Ditch, an advertising postproduction and creative digital company headed by owner Brody Howard, has promoted sr. producer Leah Rogers to executive producer, and hired Jennie Ekstrand as associate producer.
Rogers’ dozen years in the advertising post industry include 10 years at Ditch from its inception, taking on roles of assistant editor, producer, sr. producer, and now EP.
Rogers is invested in growing Ditch’s client offerings. In addition to offering creative edit, interactive services, and motion graphics, Ditch partners with MPC for world class real-time remote color grading and VFX, as well as Grey Ghost Music for custom music, music licensing, and audio post, creating a full service destination for client projects. “Our storytelling roots run deep, but we’re much more than creative edit. We’ve built a collective of innovative makers, each with a unique perspective, and they aren’t afraid to experiment to develop the best work possible for our clients,” said Rogers.
Rogers has collaborated with many agencies, helming the postproduction for national brands such as Cenex, American Family Insurance, Target, Indian Motorcycle, Subaru, Great Clips, Toro, Arby’s, Yoplait, Purina, InterContinental Hotels, and Boston Scientific.
Ekstrand joins Ditch from Motion504 where she was a producer, and previously from Block & Tackle, a New York creative studio, where she was a production manager working on projects for clients National Geographic, SYFY, FX, and ESPN.
“With her background in motion graphics and animation, Jennie is a perfect fit to help grow that part of our business, and further expand our creative services,” said Howard. Ekstrand has jumped right into work at Ditch, serving as associate post producer on spots for Cenex, Pentair, Polaris Slingshot, Minnesota Lottery, Cub Cadet, and 3M.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More