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    Leah Hattendorf promoted to SVP, director of strategy at The Escape Pod

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1575 Views
    CHICAGO --

    Independent agency The Escape Pod has promoted Leah Hattendorf to SVP, director of strategy. In her new role, Hattendorf will continue to lead The Escape Pod’s Research and Strategy group, in addition to spearheading new business efforts and building out additional revenue streams for the agency.

    During her time at The Escape Pod, Hattendorf has guided brand and communications strategy for Mondelez, Toys“R”Us, KIND, EGO and Southeastern Grocers. She played an integral role in defining the Toys“R”Us brand promise that championed the importance of play. She was also responsible for positioning and launching EGO as a technology brand in the crowded lawn care category. Most recently she assisted Southeastern Grocers in positioning a new grocery store brand, Fresco y Mas, focused on meeting the needs of the Hispanic community.

    Prior to joining The Escape Pod, Hattendorf worked at several agencies including JWT New York, FCB and DDB, on such clients as Kimberly Clark, Kraft, Cars.com and State Farm.

    Launched in 2006, The Escape Pod is a Chicago-based creative shop headed by co-founders Norm Bilow, managing director, and Vinny Warren, executive creative director.

    Tags:Leah HattendorfThe Escape Pod



    “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” Tops Weekend Box Office

    Sunday, December 22, 2024

    In the holiday season battle of big-budget family movies, Paramount Pictures' "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" sped past the Walt Disney Co.'s "Mufasa: The Lion King" to take the top spot at the box office ahead of the lucrative Christmas corridor in theaters.

    "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" debuted with $62 million in ticket sales over the weekend, according to studio estimates. With strong reviews (86% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and a high score from audiences (an "A" on CinemaScore), "Sonic 3" is well positioned to be the top choice in cinemas during the busiest moviegoing period of the year.

    It was telling of some wider trends that "Sonic 3" — made for $122 million — bested one of Disney's top properties. Videogame adaptations, once among the most derided movie genres, have emerged as one of the most dependable box office forces in recent years. The two previous "Sonic" movies together grossed more $700 million worldwide and the third installment appears likely to do better than both of them. A fourth "Sonic" movie is already in development.

    "Mufasa," however, was humbled in its opening weekend, with its $35 million in domestic ticket sales coming in notably shy of expectations . The photorealistic "Lion King" prequel even opened wider than "Sonic 3," launching on 4,100 theaters and gobbling up most IMAX screens, compared with 3,761 locations for "Sonic 3."

    Though "Mufasa's" reviews were poor (56% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences gave it an "A-" CinemaScore.

    "Sonic 3" nearly doubled the haul for "Mufasa," which cost more than $200 million to make. Disney could look to $87.2 million in international sales to help make up the difference. The third "Sonic" will rollout in most overseas markets in the coming weeks.

    In director Jeff... Read More

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