Red Hour Productions

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

Red Hour Productions, also known as Red Hour Films, is the production company of actor Ben Stiller and (formerly) producer Stuart Cornfeld, formed in 1998. It was named after the red hour, a period of rioting in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Return of the Archons". Ben Stiller himself is a noted Trekkie (a fan of Star Trek).



1st Logo (January 10, 1999)


Visuals: Over a black background is the face of a jester with wide eyes and a fixated grin. The words "RED HOUR" are in a messy font at both sides, along with some splats.

Technique: A still image.

Audio: Just Ben Stiller yelling "LOOSE POLE!", taken directly from the pilot.

Availability: Appeared on the failed pilot of Heat Vision and Jack.

2nd Logo (March 30, 2007-April 4, 2008)


Visuals: On a black background, there is a black timeboard showing 11:59 in white. Then it changes to 12:00. It begins to quickly flip through red and white digits, splitting into three changing time boards in the process as an image of the jester in the background zooms out. The time boards shift into one line, showing "RED HOUR FILMS" under the image of the jester.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A synthesizer piece with ticking sounds in the background (composed by Theodore Shapiro), or the opening theme.

Availability: Seen on Blades of Glory and The Ruins.

3rd Logo (August 11, 2008-)


Visuals: A red card is spinning, depicting through flipbook animation of a jester in silhouette, doing tricks and catching a staff. After a few moments, the card stops still with the picture of the jester walking with the staff behind. The words "RED" and "HOUR" are seen in the Rockwell-like typeface, fading in on the top and bottom of the card respectively.

Variants:

  • There also exists a sped-up version (or a short version where the flipping portion is removed). This is seen on TV shows from the company.
  • In some cases, the print logo is used.
  • On High Desert, the logo appears next to the Delirious Media logo.

Technique: CGI by Prologue.

Audio: Card flipping sounds with an echoing bending guitar sound at the end.

Audio Variants:

  • For the sped-up version, the end theme of the show.
  • For the short version, the last card flipping sound is heard.
  • On Zoolander 2, there is the opening theme of the movie over the regular sounds.
Availability: Made its debut on Tropic Thunder and has appeared on every film since (with the exception of Megamind and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty). Also seen on TV shows like Severance, In the Dark, Another Period and Hith Desert.
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