Working with Trilix Marketing Group, Applied Art & Technology recently completed production of a DVD designed to tell the story of Great Ape Trust of Iowa.

Among the highlights of the DVD is high-definition video footage shot from a helicopter of the facility as it exists today and animation from the same aerial perspective of how the facility will look when it is completed several years from now.
"We were looking for the ideal communications tool to convey the vision and scope of Great Ape Trust of Iowa," explains Al Setka, communications director. "In conversations with our agency, Trilix Marketing, we decided that animation was really what we needed, primarily because of the fact that much of what we wanted to communicate was vision and not yet reality."

"Trilix handled the due diligence and determined that Applied Art & Technology was the partner we needed to turn to for animation. Our intent was to develop a communications piece for corporate sponsors, contributors, the scientific community, the media and general public. In addition, we wanted something that could be used on our web site," Setka says. "Everyone who has seen the DVD has been blown over. In fact, the immediate comment from the first Iowa congressional delegate we showed it to was: 'This is a wow!'"

Setka goes on to say, "We have also been pleasantly surprised at the tremendous internal 'bang' the DVD has provided. It has served as a wonderful tool to inspire our own people as to the possibilities for the future."

"I knew from early on it was going to be success," Setka says. "Especially when Sparky (Steve Dixon, animator) and Neil (Zaugg, editor) came out with their cameras and started shooting the texture of the sand around the lake and the brick surface of the building. That's attention to detail and I knew then it was going to be better than any of us imagined.

"We only knew what three of the seven buildings on our campus looked like. Sparky came up with the design of the other four after we sat down together and went through books, describing in general terms what we envisioned," Setka explains.

"One of the wonderful advantages of the investment we have made is that it can be continually updated as we move forward. As buildings are designed we can add animation of building interiors as well as the overall site," Setka points out.

Sekta says everyone at Great Ape Trust, including Ted Townsend, founder, and Kirk Brocker, executive director, have been impressed with the quality of work all along the way.

"Early on we had a budget that we could work with. And, if you can believe it, the project came in under budget. It certainly wasn't inexpensive, but we well know that there is no bargain with inferior animation," Setka concludes.

Brett Adams, account executive at Trilix Marketing Group, who oversaw the project adds, "The quality of Neil and Steve's work and speed of response were second to none and it has been a pleasure working with such a dedicated, focused and professional team.

Great Ape Trust began as the Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary in early 2002. In June of 2003, work crews began developing the former sand and gravel quarry near the Des Moines River. Located about five miles southeast of downtown Des Moines on nearly 230 acres of lowlands, river forest and lakes, Great Ape Trust of Iowa will be the largest great ape facility in North America and one of the first worldwide to include all four types of great ape -- bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans -- for noninvasive interdisciplinary studies of their cognitive and communicative capabilities.

Great Ape Trust is dedicated to providing sanctuary and an honorable life for great apes, studying the intelligence of great apes, advancing conservation of great apes and providing unique educational experiences about great apes. Great Ape Trust of Iowa is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization and is certified by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA). To learn more about Great Ape Trust of Iowa, go to www.GreatApeTrust.org.