mark Bohman, Troika Design Group's
executive creative director and co-founder, made the announcement today that
Troika has just delivered a second season of 13 innovative episodes of "Around
the World in 80 Homes" to the FINE LIVING Network.
Themed episodes range from "Active Escapes" to "Offbeat Retreats" and
"European Life" to "On the Water." In each 30-minute episode, seven
distinctive rental vacation properties are featured, including a wide range of
architectural styles, amenities, and stunning locales.
For example, the episode "Active Escapes" takes viewers inside desirable
vacation homes that also enjoy the outdoors. Here, viewers tour an
architect-designed home overlooking Chile's snow-capped Mt. Osorno volcano
whose waterfalls flow to fly-fishing trout streams. Next, they tour a North
Carolina chalet with 360-degree views of the Smoky Mountains whose trails lead
to the historical Cataloochee ski resort.
Troika's secret to producing this globetrotting travel and accommodations
show is its history of producing thousands of assets in a highly-organized and
detailed manner to brand dozens of networks and shows. From ESPN's
SportsCenter graphics package to the Food Network's on-air look, Troika has
now translated its organizational skill set and quick-paced visual language
into a half-hour show format.
But how does the Troika crew generate assets for the international
production without ever leaving Southern California? Troika gathers
professional-caliber coverage using photography shot by the homeowners
themselves, who are armed with digital cameras and work off an instructional
style guide. This foolproof guide outlines everything from "establishing
shots" to "flash usage" in simple, user-friendly steps. The rotating package
of twenty cameras and guides are shipped worldwide with return postage paid in
advance.
Bohman observed, "'Around the World in 80 Homes' offers a unique showcase
for rental property owners. We are able to obtain show assets from these
remote locations due to owners' overwhelming interest to be featured on the
show. Due to the volume of coverage Troika receives, this innovative
production technique also allows us to be selective and critical of the assets
that we are provided with."
Troika's editorial process takes the oversized digital photos and adds
pans and zooms to create a cinematic language that allows for more control
over presentation than traditional live action.
For example, graphics of a camera's crosshairs and shutter sound effects
capture each architectural detail, while bullet points highlight amenities.
Alternating male and female voice-overs narrate the home's sleeping capacity,
regional activities, and 'personal touches' to finish simulating the
live-action tour.
Building on its history of on-air deliverables, Troika executes all
research, writing, graphics, animation, sound design, music, interstitials,
narration, and production coordination in-house, utilizing Macintosh
workstations and its in-house recording studio, Telegraph Hill.
Chuck Carey, Troika's executive producer and co-founder said, "The analogy
is a sprinter becoming a marathon runner. For three years, we've been focused
on network branding packages typically containing hundreds of elements that
run for seconds at a time. With this show we've brought together our design
and production knowledge to maximize our efficiencies and produce half-hour
shows."
Additional sample homes featured on the series include regionally diverse
rentals in the episode entitled "Across America." Here, the viewer is walked
through a French Caribbean home in the Florida Keys, followed by a traditional
adobe in New Mexico, and then five other geographically and architecturally
unique houses.
In the upcoming episode, "Family Friendly Homes," viewers visit a modern,
17,000 square foot Cabo San Lucas mansion overlooking the Pacific, then
journey to a rustic Yellowstone log cabin that sleeps fifteen (not counting
the moose and other abundant wildlife just outside our door).
Next, viewers take a moment to "Relax & Refresh" at an Andalusian cottage
in the sunny hills of southern Spain. There, they are lulled poolside on a
porch beneath a wine-covered pergola loaded with grapes. In Costa Rica, they
enjoy a little 'R&R' inside a post-modern monolith where monkeys swing
harmoniously in the rain forest beyond the infinity pool.
All properties are available to rent with a price range from $700 to
$17,000 per week. The homes sleep anywhere from two to twenty people, with
the prices comparable to the number of guests.
Season two of "Around the World in 80 Homes" is now airing seven days per
week in varying timeslots. Viewers can look up the next air dates, for
November 2004, by title and corresponding theme at FINE LIVING's online
calendar web site: http://www.fineliving.com/fine/program_guide.
Members of the press are encouraged to download artwork at:
http://www.troika.tv/press/ATW.
Troika Design Group is a multidisciplinary, award-winning design and
production company in Hollywood. Troika consists of more than 20 designers,
producers, animators, editors and conceptual thinkers who specialize in
network and show branding, promotional and advertising campaigns, and show
production. Established in the spring of 2001 by industry leaders Dan
Pappalardo, Mark Bohman and Chuck Carey, Troika has emerged as one of the
premier providers of strategic design and creative production for television.
Troika works closely with television and cable networks including ABC, E!
Entertainment, UPN, Food Network, ESPN, Comedy Central, HGTV, FINE LIVING, TV
Guide Channel, and VH1. For more information, please visit http://www.troika.tv or
call Chuck Carey at 323.965.1650.
FINE LIVING is the fourth in a series of major brands from Scripps
Networks that includes Home & Garden Television, Food Network, DIY -- Do It
Yourself Network and Shop At Home Network. Scripps Networks is owned by The
E.W. Scripps Company. Scripps operates 21 daily newspapers,
10 broadcast television stations, Scripps Howard News Service, United Media,
which is the worldwide licensing and syndication home of PEANUTS and DILBERT,
and 31 affiliated websites, including http://www.fineliving.com, http://www.hgtv.com,
http://www.foodnetwork.com, http://www.diynet.com and http://www.comics.com.
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