Utopic

05/14/2024

04/20/2024

Is it looking a little greener outside today? We think so.

Happy 420 from your folks at 420 🌿✨

#420

04/18/2024

Another fun collaboration with our sister production company Hôtel Studios. We had a blast bringing this Cheez It spot (and bear rug!) to life 🐻✨

Editor: Craig Lewandowski
Sound Engineer: Brian Leitner
Finisher: Scott Ackerlund
Colorist: Ken Wald
GFX: Laura Southard
Senior Producer: Lauren Gray
Production Company: Hôtel Studios

04/11/2024

🐾🎉 National Pet Day Guessing Game REVEALED! 🎉🐾

Drumroll, please! 🥁Did you guess right? Check out the answers below!

Who do YOU think looks most like their pet?

Thanks for celebrating National Pet Day with us! 🎉

04/10/2024

🐾 National Pet Day Guessing Game! 🐾

In honor of National Pet Day tomorrow, we're playing a guessing game! Can you match the adorable pets to their loving owners? 🐶🐱🐰 Comment your guesses below, and check back tomorrow for the answers! 🎉

🐾

04/08/2024

Say no more, mon amour. For today’s doubly rare phenomenon, we’re here to remind you not to look directly at the solar eclipse... not on Rex Manning Day! 🌞

03/15/2024

Things have been a little... strange at Utopic this week. Seems like some unseen, magical forces might be sneaking around...

(or Jarrad Adam's just really into St. Paddy's Day🍀)

03/12/2024

Take a peek behind the door... into the world for VFX. Where it’s possible to create doors out thin air, infusing each shot with vitality and detail, one pixel at a time.

03/08/2024

🌟 Happy International Women's Day! 🌟

Today, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women worldwide. 💪✨

Join us in honoring the incredible women who inspire us every day.
🎥

Let's continue to uplift, support, and empower each other, not just today, but every day! 💖

02/28/2024

Since joining Utopic in 2013, Suzie Moore has made her mark as a powerhouse editor, and she’s only gaining speed🔥

Her energy and editing style are not mutually exclusive. She continually amazes with her creativity, delivering high-impact spots at lightning speed. We call that a “Suzie Special”😉

In her spare time, you can find her crafting one-of-a-kind salad recipes, rollerblading, and reading the hottest sci-fi novel. We can only sit back and marvel at Suzie’s talents. Go Suzie Go! 🏃‍♀️

02/16/2024

Not only can we cut, but we can cook! Check out the highlights from our latest cook off "Utopic Soup a Bowl"

02/16/2024

Editor Geoff Cronin working on a new short from writer + director Andrew Bennett! 🎥🎬

02/14/2024

Roses are red, violets are blue, here are some love notes from Utopic to you! 🌹💙

02/02/2024

The great John Malkovich on editing. He gets it. 🙌 Check out his interview with the NYT, where one of Malkovich's (and Utopic's) favorite collaborators, Sandro Miller, is mentioned.

01/30/2024

We work at Utopic. Of course, we love our jobs! 🙌

01/23/2024

Tim’s Run the Year 2023 total miles are….🏃🏻👟

2,367!!!! 🎉👏🏼

WOW! Can you believe it? Tim deserves a massive round of applause for this accomplishment. That’s 344 more than his goal of running 2,023 miles over the course of 2023. Overachieve much, Tim? The closest the rest of us came to 2,367 of anything last year was Cheeto consumption.

All jokes aside, Tim takes on this challenge every year, showing immense hard work, discipline, and passion. He inspires our team to invest in our goals and passions, even if there’s (literally) a long road ahead. 🙌🏼

Plus, we love cheering and heckling him along. As extra motivation this year, we're starting an over/under office bet on how many miles he will run in 2024. Drop your predictions in the comments to get in on the action! Winner gets bragging rights and a pair of Tim’s old running shoes.

01/12/2024

Mean Tweets with Nathan Iseminger

The views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Utopic. No scorpions, tarantulas, or Hoosiers were harmed in the making of this video.

01/05/2024

Alright, friends. It’s probably about time that we introduce you to Utopic lifer and beloved team member Manny. 👋🏼

Manny is kind of a mystery to us, but it’s best not to ask questions you don’t want answers to, like...

• How did he get here? 🤷🏻‍♂️
• What does he do all day? 🤷🏻‍♀️
• Why is he allowed to drink Malort at his desk, but the rest of us aren’t? 🥃

You never know where he is going to pop up or when, but always seems to know just when you need him (or a shot). Legend has it he’s the one who fills the Brita (not Craig!) and the reason we’ve never had to replace the office pen stash.

Stay tuned for Manny’s hijinx. They are too good to keep to ourselves. 😂

12/22/2023

The White Elephant gift exchange is our favorite time of the year.

12/21/2023

Are you ready for a Christmas Break? Us, too! Thankfully, Utopic Editor Jill DiBiase has a new holiday movie premiering tonight, and it’s just the ticket…to Ireland. 🎄✈️

Starring Justin Long and India Mullen, ‘The Christmas Break' airs at 7 pm CST on Fox. Get crazy and watch it live! Or set your DVR. Whatever you do, don't miss it!

When couple Jack (Long) and Caroline (Mullen) travel to Caroline’s native Ireland for Christmas, they find themselves at a crossroads in their marriage: Jack is ready for kids, and Caroline isn’t. Will spending Christmas with Caroline’s large family make them realize they’re ready for a family, or will it scare them away from the idea of having kids altogether? 🤔👨‍👩‍👧

Congratulations on this fantastic work, Jill! We wouldn’t be surprised if Santa tries to poach you to be his best holiday movie editor. 🎅🏼🙌🏼

12/20/2023

🎄 Bored of the holiday movie 'Greatest Hits'? Us too! Shake things up with our team's offbeat favorites that'll have you saying, 'Elf who?' Brace yourself for a cinematic sleigh ride into the unexpected – it's holiday movie night, redefined! Check out the list below! 🌠🎁

The Night They Saved Christmas (1984)
Babes in Toyland (1986)
A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)
Jingle All the Way (1996)
Krampus (2015)
Mixed Nuts (1994)
Christmas at Pee-wee’s Playhouse (1988)
Santa with Muscles (1996)
Scrooged (1988)
The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
Unaccompanied Minors (2006)
Lethal Weapon (1987)
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Pop your obscure holiday favorites in the comments so we can add them to the list!

12/15/2023

Oh, this? Just your Utopic dream team working together during the holidays 🎄🎁🕎

12/12/2023

We like to think we’re an innovative and creative bunch, but Jill's cat, Lucy, is showing us up. She makes her own recycled toys! She built herself a second home out of this office chair box, which is fun for her and great for the environment. It does take away from snuggle time, though. 😻📦♻️

Bravo, Lucy! We could learn something from you—another good girl from the Utopic team of pets.

12/05/2023

VFX makes it possible to age 30 years in less than 30 seconds. Turns out...so does trying to meet EOY deadlines! 🙃👵🏽

11/28/2023

One night only. featuring Utopic’s very own 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻See you there

11/10/2023

🚨Utopic Team Spotlight: Lauren Gray 🚨

Please give it up for Utopic Senior Producer Lauren Gray. But not too loud. Lauren is VERY easily startled. Which is weird because she loves scary movies? Just don’t sneak up on her unless you want to hear a shriek.

On top of being our very own fainting goat, Lauren is a music lover and a concert fiend. She goes all out for theme parties and will beat you in any board game. She has a contagious zest for life that is hard to resist.

That passion and enthusiasm she has for life translates right into her work. Lauren is one of the smartest, most attentive, on-top-of-it producers we know. And you rarely walk away from her without a smile on your face. Learn a little more about one of our favorite people below!

What got you into producing?
I always knew I wanted to be a producer. I started out on the agency side as a business manager, then made my way over to Utopic as an associate producer, and have been here since!

What do you love about producing?
I love collaborating with so many talented and creative people to bring our client's work to life. There are new challenges and opportunities to flex our creative juices every day. Never a dull day in producing!

What’s your favorite career moment to date?
It's hard to pinpoint an exact moment, but I've really loved and been so lucky to grow and learn as a producer at Utopic. I've had fantastic mentors here, and I am grateful for everything they've taught me throughout my career.

What’s your work style?
Open communication and trying to keep everything as fun and stress-free as possible. I feel that creativity flourishes when everyone feels that they are being heard and are having a bit of fun. Also, I'm usually jamming to some great tunes when not on calls :)

Favorite Chicago pizza place?
Peaquods!