ZONA Redesigns Open and Program Package For A&E Network's "Breakfast With the Arts®"

May 4, 2005 -- A&E Network has once again tapped the talent at ZONA Design, Inc., the New York-based innovative motion design and branding studio, which has redesigned and produced a new open and programming package - including an identity/logo, transitions, bumpers, lower thirds, and billboards – for their popular Sunday morning Breakfast With The Arts program, hosted by journalist Elliott Forrest.

Aficionados of the arts have long enjoyed outstanding Sunday morning music performances and in-depth interviews on Breakfast With The Arts. The program, which has been a staple on the network, is now skewing toward a younger demographic, and getting away from the purely classical mindset. Although it still features in-depth interviews, the program now covers concerts, films, music, and dance from the perspective of a larger arts and entertainment culture.

Although Breakfast With The Arts is a classic morning show, ZONA took a bold and raw approach to the redesigned programming package. “This is a new A&E,” explained ZONA Design Creative Director/Designer/Director Zoa Martinez. “Instead of the usual golden daylight imagery, we chose a more unexpected approach and integrated live-action and expressive design. We start the day with a mug of café con leche and, as it is lifted, leaving a telltale ring on the table, the exhilaration, the caffeine syndrome begins. Typography evolves and comes jetting out from under and behind the mug enumerating the many subjects covered in the programming; music, performance, the Arts. The combination of this typography and images of performers - one an angular Matrix-like modern dancer, another whose movements are more fluid – juxtaposed with arrangements of flowers, film strips, unusual perspectives, action painting, an architectural stage, and a DJ spinning wax, provide the color and texture which give the package its youthful exuberance. In addition, the hand drawn logo design captures the spontaneity and emotion of creativity,” she continued.

A&E Director of On-Air Promotion Valerie Albanese added, "The Breakfast With The Arts open hadn’t been changed in many years and we wanted something young, something that really popped. ZONA Design created a very energetic, much younger programming package that fits the style and attitude of the show beautifully.”    

Led by Creative Director/Designer/Director Zoa Martinez, the ZONA creative team, known for their distinctive and effective designs, included Executive Producer Dennis Fluet, Designer Agnes Nowakowska, Junior Designer Youngha Park, Senior Composite Artist Andre Sam, Editor and Animator Supara Sophonwasu, 3D Animator Carlos Molina and DP Christopher Bierlein.

Zoa Martinez directed the hi-def shoot, shot with an HD Panasonic Varicam, which was lensed in the ZONA Design studios against green screen. ZONA utilized ADOBE After Effects, Illustrator and Photoshop, Apple Final Cut Pro and Maya 3D in the execution of this project.

A&E was represented by Senior Vice President, Marketing Artie Scheff and Director of On-Air Promotion Valerie Albanese.

The package was underscored with a rhythmic stock music track provided to ZONA by A&E.

About ZONA Design
ZONA Design, founded in 1999, is an award winning multi-disciplined design agency creating results driven work that is bold and direct for all points of contact with the consumer in the general, Hispanic, and youth markets. The company’s portfolio includes high profile projects for Disney/ESPN Networks, AOL Time Warner Networks, 5Boro Skateboards, Discovery Communications, Encore Media Group, Rainbow Media Holdings, Chrysler, Dodge, and the various A&E Networks.

About A&E Network
Now reaching more than 88 million homes, A&E Network brings viewers the Art of EntertainmentTM through a unique combination of three genres - The Art of Biography, The Art of Documentary, and The Art of Drama. A brand synonymous with excellence in television, A&E Network offers a diverse mix of programming ranging from critically acclaimed original series and movies, to innovative documentaries, to the Emmy Award-winning Biography® series, to dramatic specials, feature film presentations, and contemporary performances. In 2004, A&E Network holds the distinct record for the most Primetime Emmy nominations (24) for a basic cable network.

The 2005 primetime line-up includes several new series, featuring the premieres of: Kneivel’s Wild Ride, an exuberant and altogether surreal look into the life of Kaptain Robbie, one of our generation's greatest living daredevils and son of Evel; and Intervention, a powerful and gripping new program featuring real people at the boiling point of a personal crisis as they are confronted by friends and family who have staged a surprise intervention. Also set to debut in 2005, Being..., executive produced by Mick Jagger, giving viewers an exclusive, all-access pass into the lives of today's most popular and fascinating people. The 2005 schedule also includes a host of topical and timely documentary specials under the A&E Indie Films including Bearing Witness, Murderball and Rock School and a quarterly series titled Movie Real, bringing viewers the true stories behind the topics of Hollywood's biggest releases. Great drama also remains the heart of the A&E Network brand with upcoming original movies such as Faith of My Fathers. Returning real-life series in 2005 include Dog The Bounty Hunter, Growing Up Gotti, Airline, Family Plots and The First 48.

The A&E Network website is located at www.aetv.com and the Biography® website is located at www.Biography.com. The Biography Club is located at www.BiographyClub.com. For more information and photography please visit us on the web at www.aetvpress.com.

ZONA Design, Inc. is headquartered in the Empire State Building, 350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 321, New York, NY 10118. For additional information, or to see a reel, contact VP/Executive Producer Dennis Fluet at e-mail protected from spam bots or by phone at 212.244.2900. Visit the ZONA Design web site at www.zonadesign.com. ZONA Design is a certified Minority Woman Business Enterprise from the NYNJ Council (NMSDC) and New York City.