Griffins Win Another “Big Time” Award [Video]
Congratulations to the Grand Rapids Griffins! Yes, we know they won the Calder Cup this year, way to go, but they also won another special award.
Their’ “LEGO – I Wanna Drive the Zamboni” video won a Golden Matrix Award for Best Music Video at the 2017 Information Display and Entertainment Association (IDEA) conference, held this week in Philadelphia, competing against the NHL and NBA!
IDEA annually recognizes superior achievement throughout the large screen video and matrix display industry. The award is to recognize artistic and technical excellence in the programming of large screen video and matrix displays located at stadiums, arenas, racetracks, convention centers and other public assembly facilities.
The Griffins, whose video was chosen over finalist entries from the St. Louis Blues and the Atlanta Hawks, became the first “minor league” team since 2006 to win a Golden Matrix Award in any category and the first ever to win Best Music Video since that award’s inception in 1989. The team was also one of three finalists in the category last year, alongside the Hawks and the Edmonton Oilers.
“LEGO – I Wanna Drive the Zamboni” was the creation of four members of the Griffins’ staff: Phil Cronin, director of game operations; Michael King, digital media producer; Michael Spruit, digital media production assistant; and Geoff Rizor, video production intern. The amazing stop-motion video was one of three created for the team’s “Toy Night” on Feb. 18, 2017, which together compiled and required some impressive statistics:
• 13,562 toy bricks used, including 137 mini-figures;
• 3,916 photos taken;
• 24,000+ individual movements;
• 225 man-hours;
• Five days of filming and seven days of editing.
You Tube/griffvision
Very impressive. Way to go Griffins!!